Abstract: A panel-type input device including a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate, the conductive coat of each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer. The conductive coat of each electrode plate includes a detecting area adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to the detecting area, the inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of the detecting area. A parallel electrode pair adapted to apply a voltage to the conductive coat is formed in the detecting area, and conductors connected to the parallel electrode pair are formed in the inoperative area. The inoperative area insulates the conductors from the detecting area.

Abstract: An air conditioner that avoids the risk of fire and has a reduced number of refrigerant leakage detectors while using a refrigerant having a low global warming potential (GWP). The air conditioner is provided with a heat source unit configured to use a flammable refrigerant having a low global warming potential, and configured by housing inside a case refrigeration cycle components such as a heat exchanger in which the refrigerant flows, an electric part box in which electric parts are housed, and a blower driven by a motor. Also, airflow is formed by the blower in the case, and the refrigeration cycle components in which the refrigerant flows are arranged in the airflow in the case, and the electric part box and electric parts such as the motor of the blower are arranged upstream from the refrigeration cycle components in the airflow.

Abstract: A panel-type input device including a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate, the conductive coat of each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer. The conductive coat of each electrode plate includes a detecting area adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to the detecting area, the inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of the detecting area. A parallel electrode pair adapted to apply a voltage to the conductive coat is formed in the detecting area, and conductors connected to the parallel electrode pair are formed in the inoperative area. The inoperative area insulates the conductors from the detecting area.

Abstract: A panel-type input device including a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate, the conductive coat of each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer. The conductive coat of each electrode plate includes a detecting area adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to the detecting area, the inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of the detecting area. A parallel electrode pair adapted to apply a voltage to the conductive coat is formed in the detecting area, and conductors connected to the parallel electrode pair are formed in the inoperative area. The inoperative area insulates the conductors from the detecting area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a touch panel having a curved shape and its manufacturing process; for this purpose, the touch panel having a curved shape comprises an upper film substrate and a lower film substrate, each formed from a transparent plastic film having a transparent electrically conductive polymer layer, an electrode, and a wiring pattern formed thereon.

Abstract: An input detection circuit including: an acquisition portion that acquires at least one potential of a first conductive membrane formed on a first surface of a first substrate, and a second conductive membrane formed on a second surface of a second substrate provided at a position away from the first substrate, the second surface being opposed to the first conductive membrane; a first control portion that controls switches connected to the first conductive membrane or the second conductive membrane to intermittently apply a voltage to the first conductive membrane; and a first detection portion that detects an input operation by detecting the generation of a current that flows from the first conductive membrane to which the voltage is applied by the first control portion, to the second conductive membrane based on the potential acquired by the acquisition portion.

Abstract: A touch panel includes: a transparent substrate on which surface acoustic wave is propagated; a transmission/reception unit that is formed in peripheral regions on the transparent substrate, each two of the peripheral regions facing each other, and transmit and receive the surface acoustic wave; a detecting unit that detects the location of an object touching a predetermined operation area; and a sheet member that faces the transparent substrate, with a space layer being interposed in between, and has first protrusions formed on a substrate-facing surface that faces the transparent substrate. In this touch panel, the substrate-facing surface of the sheet member is not brought into contact with the transparent substrate when an object does not touch the operation area, and the substrate-facing surface of the sheet member is brought into contact with the transparent substrate when the object touches the operation area.

Abstract: An electrode plate with a conductive coat, which includes a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate. The conductive coat includes a first conductive member laminated on the surface of the substrate, the first conductive member being formed from a conducting polymer; and a second conductive member placed on a surface of the first conductive member in a distributed manner, the second conductive member being formed from an inorganic conductive material. An electric conductivity of the inorganic conductive material forming the second conductive member is higher than an electric conductivity of the conducting polymer forming the first conductive member.

Abstract: First electrodes partially configuring light-emitting elements are patterned in the form of stripes on a first major surface of a transparent substrate. Next, piezoelectric elements functioning a SAW touch sensor are formed on a second major surface of the transparent substrate. Next, the light-emitting elements forming step of forming light-emitting elements on the first electrodes which are patterned in advance is sequentially executed. After the formation of the piezoelectric elements, since the step of forming the light-emitting elements is executed, the light-emitting elements can be prevented from being damaged by receiving heat in the formation of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An input detection circuit including: an acquisition portion that acquires at least one potential of a first conductive membrane formed on a first surface of a first substrate, and a second conductive membrane formed on a second surface of a second substrate provided at a position away from the first substrate, the second surface being opposed to the first conductive membrane; a first control portion that controls switches connected to the first conductive membrane or the second conductive membrane to intermittently apply a voltage to the first conductive membrane; and a first detection portion that detects an input operation by detecting the generation of a current that flows from the first conductive membrane to which the voltage is applied by the first control portion, to the second conductive membrane based on the potential acquired by the acquisition portion.

Abstract: A panel-type input device including a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate, the conductive coat of each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer. The conductive coat of each electrode plate includes a detecting area adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to the detecting area, the inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of the detecting area. A parallel electrode pair adapted to apply a voltage to the conductive coat is formed in the detecting area, and conductors connected to the parallel electrode pair are formed in the inoperative area. The inoperative area insulates the conductors from the detecting area.

Abstract: First electrodes partially configuring light-emitting elements are patterned in the form of stripes on a first major surface of a transparent substrate. After the step of forming the first electrodes, piezoelectric elements functioning a SAW touch sensor is formed on a second major surface of the transparent substrate. Furthermore, after the step of forming the piezoelectric elements, the light-emitting elements forming step of forming light-emitting elements on the first electrodes which are patterned in advance is sequentially executed. Since the first electrodes are formed in the form of stripes, the piezoelectric elements can be prevented from being damaged by an etching solution used at this time. After the formation of the piezoelectric elements, since the step of forming the light-emitting elements is executed, the light-emitting elements can be prevented from being damaged by receiving heat in the formation of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A panel-type input device including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and an intermediate layer fixing the first electrode plate to the second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive coat on the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive coat on the second substrate, the second conductive coat being formed by using a conducting polymer. The intermediate layer is provided along outer edges of mutually opposed first and second conductive coats and ensures a spacing distance therebetween. The first and second electrode plates have a frame area including a region in which the intermediate layer is provided, and an input-permissible area surrounded by the frame area.

Abstract: A panel-type input device including a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate including a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of dot spacers formed in a dispersed arrangement on a surface of the conductive coat of at least one of the electrode plates. The electrode plates are assembled with each other in a relative arrangement such that respective conductive coats are opposed to and spaced from each other while permitting a conductive contact therebetween. The conductive coat of at least one of the electrode plates is formed by using a conducting polymer. The dot spacers are formed in such a manner that a value A=H/D, representing a relationship between an overall height H?m of each dot spacer measured from the surface of the conductive coat, on which the dot spacers are formed, and a substantial disposition interval Dmm of the dot spacers on the surface, is in a range of 1.5<A<6.0.

Abstract: A small and thin pressing direction sensor that can continually detect pressing directions in the angle range of 360 degrees is provided. This pressing direction sensor includes a ring-like resistive film pattern, a first electrode pattern, and a conductive member that electrically connects the resistive film pattern and the first electrode pattern when pressed. The voltage of the first electrode pattern represents the pressing direction. This pressing direction sensor may further include a second electrode pattern. A signal representing the pressing force can be obtained from the second electrode pattern when the pressed conductive member is brought into contact with the second electrode pattern.

Abstract: A touch panel including a fixation side substrate and an operation side substrate disposed in opposition and adhered to each other, having a fixation side conductive film and an operation side conductive film respectively formed on opposing faces of the fixation side substrate and the operation side substrate, and being capable of detecting any contact point on the fixation side conductive film and the operation side conductive film as a 2-dimensional coordinate, wherein a bending section is formed between one end and the other end thereof, and wherein two input operation regions are defined and formed on both sides of the bending section.

Abstract: A touch panel which is not deteriorated in the linearity of electric potential gradient despite having a protruding portion. In the touch panel, the local protruding region of at least one of a pair of electrode plates is electrically insulated from the transparent conductive film. The at least one electrode plate is formed so that the local protruding region electrically insulated from the transparent conductive film includes a protruding board portion locally protruding outward from a region of each insulating board located between a pair of electrodes. The local protruding region of the at least one electrode plate includes a second conductive film provided on one surface of the protruding board portion; the second conductive film is insulated from the transparent conductive film.

Abstract: A touch panel according to the present invention is constructed such that a transparent substrate coated with a transparent electrically conductive film and having dot spacers formed on top thereof, and a polarizing plate coated with a transparent electrically conductive polymer on a side thereof facing the transparent substrate, are disposed opposite each other with a prescribed space provided therebetween. As a result, the manufacturing process of the touch panel having such a polarizing plate is greatly simplified and a transparent electrically conductive film having an excellent mechanical strength can be formed as the transparent electrically conductive film of the touch panel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a touch panel having a curved shape and its manufacturing process; for this purpose, the touch panel having a curved shape comprises an upper film substrate and a lower film substrate, each formed from a transparent plastic film having a transparent electrically conductive polymer layer, an electrode, and a wiring pattern formed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a touch panel comprising a glass plate, a film that faces a surface of the glass plate, and dot spacers formed on the glass surface that faces the film, wherein the effective diameter of the dot spacer portion 51 that contacts the glass substrate is held within one half of the wavelength of a surface propagating acoustic wave. This arrangement serves to enhance the efficiency of surface acoustic wave propagation in the touch panel.