Proposal of a touch panel switch with the function of bending and addition - one of a new user interface

Recently, a variety of user interfaces are used to control various electrical appliances and equipments. Almost all devices equipped push-button or touch panel so that they can be operated by using finger easily. These interfaces are very useful and convenient, but still they have some drawbacks such as the fixed size, the squared shape, and the flat surface. Due to these restrictions, it is hard to add or to remove buttons when the number of commands is altered. To solve the above problems, we propose a new type of touch panel switch. Proposed panel can be stuck on an arbitrary bended surface, and be cut to arbitrary shape. Moreover the number of switch for one device controlling can be easily altered. Thus, it can be placed at various target objects existing in human living space. For examples, table, desk, chair, doll, handle of vehicle, pillow, and people's bodies etc. The method, experiments, and the results are explained in this paper. The demonstration shows the effect of proposed touch switch.