Patent Grant
9648183
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-148104 filed on Jul. 18, 2014, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to an electric device equipped with an operation panel having capacitance touch-sensitive switches.
Related Art
An electric device with an operation panel having touch-sensitive switches is known. While multiple touch-sensitive switches may be arranged in a limited area in the operation panel, when an angle between the operation panel and a user's finger to touch one of the touch-sensitive switches in the operation panel is small, the user's finger may erroneously touch adjoining switches to actuate unintended switches.
In order to avoid such erroneous actuation or input against the user's intention, permittivity in each of adjoining touch-sensitive switches may be varied.
The present invention is advantageous in that an electric device with an operation panel having touch-sensitive switches, by which a user's unintentional input may be restrained, is provided.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an electric device, including a chassis, and a first switch and a second switch, is provided. The chassis includes an operation panel to be manipulated by a user and is disposed on a face of the chassis. The operation panel includes a frontward end and a rearward end. The first switch and the second switch are arranged on the operation panel and are configured to be actuated by a change in capacitance. The second switch is arranged in a position closer to the frontward end of the operation panel than the first switch and is configured to be less sensitive than the first switch.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an electric device, including a chassis, and a first switch and a second switch, is provided. The chassis includes an operation panel to be manipulated by a user, and the operation panel is disposed on a face of the chassis. The operation panel includes an upper end and a lower end. The first switch and the second switch are arranged on the operation panel and are configured to be actuated by a change in capacitance. The second switch is arranged in a position closer to the lower end of the operation panel than the first switch and is configured to be less sensitive than the first switch.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, an electric device, including a chassis and an operation panel, is provided. The operation panel is disposed on a face of the chassis and has one end and the other end opposite from the one end. The operation panel includes a first capacitive touch switch configured to be responsive to a touch and a second capacitive touch switch configured to be responsive to a touch. The first capacitive touch switch has a first sensitivity for responding to the touch, and the second capacitive touch switch has a second sensitivity for responding to the touch. The second capacitive touch switch is arranged in a position closer to the one end of the operation panel than the first capacitive touch switch, and the second sensitivity of the second capacitive touch switch is lower than the first sensitivity of the first capacitive touch switch.
Hereinafter, embodiments according to aspects of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description, and these connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.
In the following description, an image forming apparatus 1 representing an electric device according to the present invention will be described. While the image forming apparatus 1 is described, directions concerning the image forming apparatus 1 will be referred to in accordance with a user's ordinary position to use the image forming apparatus 1, as indicated by the arrows in each drawing. For example, a viewer's lower-left side appearing in
In the following description, a quantity of each component denoted by a reference sign may be, unless otherwise noted, at least one.
First Embodiment
1. Overall Configuration of an Operation Panel in the Image Forming Apparatus 1
The operation panel 5 is attached to a frontward face of the chassis 3 by a pair of hinges 5A, 5B, which are arranged on an upper end of the operation panel 5, so that a panel face 5C of the operation panel 5 is movable to swing with respect to the chassis 3.
More specifically, the operation panel 5 is movable to swing between a position, in which the panel face 5 substantially aligns with a horizontal plane, and a position, in which the panel face 5 substantially aligns with a vertical plane, and may be stopped at an intermediate position between the horizontal and vertical positions. Thus, the user may adjust a position of the operation panel 5 at a preferred angle between the horizontal position and vertical position.
The operation panel 5 includes, as shown in
In the following description, the switch 7A which is the closest among the switches 7A-7C to the hinges 5A, 5B may be referred to as a first switch 7A, the switch 7B which is farther from the hinges 5A, 5B than the first switch 7A but is closer to the hinges 5A, 5B than the switch 7C may be referred to as a second switch 7B, and the switch 7C which is the farthest among the switches 7A-7C from the hinges 5A, 5B may be referred to as a third switch 7C.
It may be noted that, when the panel face 5C is at an inclined position with respect to the horizontal plane (see
Meanwhile, when the panel face 5C is at an inclined position with respect to the horizontal plane (see
The switches 7A-7C are configured to have different levels of sensitivities from one another: the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B is more sensitive than the third switch 7C. In other words, the second switch 7B has lower sensitivity than the first switch 7A, and the third switch has lower sensitivity than the second switch 7B.
The sensitivities of the switches 7A-7C refers to degrees of easiness to detect touches of the user to the switches 7A-7C. Therefore, the less sensitive the switches 7A-7C are, the more difficult it is for the switches 7A-7C to detect the touches of the user. The more sensitive the switches 7A-7C are, the easier it is for the switches 7A-7C to detect the touches of the user.
2. Overall Description of the Switches
As shown in
The second switch 7B includes a second electrode 9B and a second top plate 11B. The second top plate 11B is arranged to cover the second electrode 9B at a position separated from the second electrode 9B.
The third switch 7C includes a third electrode 9C and a third top plate 11C. The third top plate 11C is arranged to cover the third electrode 9C at a position separated from the third electrode 9C.
The switches 7A, 7B, 7C include light-guiding members 13A, 13B, 13C, which guide light to the first, second, third top plates 11A, 11B, 11C respectively, so that visibility of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be improved. In this regard, the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C are mounted on a substrate 13D.
Signals output from the electrodes the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C are input to an amplifier 15A (see
Thus, the amplifier 15A amplifies the first output signals at a greater amplification factor than the second output signals and the second output signals at a greater amplification factor than the third output signals. The amplified first, second, and third output signals are input in a first determination unit 15B, a second determination unit 15C, and a third determination unit 15D, respectively.
The first determination unit 15B determines, when the first output signals having been input thereto indicate a value greater than or equal to a first threshold C1, that the first switch 7A is actuated, i.e., the user touched the first switch 7A. The first determination unit 15B determines, when the first output signals having been input thereto indicate a value smaller than the first threshold C1, that the first switch 7A is not actuated.
Similarly, the second determination unit 15C determines, when the second output signals having been input thereto indicate a value greater than or equal to a second threshold C2, that the second switch 7B is actuated. The second determination unit 15C determines, when the second output signals having been input thereto indicate a value smaller than the second threshold C2, that the second switch 7B is not actuated.
The third determination unit 15D determines, when the third output signals having been input thereto indicate a value greater than or equal to a third threshold C3, that the third switch 7C is actuated. The third determination unit 15D determines, when the third output signals having been input thereto indicate a value smaller than the second threshold C3, that the third switch 7C is not actuated.
The first, second, and third thresholds C1, C2, C3 are predetermined values, which may be stored in non-volatile memory units (not shown) in read-only memories (ROMs) in the first, second, and third determination units 15B, 15C, 15D respectively.
According to the present embodiment, the first, second, and third thresholds C1, C2, C3 are equal; therefore, the sensitivities of the first, second, and third switches 7A, 7B, 7C correspond to the amplification factors for the first, second, and third output signals. In other words, the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch is more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
3. Features of the Electric Device in the Image Forming Apparatus
As shown in
According to the present embodiment, however, the sensitivity of the third switch 7C, which is in the position closer to the user, is lower than the sensitivity of the first switch 7A, toward which the user's finger is directed. Therefore, even if the user touches the closer third switch 7C, the third switch 7C may not be actuated, and the erroneous actuation of the closer switch against the user's intention may be restrained.
Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment described above, while the amplification factor for the first output signals is greater than the amplification factor for the second output signals, and the amplification factor for the second output signals is greater than the amplification factor for the third output signals, the first threshold C1, the second threshold C2, and the third threshold C3 are equal so that the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B is more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
In the second embodiment, meanwhile, at least the first threshold C1 is set to be smaller than the second threshold C2, and the second threshold C2 is set to be smaller than the third threshold C3 so that the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B is more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Thereby, the sensitivity of the third switch 7C, which may be closer to the user, is lowered than the sensitivity of the first switch 7A, at which the user's finger may be directed. Accordingly, the erroneous actuation of the closer switch against the user's intention may be restrained.
In the second embodiment, while the first, second, third thresholds C1, C2, C3 are varied, the amplification factors for the first, second, and third output signals are equal. However, the amplification factors may not necessarily be equal as long as the sensitivities of the first, second, third switches 7A, 7B, 7C are varied as above.
Third Embodiment
According to the first and second embodiments, the switches 7A, 7B, 7C are touch-sensitive switches, which are identically configured to be equally sensitive. However, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may not be equalized but may be varied.
For example, as shown in
Thus, while the distance D1 is shorter than the distance D2, and the distance D2 is shorter than the distance D3, the sensitivities of the switches 7A-7B may be differed so that the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B is more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Thereby, the sensitivity of the third switch 7C, which may be closer to the user, is lowered than the sensitivity of the first switch 7A, at which the user's finger may be directed. Accordingly, the erroneous actuation of the closer switch against the user's intention may be restrained.
In the third embodiment, the amplification factors for the first, second, and third output signals are equal, and the first, second, and third thresholds C1, C2, and C3 are also equal. However, the amplification factors and/or the thresholds C1, C2, C3 may not necessarily be equal as long as the sensitivities of the first, second, third switches 7A, 7B, 7C are differed as above.
Fourth Embodiment
According to the fourth embodiment, the switches 7A, 7B, 7C are touch-sensitive switches configured to have different sensitivities.
As shown in
Thus, while the distance D4 is smaller than the distance D5, and the distance D5 is smaller than the distance D6, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be differed so that the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B is more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Thereby, the sensitivity of the third switch 7C, which may be closer to the user, is lowered than the sensitivity of the first switch 7A, at which the user's finger may be directed. Accordingly, the erroneous actuation of the closer switch against the user's intention may be restrained.
In the fourth embodiment, the amplification factors for the first, second, and third output signals are equal, and the first, second, third thresholds C1, C2, C3 are also equal. However, the amplification factors and/or the thresholds C1, C2, C3 may not necessarily be equal as long as the sensitivities of the first, second, third switches 7A, 7B, 7C are varied as above.
Fifth Embodiment
According to the fifth embodiment, the switches 7A, 7B, 7C are touch-sensitive switches configured to have different sensitivities.
For example, a permittivity ε2 of the second top plate 11B may be smaller than a permittivity ε1 of the first top plate 11A, and a permittivity ε3 of the third top plate 11C may be smaller than the permittivity ε2 of the second top plate 11B.
Thus, while the permittivity ε1 of the first top plate 11A may be greater than the permittivity ε2 of the second top plate 11B, and the permittivity ε2 of the second top plate 11B may be greater than the permittivity ε3 of the third top plate 11C, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be differed so that the first switch 7A is more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B is more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Thereby, the sensitivity of the third switch 7C, which may be closer to the user, is lowered than the sensitivity of the first switch 7A, at which the user's finger may be directed. Accordingly, the erroneous actuation of the closer switch against the user's intention may be restrained.
In the fifth embodiment, the amplification factors for the first, second, and third output signals are equal, and the first, second, and third thresholds C1, C2, and C3 are also equal. Further, the distances D1, D2, and D3 are equal, and the thicknesses D4, D5, and D6 are equal. However, the amplification factors, the thresholds C1, C2, C3, the distances D1, D2, D3, and/or the thicknesses D4, D5, D6 may not necessarily be equal as long as the sensitivities of the first, second, and third switches 7A, 7B, and 7C are varied as above.
Sixth Embodiment
According to the sixth embodiment, as shown in
With this arrangement, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be varied from one another: the first switch 7A may be more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B may be more sensitive than the third switch 7C. In other words, the closer to hinges 5A, 5B the switches 7A, 7B, 7C are located, the less sensitive the switches 7A, 7B, 7C are.
Seventh Embodiment
According to the seventh embodiment, as shown in
Meanwhile, the light guides 13A, 13B, 13C each are formed to have a cross-sectional shape of a wedge, or a trapezoid, which may compensate the angle differences between the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C and the first, second, third top plates 11A, 11B, 11C. For example, the light guides 13A, 13B, 13C may be formed to be thinner at the ends closer to the hinges 5A, 5B and thicker at the other ends farther from the hinges 5A, 5B.
With this arrangement, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be varied from one another: the first switch 7A may be more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B may be more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Eighth Embodiment
According to the eighth embodiment, as shown in
Thereby, the top plate 11A may have a cross-sectional shape of a wedge, or a trapezoid, which is thinner at the side closer to hinges 5A, 5B and thicker at the side farther from the hinges 5A, 5B. Meanwhile, thicknesses of the light guides 13A, 13B, 13C are equal to one another; the thicknesses of the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C are equal to one another; and the thickness of the substrate 13D is constant. Therefore, the light guides 13A, 13B, 13C; the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C; and the substrate 13D spread in parallel with one another.
With this arrangement, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be varied from one another: the first switch 7A may be more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B may be more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Ninth Embodiment
According to the ninth embodiment, as shown in
Thereby, the light guide 13A may have a cross-sectional shape of a wedge, or a trapezoid, which is thinner at the side closer to hinges 5A, 5B and thicker at the side farther from the hinges 5A, 5B. Meanwhile, thickness of the top plate 11A may be constant; the thicknesses of the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C may be equal to one another, and the thickness of the substrate 13D may be constant. The top plate 11A; the first, second, third electrodes 9A, 9B, 9C; and the substrate 13D may spread in parallel with one another.
With this arrangement, the sensitivities of the switches 7A, 7B, 7C may be varied from one another: the first switch 7A may be more sensitive than the second switch 7B, and the second switch 7B may be more sensitive than the third switch 7C.
Although examples of carrying out the invention has been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the electric device that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or act described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. In the meantime, the terms used to represent the components in the above embodiment may not necessarily agree identically with the terms recited in the appended claims, but the terms used in the above embodiment may merely be regarded as examples of the claimed subject matters.
For example, the operation panel 5 may not necessarily be swingably attached to the chassis 3 by the pair of hinges 5A, 5B, but the hinges 5A, 5B may be omitted while the angle of the operation panel 5, or the panel face 5C, may be invariable. When the operation panel 5, or the panel face 5C, is immovable with respect to the chassis 3, the panel face 5C may be placed to be at a horizontal, vertical or inclined angle with respect to the horizontal plane. For another example, the operation panel 5 may not necessarily be disposed on the frontward face of the chassis 3 but may be disposed on, for example, an upward, a rearward, or a sideward face of the chassis 3.
For another example, the quantity of the touch-sensitive switches 7A, 7B, 7C to be provided to the operation panel 5 may not necessarily be three but may be two or more than three.
For another example, the present disclosure may not necessarily be applied to the image forming apparatus 1 as described above but may be applied to another electric devices such as an image reading apparatus and a facsimile machine.
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