Patent ID: 8766924

Claim:
An EL emitting touch switch, comprising: a plurality of first electrodes having light permeability; a second electrode arranged so as to face the plurality of first electrodes, the second electrode functioning as a single electrode associated with the plurality of first electrodes; a plurality of EL layers each sandwiched between a corresponding one of the first electrodes and the second electrode, each of the EL layers being a laminate including a phosphor layer and an electrically insulating layer; light emission driving means for applying a driving voltage between each of the first electrodes and the second electrode to cause the EL layers to emit light, the light emission driving means including switching elements that selectively and electrically connect each of the plurality of first electrodes to a ground potential and disconnect the first electrodes from the ground potential; timing signal generating means for generating a first timing signal to control the light emission driving means such that the application of the driving voltage is stopped at predetermined intervals by electrically disconnecting the first electrodes from the ground potential by the switching elements while the first timing signal is being output, the first timing signal being a pulse signal having a first predetermined width; and touch decision means provided for each of the first electrodes, each of the touch decision means including a feedback circuit that supplies an electric current to a corresponding one of the first electrodes such that potentials of the corresponding first electrode and the second electrode become equal to each other when the first timing signal is being output, and a decision circuit that detects contact of a human body with the corresponding first electrode based on operation of the feedback circuit only while the application of the driving voltage by the light emission driving means is being stopped in accordance with the first timing signal, wherein the timing signal generating means generates a second timing signal while the first timing signal is being output, the second timing signal being a pulse signal having a second predetermined width shorter than the first predetermined width such that the second timing signal completely overlaps the first timing signal, and the decision circuit detects contact of a human body at a rise timing of the second timing signal from the timing signal generating means.