Abstract: A movable contact unit includes a base sheet made of polyurethane resin, a domed movable contact made of thin metal sheet, and a pushing protrusion. The movable contact is held on a first face side of the base sheet. The pushing protrusion is formed on a second face of the base sheet at a place corresponding to a domed top of the movable contact.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive conductive sheet is provided by having a plurality of ferromagnetic conductive particles dispersed in a transparent elastic member joined together and linearly aligned with the thickness direction thereby forming a linear aggregate and then having the linear aggregate segmented into a plurality conductive elements, held linearly aligned with the thickness direction, with predetermined gaps formed therebetween. Further, a touch panel having good transparency and allowing stabilized operation is provided by interposing the pressure sensitive conductive sheet between an upper conductive layer on the lower face of an upper substrate and a lower conductive layer on the upper face of a lower substrate.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive conductive sheet includes a film-like base material, and a low resistive layer and a high resistive layer, which are formed in this order on the bottom surface of the base material. The high resistive layer has soft particles and hard particles different in average particle size dispersed therein. There are fixed contacts formed under the bottom surface of the high resistive layer. The pressure sensitive conductive sheet and a panel switch using the sheet have small variations in the resistance change after repeated pressing, thereby providing reliable operation.

Abstract: A touch panel is equipped with a light-transmissive upper substrate, a light-transmissive lower substrate, a polarizing plate bonded onto a top surface of the upper substrate, and a light-transmissive adhesive layer containing acid acceptors. A lower surface of the upper substrate is formed thereon with an upper conductive layer, and a top surface of the lower substrate is formed thereon with a lower conductive layer facing the upper conductive layer, with a certain air gap provided. The polarizing plate has a polarizer and a triacetylcellulose film bonded onto both surfaces of the polarizer. The adhesive layer bonds at least one of the polarizer with the triacetylcellulose film and the upper substrate with the polarizing plate. This makeup provides the touch panel with favorable visibility and easy operability.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive conductive sheet is provided by having a plurality of ferromagnetic conductive particles dispersed in a transparent elastic member joined together and linearly aligned with the thickness direction thereby forming a linear aggregate and then having the linear aggregate segmented into a plurality conductive elements, held linearly aligned with the thickness direction, with predetermined gaps formed therebetween. Further, a touch panel having good transparency and allowing stabilized operation is provided by interposing the pressure sensitive conductive sheet between an upper conductive layer on the lower face of an upper substrate and a lower conductive layer on the upper face of a lower substrate.

Abstract: A touch panel includes multiple belt-like lower electrodes formed on a light transparent base sheet and multiple belt-like upper electrodes placed away from the lower electrodes with a predetermined distance therebetween and in a direction crossing with the lower electrodes at right angles. The lower and upper electrodes are made of light transmissive and electrically conductive resin, so that they can be formed in a simple way such as printing. The foregoing structure thus allows obtaining the touch panel manufactured in a simple way at a lower cost.

Abstract: It comprises a touch panel with a plurality of band-like optically transmissive lower electrodes and upper electrodes formed at predetermined intervals in directions perpendicular to each other on an upper surface of an optically transparent base sheet, a dome-like movable contact formed from a conductive metal sheet which is mounted under the touch panel, and a light guide sheet with a plurality of convex-concave light emitting portions formed on an optically transparent substrate, which is disposed between the touch panel and the movable contact. Accordingly, uniform illumination can be attained by using only one or two light emitting elements, and it is possible to obtain a movable contact body capable of inexpensive and reliable illumination.

Abstract: A light-guide sheet includes a light transmissive film substrate, and luminescent protrusions formed at predetermined points on the substrate. At least one of the substrate and each of the luminescent protrusions is colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light more than blue light. Alternatively, a reflective layer colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light more than blue light is provided on at least one of the top and bottom faces of the substrate.

Abstract: A first resistor layer is formed on the lower surface of a base in film form, and at the same time, a second resistor layer in which particles of different particle diameters are dispersed is formed and layered on the lower surface of the first resistor layer, and thus, a pressure sensitive conductive sheet is formed. In this configuration, the second resistor layer in uneven form makes contact with the fixed contacts in accordance with a pressing force so that electrical connection is made via the second resistor layer and the first resistor layer, and therefore, a thin panel switch with little fluctuation in the resistance value resulting from repeated operation where a stable resistance value can be gained can be realized.

Abstract: A movable contact assembly includes a light guiding sheet which is light transmittable, and a movable contact provided on the light guiding sheet. The light guiding sheet has a portion having the movable contact provided thereon and a portion having plural grooves provided therein. The grooves constitute a light inlet for introducing light into the light guiding sheet. This movable contact assembly can illuminate a switch preferably with a simple structure, providing the switch with an easily operation.

Abstract: A touch panel includes multiple belt-like upper conductive layers and lower conductive layers formed in an orthogonal direction to the upper conductive layers. Those two kinds of layers are formed on a light transmissible substrate. A strong adhesion layer and a weak adhesion layer are layered together on a top face or an underside of the light transmissible substrate. The presence of the weak adhesion layer allows peeling off the touch panel from a cover of an apparatus fairly easier when the touch panel needs to be retrofitted to the cover. Since the weak adhesion layer is peeled off together with the strong adhesion layer, it will not be transferred or attached onto the cover. No time or labor is thus needed for removing the layer transferred or attached to the cover. The touch panel capable of being retrofitted with ease is thus obtainable.

Abstract: A touch panel includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an insulating spacer, a bonding layer, and a water-absorbing layer. This structure allows suppressing dew formation, so that the touch panel which is excellent in visibility and capable of positive operation is obtainable.

Abstract: A movable contact point made of a thin conductive metal sheet in an approximate dome shape is attached to the lower surface of a transparent base sheet, and the base sheet is provided at the upper or the lower surface with a fluorescent layer in the location above the movable contact point. Since, in the make-up, light can be made available for illumination in many colors other than that generated from a light emitting device, a movable contact element, as well as a switch formed using the contact element, that offers various illuminating modes can be implemented in a simple structure.

Abstract: A movable contact element including a lower sheet having a bottom surface, to which a substantially dome-shaped movable contact is bonded, is provided. The movable contact is made of a conductive thin metal plate, and an upper sheet with a light reflection property is disposed above the lower sheet. A space is formed between the lower sheet and the upper sheet, and a light transmitting portion is provided at the upper sheet. Light of a light emitting element from the side surface of the sheet propagates through the space between the upper sheet and the lower sheet with a light reflection property, while being reflected in a vertical direction, and lighting is performed through the light transmitting portions. Such a structure can perform lighting without unevenness by using one or two light emitting elements.

Abstract: A conductive sheet includes a film-like substrate, conductive patterns, and an insulator. The conductive patterns provided on the substrate are made of a synthetic resin dispersed with silver therein. The insulator made of a synthetic resin dispersed with silver chloride therein is provided on the substrate so as to separate the conductive patterns from each other. Followings are the manufacturing method of the conductive sheet. First, a conductive layer including the synthetic resin dispersed with silver therein is formed on the substrate. Next, a solution including a chloride capable of reacting with silver is coated on a predetermined portion of the conductive layer. Finally, the solution coated on the position on the conductive layer is heated to change silver into silver chloride chemically, thereby forming the insulator so as to form the conductive patterns.

Abstract: A wiring board used for various electronic apparatuses, an input device such as an optically transparent touch panel using the wiring board, and a method of manufacturing the input device. A plurality of electrodes provided at the side of one end of one principal surface of wiring board, wiring patterns coupled to electrodes, and a connector disposed region provided at the side of the other end of wiring board are provided. In this connector disposed region, connectors are disposed. In substantially the central portion of the connector disposed region, a concave portion is provided and in the vicinity of connectors, a bending portion is disposed. Furthermore, a cut portion is disposed between or in the vicinity of the plurality of connectors. The wiring board may thereby be manufactured with all conductive portions on one side and then, by bending. some connectors maybe be positioned on the other side.

Abstract: A first resistor layer is formed on the lower surface of a base in film form, and at the same time, a second resistor layer in which particles of different particle diameters are dispersed is formed and layered on the lower surface of the first resistor layer, and thus, a pressure sensitive conductive sheet is formed. In this configuration, the second resistor layer in uneven form makes contact with the fixed contacts in accordance with a pressing force so that electrical connection is made via the second resistor layer and the first resistor layer, and therefore, a thin panel switch with little fluctuation in the resistance value resulting from repeated operation where a stable resistance value can be gained can be realized.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a touch panel with improved visibility. Polarizing plate (15) of the touch panel has a laminated structure in which polarizing layer (15a) is sandwiched between upper protective layer (15b) and lower protective layer (15c). Of the three layers, lower protective layer (15c) is formed as a phase-difference layer with ¼ wavelength made of a cycloolefin-based polymer. The structure protects polarizing plate (15) from distortion and deterioration, offering good visibility. At the same time, the structure above contributes to reduced parts count and accordingly cost-reduced touch panel.

Abstract: According to the input device of the present invention, phase-difference plate (11) with ¼ wavelength is disposed on the top surface of upper substrate (1) of touch panel (12). As a result of passing through phase-difference plate (11), lamplight 9a that illuminates LCD element (8) goes outside as outgoing-light 9c with a phase-shift of ¼ wavelength. With the structure above, a user wearing polarized sunglasses—even if they have an absorption axis in a direction the same as that of lamplight 9a—can easily recognize the displays shown by LCD element (8) on the back surface of touch panel (12). The structure offers a user-friendly input device with good visibility of LCD element (8).

Abstract: A touch panel has an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an elastic layer, plural conducting wires, and a gel layer. An upper conductive layer is formed at a lower surface of the upper substrate, a lower conductive layer that faces the upper conductive layer with a gap in between is formed at a top surface of the lower substrate, and the elastic layer is formed at a top surface of the lower conductive layer. The conductive wires are partially buried in the elastic layer and are disposed in a manner vertically oriented with a gap from the upper conductive layer. The gel layer is formed between the upper conductive layer and the elastic layer. With this construction, the touch panel is obtainable that suffers less wrong operation and allows reliable operation.