Input device and image processing apparatus

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-162311 filed on Aug. 31, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an input device including a position detection portion for detecting a touch position, and relates to an image processing apparatus including the input device.

An input device is provided in an image processing apparatus or the like. In the input device, a position detection portion that is what is called a touch sensor, is disposed on a display panel. The position detection portion and the display panel are disposed on the side of a rear surface of an exterior member. The exterior member has a rectangular opening. The exterior member serves as a cover member covering a specific portion of the position detection portion, namely an outer peripheral portion of the position detection portion. A portion of the position detection portion excluding the specific portion is exposed through the opening, as an operation portion on which an operator can perform a touch operation by his/her finger or the like. The position detection portion detects a position on the operation portion when it is touched by the operator, namely, a position on the operation portion to which an external force has been applied.

The cover member abuts on the specific portion at a position that is sufficiently away from the operation portion so that an unnecessary external force is not applied to the operation portion. That is, a portion of the cover member close to the operation portion is not in contact with the specific portion, and is separated upward from the specific portion via a predetermined gap.

SUMMARY

An input device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a position detection portion, a cover member, a base portion, and a flexible portion. The position detection portion includes a main surface that faces up. The position detection portion detects a position where an external force is applied on the main surface. The cover member is separated upward from a specific portion of the main surface, covers the specific portion, and exposes an operation portion of the main surface, the operation portion excluding the specific portion. The base portion is provided above a separate portion that is a portion of the specific portion and is separated from the operation portion, the base portion being in contact with the cover member. The flexible portion extends from the base portion toward the operation portion, and is in contact with an adjacent portion that is a portion of the specific portion and is located between the operation portion and the separate portion, the flexible portion being separated downward from the cover member and flexible with respect to the base portion.

An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the input device and an image processing portion. The image processing portion processes image data based on the position detected by the position detection portion.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram schematically showing an outer appearance of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged and broken schematic diagram of an operation/display portion shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the operation/display portion taken along a one-dot chain line IV-IV shown in FIG. 3 and viewed in a first direction D1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a print condition setting screen displayed on the operation/display portion by an image processing portion shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the operation/display portion taken along a one-dot chain line VI-VI shown in FIG. 3 and viewed in the first direction D1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the operation/display portion taken along a one-dot chain line VII-VII shown in FIG. 3 and viewed in a second direction D2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings for the understanding of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the following embodiment is an example of a specific embodiment of the present disclosure and should not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the arrow X indicates a depth direction of an image processing apparatus 100, namely a direction directed from the front side to the rear side of the image processing apparatus 100. The arrow Y indicates a width direction, namely, a left-right direction, of the image processing apparatus 100. The arrow Z indicates a height direction, namely, a direction directed from the bottom side to the top side of the image processing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, the depth direction, the width direction, and the height direction are respectively referred to as a depth direction X, a width direction Y, and a height direction Z.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 is an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral. The multifunction peripheral includes a plurality of functions such as a print function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and a scan function. FIG. 1 shows that the image processing apparatus 100 is installed on an installment surface F1 that is parallel to both the depth direction X and the left-right direction Y. The image processing apparatus 100 executes a print process. In the print process, the image processing apparatus 100 feeds sheets one by one from a supply portion 4 that is a supply cassette or the like. The image processing apparatus 100 generates prints M1 by printing an image on each of the sheets. During the print process, the image processing apparatus 100 discharges the prints M1 to a discharge portion 5 that is a discharge tray or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 100 further includes a control portion 1, an operation/display portion 2, an image forming portion 3, and an image reading device 6.

The control portion 1 includes a processor and various types of memory devices. Specifically, the processor is a CPU, a microcomputer or the like. In addition, the various types of memory devices include a ROM, a RAM, and a nonvolatile memory. The processor executes, by using the RAM, programs that are preliminarily stored in the ROM or the like. This allows the control portion 1 to control the image processing apparatus 100 comprehensively.

It is noted that the control portion 1 may include an electronic circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) in place of the CPU, the microcomputer or the like.

The control portion 1 includes an image processing portion 11. Specifically, the control portion 1 functions as the image processing portion 11 by executing the programs. The image reading device 6 is a scanner that generates image data by optically reading a document sheet. The image processing portion 11 receives image data transmitted from the image reading device 6. The image data is, for example, bitmap data and is an object of image processing that is described below.

The image processing portion 11 displays various types of screens on the operation/display portion 2.

The operation/display portion 2 is an example of an input device of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation/display portion 2 is provided on a front upper portion of a housing 7 of the image processing apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation/display portion 2 includes a display portion 21, a position detection portion 22, a cover member 23, and a seal member 24.

The display portion 21 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a deflection filter, a glass substrate, a liquid crystal, and a backlight. It is noted that the display device is not limited to the liquid crystal panel, but may be, for example, an organic EL display.

The display portion 21 includes a main surface 21A that faces up. The main surface 21A has a rectangular shape.

The various types of screens are displayed on a display portion 21C of the main surface 21A. Specifically, the display portion 21C is provided inside an outer periphery of the main surface 21A and has a rectangular shape. A portion of the main surface 21A excluding the display portion 21C is an outer peripheral portion 21B. In the display portion 21, for example, a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal may be provided below the outer peripheral portion 21B.

The display portion 21 is provided in the operation/display portion 2 such that the main surface 21A faces up. Specifically, from the viewpoint of visibility of the various types of screens, the main surface 21A faces front diagonally upward with respect to the installment surface F1 (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the front diagonally upward direction is indicated by the arrow Z1. However, not limited to this, the main surface 21A may face in the height direction Z, namely vertically upward with respect to the installment surface F1. That is, the upward direction includes the front diagonally upward direction and the vertically upward direction with respect to the installment surface F1.

The position detection portion 22 is a touch sensor. As shown in FIG. 3, the position detection portion 22 is provided in the operation/display portion 2 to be overlaid on the main surface 21A of the display portion 21. When the position detection portion 22 is a capacitance type touch pad, the position detection portion 22 includes two transparent glass plates, a lot of pairs of transparent electrodes, and power lines corresponding to the pairs of transparent electrodes. It is noted that the position detection portion 22 is not limited to the capacitance type, but may be a resistance film type, an ultrasonic type, a surface acoustic wave type, or an infrared type.

The position detection portion 22 includes a main surface 22A that faces up. The main surface 22A is an example of a main surface of the present disclosure. The main surface 22A has a rectangular shape. Hereinafter, a direction in which a first side FS1 of the main surface 21A extends is referred to as a first direction D1. In addition, a direction in which a second side SS2 of the main surface 21A that is perpendicular to the first side FS1 extends is referred to as a second direction D2. A direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is referred to as a third direction D3. It is noted that the third direction D3 is the direction of a normal line to the main surface 21A. The second direction D2, as with the width direction Y, represents a left-right direction of the image processing apparatus 100. The first direction D1 is inclined with respect to the depth direction X, and thus indicates an approximate frontward direction and an approximate rearward direction of the image processing apparatus 100. The third direction D3 is inclined with respect to the height direction Z, and thus indicates an approximate upward direction and an approximate downward direction of the image processing apparatus 100. It is noted that in FIG. 3, two sides of the first direction D1 are indicated as “front” and “depth”. In addition, two sides of the third direction D3 are indicated as “up” and “down”.

The main surface 22A is parallel to the main surface 21A, and as with the display portion 21, faces up.

The main surface 22A includes an outer peripheral edge portion 22B and a detection portion 22C. The detection portion 22C is provided inside an outer periphery of the main surface 22A and has a rectangular shape. In the position detection portion 22, the lot of pairs of transparent electrodes are disposed in alignment in the first direction D1 and in the second direction D2 below the detection portion 22C. The outer peripheral edge portion 22B is a portion of the main surface 22A excluding the detection portion 22C. The outer peripheral edge portion 22B is provided to extend in four directions surrounding the detection portion 22C. In the position detection portion 22, the power lines and the like are provided in a lower portion of the outer peripheral edge portion 22B.

More specifically, the position detection portion 22 is disposed on the display portion 21 such that in a plan view viewed in the third direction D3, the detection portion 22C is overlaid on the display portion 21C.

The position detection portion 22 is configured to detect a position to which an external force is applied, on the detection portion 22C of the main surface 22A. The external force is applied when an operator of the image processing apparatus 100 performs a touch operation by his/her finger or the like. In other words, the position detection portion 22 is configured to detect a touch position touched by the operator on the detection portion 22C. The position detection portion 22 transmits a position signal to the image processing portion 11 so that the image processing portion 11 side can identify the touch position. Specifically, the position signal is composed of a plurality of electric signals which are output from the lot of pairs of transparent electrodes and whose voltage values change depending on whether or not an external force is applied (namely, a touch operation is performed).

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover member 23 is an exterior member that covers the position detection portion 22 at an upper position of the operation/display portion 2. As shown in FIG. 4, as is the case with the display portion 21, the position detection portion 22 is disposed on the side of a rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. It is noted that for the sake of convenience of explanation and illustration, the seal member 24 is not shown in FIG. 4. An opening 23B is provided at a predetermined position in the cover member 23. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 23B has a rectangular shape in a plan view viewed in the third direction D3. The detection portion 22C of the position detection portion 22 is exposed through the opening 23B. This allows the operator to touch the detection portion 22C. Hereinafter, a portion of the main surface 22A that is exposed through the opening 23B and can be touched by the operator is referred to as an operation portion 22D (see FIG. 4). The operation portion 22D is a portion excluding a portion of the detection portion 22C (specifically, an outer peripheral portion of the detection portion 22C) in the detection portion 22C. It is noted that the operation portion 22D may be composed of the whole portion of the detection portion 22C. In this case, the operation portion 22D is identical to the detection portion 22C. As described above, the cover member 23 is configured to expose the operation portion 22D that excludes a specific portion 22E in the main surface 22A.

The cover member 23 covers the specific portion 22E. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover member 23 includes a peripheral portion 23C that surrounds the four sides (namely, two opposite sides in the first direction D1 and two opposite sides in the second direction D2) of the opening 23B. As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral portion 23C covers the specific portion 22E in the main surface 22A of the position detection portion 22. The specific portion 22E is a portion of the main surface 22A that is covered by the cover member 23, and excludes the operation portion 22D. Specifically, specific portion 22E includes: the outer peripheral edge portion 22B of the main surface 22A; and a portion of the detection portion 22C (specifically, an outer peripheral portion of the detection portion 22C) of the position detection portion 22. It is noted that in a case where the operation portion 22D is identical to the detection portion 22C, the specific portion 22E includes only the outer peripheral edge portion 22B of the main surface 22A.

The cover member 23 includes an abutting portion 23D on the side of the rear surface 23A, the abutting portion 23D being a rib or the like. The abutting portion 23D projects downward from the rear surface 23A, and abuts on a predetermined position in the specific portion 22E of the position detection portion 22. This allows the position detection portion 22 and the display portion 21 to be positioned by the cover member 23 so that they are not positionally shifted in the third direction D3 inside the operation/display portion 2.

The various types of screens include a setting screen 41A for setting print conditions, as shown in FIG. 5. The setting screen 41A includes a plurality of touch keys 41B, 41C. Specifically, the operator touches the touch key 41B by his/her finger or the like to set a sheet size, wherein the sheet size is an example of the print condition. In addition, the operator touches the touch key 41C to set a magnification of image data, wherein the magnification is another example of the print condition. The touch keys 41B, 41C are disposed at predetermined different positions in the setting screen 41A. That is, in the display portion 21C, the positions at which the touch keys 41B, 41C are disposed, are predetermined. Accordingly, the positions of the touch keys 41B, 41C with respect to the operation portion 22D are predetermined, too.

The operator specifies print conditions for the print process to the image processing apparatus 100 by performing touch operations on the setting screen 41A. In response to the touch operations, the position detection portion 22 outputs the position signal to the image processing portion 11 (see FIG. 2). During the print process, the image processing portion 11 processes image data received from the image reading device 6 (see FIG. 2), based on a position detected by the position detection portion 22. Specifically, the image processing portion 11 identifies the print condition based on the position signal transmitted from the position detection portion 22. The image processing portion 11 executes various types of image processing on the image data based on the print condition. The various types of image processing include, for example, rasterizing. The image processing portion 11 output the image data subjected to the image processing, to the image forming portion 3 (see FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 2, during the print process, the image forming portion 3 forms an image based on the image data transmitted from the image processing portion 11, by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The supply portion 4 feeds a sheet to the image forming portion 3 (see the arrow A1). The image forming portion 3 generates a print M1 by forming an image on the sheet. The image forming portion 3 discharges the print M1 to the discharge portion 5 (see the arrow A2). It is noted that when the electrophotographic method is adopted, the image forming portion 3 includes a photoconductor drum, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device.

See FIG. 4. In a case where an unnecessary external force is applied to the specific portion 22E at a position close to the operation portion 22D, there is a possibility that the position detection portion 22 may erroneously output a position signal based on the unnecessary external force. For this reason, the abutting portion 23D is configured to abut on the specific portion 22E at a position sufficiently away from the operation portion 22D. In addition, the cover member 23 is separated upward from the specific portion 22E so that the unnecessary external force is not applied to the specific portion 22E. Specifically, a portion of the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23 that is closer to the operation portion 22D than the abutting portion 23D, is separated upward from the specific portion 22E with a gap G1 therebetween. The interval of the gap G1 is predetermined, and is several millimeters at the maximum.

It is assumed here that the operation/display portion 2 does not include the seal member 24. Under such assumption, when the operator performs a touch operation on the operation portion 22D strongly, the position detection portion 22 may bend, and the interval of the gap G1 may be widened. In this case, if a foreign substance is on the operation portion 22D of the position detection portion 22, the foreign substance may enter the widened gap G1. When the operator stops touching the operation portion, the bent position detection portion 22 returns to its original state. This allows the foreign substance that is in the gap G1 to apply an unnecessary force to the specific portion 22E, and the position detection portion 22 may erroneously detect the touch position.

It is noted that the gap G1 may be widened for reasons other than the touch operation. For example, the gap G1 may be widened due to deformation of the cover member 23 (namely, the exterior member). In this case, too, the foreign substance is likely to enter the gap G1. Factors for deforming the cover member 23 include, for example, an external force applied to the cover member 23, and shrinkage and swelling of the cover member 23 due to change of the ambient temperature.

On the other hand, according to the operation/display portion 2 (namely, the input device) and the image processing apparatus 100, the operation/display portion 2 includes the seal member 24 as shown in FIG. 3. This restricts an unnecessary external force from being applied to the position detection portion 22, and restricts a foreign substance from entering the gap G1 between the cover member 23 and the position detection portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 24 is provided between the main surface 22A (more specifically, the specific portion 22E (see FIG. 4)) of the position detection portion 22 and the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. The seal member 24 is a frame made of an elastic material or the like. As a result, an opening 24A is formed in the seal member 24. In a plan view viewed in the third direction D3, the opening 24A has the same rectangular shape as the opening 23B of the cover member 23 and the operation portion 22D (see FIG. 4).

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 24 includes four seal portions 25: a first seal portion 25K, a second seal portion 25L, a third seal portion 25M, and a fourth seal portion 25N.

The first seal portion 25K is on the left side of the opening 24A of the seal member 24, and extends in the first direction D1 along the left side of the opening 24A. The size of the first seal portion 25K in the second direction D2 is equal to or smaller than a size D4 (see FIG. 4). The size D4 is the shortest distance between an end portion of the abutting portion 23D on the operation portion 22D side and the operation portion 22D along the main surface 22A. The size of the first seal portion 25K and the second seal portion 25L in the third direction D3 is equal to or smaller than an interval D5 (see FIG. 4).

The second seal portion 25L is on the front side of the opening 24A, and extends in the second direction D2 along the front side of the opening 24A. The size of the second seal portion 25L in the first direction D1 is equal to or smaller than the size D4.

As shown in FIG. 3, a first center plane CP1 is an imaginary plane that passes through middle points of sides of the opening 24A that face each other in the first direction D1, and is parallel to the third direction D3. In addition, a second center plane CP2 is an imaginary plane that passes through middle points of sides of the opening 24A that face each other in the second direction D2, and is parallel to the third direction D3.

The third seal portion 25M and the first seal portion 25K are symmetric in the second direction D2 with respect to the first center plane CP1. In addition, the fourth seal portion 25N and the second seal portion 25L are symmetric in the first direction D1 with respect to the second center plane CP2. As a result, detailed description of the third seal portion 25M and the fourth seal portion 25N is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each of the seal portions 25 includes a base portion 251 and a flexible portion 252. It is noted that FIG. 6 shows the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252 of the first seal portion 25K. FIG. 7 shows the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252 of the second seal portion 25L.

Each base portion 251 is provided above a separate portion 22F. The separate portion 22F is a portion of the specific portion 22E, and is separated from the operation portion 22D. The separate portion 22F is separated from the operation portion 22D by a predetermined distance D6.

Specifically, the base portion 251 of the first seal portion 25K is provided above the separate portion 22F as shown in FIG. 6. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the separate portion 22F is a portion of the specific portion 22E, and is separated downward from the cover member 23 and is separated from the opening 23B toward one side of the second direction D2. The one side of the second direction D2 is left. The separate portion 22F is separated from the operation portion 22D by the distance D6 toward the one side of the second direction D2.

The base portion 251 of the second seal portion 25L is provided above the separate portion 22F as shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the separate portion 22F is a portion of the specific portion 22E, and is separated downward from the cover member 23 and is separated from the opening 23B toward one side of the first direction D1. The one side of the first direction D1 is the front. The separate portion 22F is separated from the operation portion 22D by the distance D6 toward the one side of the first direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an upper surface 251A of each base portion 251 is in contact with the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. Specifically, each base portion 251 is in contact with a portion of the rear surface 23A that is separated upward from a corresponding separate portion 22F. Specifically, the upper surface 251A of each base portion 251 is adhered to the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23 by an adhesive or the like. This makes it difficult for a gap to be generated between the upper surface 251A and the rear surface 23A. Specifically, even if the cover member 23 is deformed due to a change in the ambient temperature, each base portion 251 that is made of an elastic material can deform according to the deformation of the rear surface 23A. As a result, each base portion 251 prevents a gap from being generated. This prevents a foreign substance from entering between the rear surface 23A and the base portion 251.

A lower surface 251B of each base portion 251 is not in contact with the separate portion 22F, and is separated upward from the separate portion 22F (namely, the main surface 22A) (see FIG. 6, FIG. 7). Each lower surface 251B is separated from the separate portion 22F by a distance of one millimeter or more and two millimeters or less. With this configuration, even if the cover member 23 is deformed, the base portion 251 is restricted from abutting on the separate portion 22F, thereby making it possible to restrict the cover member 23 from applying an external force to the position detection portion 22. It is noted that the lower surface 251B may abut on the separate portion 22F.

More specifically, as shown in the frame F2 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each base portion 251 includes a first adhesive member 261 and a first resin member 262.

The first adhesive member 261 is a double-sided tape or the like, and has a thickness of one millimeter or less. Each first adhesive member 261 includes an upper surface 261A and a lower surface 261B. The upper surface 261A is an example of a first surface of the present disclosure. The lower surface 261B is an example of a second surface of the present disclosure. The upper surface 261A and the lower surface 261B are separated from each other in the third direction D3 (namely, the up-down direction), and both are adhesive. It is noted that the upper surface 261A is the upper surface 251A of the base portion 251. The upper surface 261A adheres to the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. In addition, the lower surface 261B of each first adhesive member 261 adheres to an upper surface 262A of a corresponding first resin member 262.

Each first resin member 262 is made of resin. The resin is polyethylene terephthalate or the like. Specifically, each first resin member 262 is formed from a film made of a resin (hereinafter, the film is referred to as a resin film). Specifically, the resin film has a thickness of one millimeter or less. Each first resin member 262 includes the upper surface 262A and a lower surface 262B. The upper surface 262A and the lower surface 262B are separated from each other in the third direction D3. The lower surface 262B of each first resin member 262 is the lower surface 251B of the base portion 251, and is provided above the separate portion 22F.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each flexible portion 252 is provided above an adjacent portion 22G. The adjacent portion 22G is a portion of the specific portion 22E located between the operation portion 22D and the separate portion 22F. Specifically, the adjacent portion 22G is a portion of the specific portion 22E within a range of the distance D6 from the operation portion 22D, and is adjacent to both the operation portion 22D and the separate portion 22F.

Specifically, the flexible portion 252 of the first seal portion 25K is provided above the adjacent portion 22G shown in FIG. 6. Specifically, referring to FIG. 6, the adjacent portion 22G is adjacent to the operation portion 22D on a side directed toward the one side of the second direction D2, and the size thereof in the second direction D2 corresponds to the distance D6. It is noted that the one side of the second direction D2 is left.

The flexible portion 252 of the second seal portion 25L is provided above the adjacent portion 22G shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, referring to FIG. 7, the adjacent portion 22G is adjacent to the operation portion 22D on a side directed toward the one side of the first direction D1, and the size thereof in the first direction D1 corresponds to the distance D6. It is noted that the one side of the first direction D1 is the front.

Each flexible portion 252 is connected with a corresponding base portion 251. Each flexible portion 252 extends from the corresponding base portion 251 toward the operation portion 22D, passes through the gap G1, and reaches an upper position on an imaginary boundary line BL1 between the operation portion 22D and the adjacent portion 22G.

A lower surface 252A of each flexible portion 252 is in contact with a corresponding adjacent portion 22G. Specifically, a portion close to the base portion 251, of the lower surface 252A of each flexible portion 252, is in contact with the adjacent portion 22G. The lower surface 252A of each flexible portion 252 is gradually separated from the adjacent portion 22G as it approaches the operation portion 22D. It is noted that a portion of each lower surface 252A excluding the portion close to the base portion 251 may be in contact with the adjacent portion 22G.

As described above, each seal member 24 includes the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252. A portion of each seal member 24 on the base portion 251 side abuts on the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. A portion of each seal member 24 on the side of the flexible portion 252 connected with the base portion 251, abuts on the specific portion 22E of the position detection portion 22. In addition, the flexible portion 252 extends from the base portion 251 up to an upper position on the boundary line BL1 in the gap G1. In other words, each seal member 24 blocks the gap G1. With such a configuration, when a foreign substance is present on the operation portion 22D, each seal member 24, namely, each combination of the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252 restricts the foreign substance from entering the gap G1.

It is noted that the lower surface 252A of each flexible portion 252 may be adhered to the adjacent portion 22G. Specifically, the portion of each lower surface 252A that abuts on the adjacent portion 22G, may be adhered to the adjacent portion 22G by an adhesive or a double-sided tape. This makes it difficult for a gap to be generated between each lower surface 252A and the adjacent portion 22G. Specifically, when the operator performs a touch operation on a portion of the operation portion 22D close to the adjacent portion 22G strongly, the main surface 22A may be deformed. Each flexible portion 252 is flexible with respect to a corresponding base portion 251, and is deformable according to the deformation of the main surface 22A. As a result, it is possible to prevent the whole flexible portion 252 from being separated from the main surface 22A. This makes it possible to prevent a foreign substance from entering a base portion 251 side over the flexible portion 252 in the gap G1.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each flexible portion 252 is separated downward from the cover member 23, and is flexible with respect to a corresponding base portion 251.

Specifically, an upper surface 252B of each flexible portion 252 is not in contact with the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23, and is separated downward from the cover member 23 (see FIG. 6, FIG. 7). Each upper surface 252B is separated from the rear surface 23A by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a corresponding first adhesive member 261. The space between each upper surface 252B and the rear surface 23A is a bending allowance for each flexible portion 252. In addition, each flexible portion 252 is flexible with respect to the corresponding base portion 251. As a result, even if a foreign substance enters between a portion of the lower surface 252A close to the operation portion 22D and the adjacent portion 22G, the flexible portion 252 bends with respect to the corresponding base portion 251, and is raised upward by the foreign substance. This makes it possible to restrict the flexible portion 252 from applying an external force to the position detection portion 22.

More specifically, as shown in the frame F2 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each flexible portion 252 includes a second resin member 263, a second adhesive member 264, and a third resin member 265. The second resin member 263 and the third resin member 265 are each made of resin.

Specifically, as is the case with the first resin member 262, each second resin member 263 is formed from the resin film. The second resin member 263, among the second resin member 263, the second adhesive member 264, and the third resin member 265, is provided at the top, and is separated downward from the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. The second resin member 263 is integrally provided with the first resin member 262 of the base portion 251 side, extends from the first resin member 262 toward the operation portion 22D, passes through the gap G1, and reaches an upper position on the boundary line BL1.

Each second resin member 263 includes an upper surface 263A and a lower surface 263B that are separated from each other in the third direction D3. The upper surface 263A is the upper surface 252B of the flexible portion 252.

Each second adhesive member 264 is present between a corresponding second resin member 263 and a corresponding third resin member 265.

As is the case with the first adhesive member 261, each second adhesive member 264 is a double-sided tape or the like, and is adhered to the corresponding second resin member 263 and the corresponding third resin member 265. Specifically, each second adhesive member 264 includes an upper surface 264A and a lower surface 264B. The upper surface 264A is an example of a third surface of the present disclosure. The lower surface 264B is an example of a fourth surface of the present disclosure. The upper surface 264A and the lower surface 264B are separated from each other in the third direction D3, and both are adhesive. The upper surface 264A adheres to the lower surface 263B of the corresponding second resin member 263. The lower surface 264B adheres to an upper surface 265A of the corresponding third resin member 265.

As is the case with the second resin member 263, each third resin member 265 is formed from the resin film. Each third resin member 265 includes the upper surface 265A and a lower surface 265B that are separated from each other in the third direction D3. The lower surface 265B of each third resin member 265 is the lower surface 252A of the flexible portion 252, and is in contact with the adjacent portion 22G.

In the seal member 24, the flexible portion 252 is connected with a corresponding base portion 251 by only a sheet of resin film. This makes it easy for the flexible portion 252 to bend with respect to the corresponding base portion 251.

In the present embodiment, the operation/display portion 2 is included in the image processing apparatus 100. However, not limited to this configuration, the operation/display portion 2, namely the input device, may be provided in an electronic device other than the image processing apparatus 100. The electronic device includes what is called a tablet terminal.

In the present embodiment, the input device is the operation/display portion 2 that includes the display portion 21. However, not limited to this, the input device may not include the display portion 21. An example of this type of input device is a touch pad that is included in what is called a notebook personal computer.

In the present embodiment, the seal member 24 is formed by adhering a plurality of resin films with each other by a double-sided tape. However, not limited to this, it is possible to form the seal member 24 by integrally molding the resin material. That is, in the seal member 24, the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252 may be formed integrally, the plurality of resin films not being used.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein are illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
20020149571	Roberts	Oct 2002	A1
20020190727	Morimoto	Dec 2002	A1

Input device and image processing apparatus

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