JP2000039959A - Device for inputting coordinate and manufacture of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent any crack by providing a protecting layer formed by hardening resin or inorganic materials on the side face constituted of the cut face of a glass substrate. SOLUTION: This coordinate inputting device uses a substrate 1 in which a lateral crack L generated due to a scribe operation in the cutting process of a glass plate G is remaining. When any impact load due to the drop of any object is applied, or any static load resulting in the bending of the coordinate inputting device itself is added to the coordinate inputting device, a protecting layer 2 is provided on the cut face of a substrate 1 with a lateral crack L as a start point, that is, a side face 1a on which the crack of the lateral crack L is exposed. The clearance of the lateral crack L is packed with resin or inorganic materials so as to be filled, and the resin or inorganic materials are hardened so that a side face 1a of the substrate 1 including the neighborhood of the lateral crack L can be covered. Thus, a projecting layer 2 can be formed. Therefore, any crack of the substrate 1 with the lateral crack L as a start point can be prevented by providing the protecting layer 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input device for inputting data by operating an operation area with an input pen or the like, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional coordinate input device. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a conventional coordinate input device, and FIGS. A and B are perspective views of main parts.
FIG. C is a sectional view taken along line 4C-4C in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional coordinate input device includes a substrate 1 made of a rectangular transparent plate-like glass.
Is provided with a transparent lower electrode portion 21 made of an ITO film (a resistive film made of indium oxide) on the entire upper surface thereof. A plurality of dot spacers 22 made of an insulating material are provided on the upper surface of the lower electrode portion 21 at intervals. The film 23 made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate is provided with a transparent upper electrode portion 24 made of an ITO film on the entire lower surface thereof, and the upper electrode portion 24 faces the lower electrode portion 21 to form a dot spacer. 22
It has a configuration in which the lower electrode portion 21 and the upper electrode portion 24 are mounted on each other and insulated from each other.

[0004] Such a coordinate input device presses an input member (not shown) such as an input pen and presses the film 2.
3 is deformed, the upper electrode portion 24 is brought into contact with the lower electrode portion 21, and desired coordinates are input.

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a conventional coordinate input device will be described. First, a lower electrode portion 21 composed of a plurality of ITO films is formed on a large glass plate G serving as the substrate 1 by printing in order to obtain a large number of pieces. Then, dot spacers 22 made of a plurality of insulating materials are formed at predetermined intervals on each lower electrode portion 21 by printing. Further, an upper electrode portion 24 made of an ITO film is formed on a film 23 having a desired shape by printing. And
The upper electrode part 24 is placed on the lower electrode part 21 by the dot spacer 2.
2 is arranged in a state of being interposed. In this way, a plurality of sets of coordinate input devices are continuously formed on the large glass plate G.

Next, in order to obtain an individual coordinate input device,
The following cutting process for forming a glass plate G on a desired rectangular substrate 1 is performed. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, a scribing operation is performed in which a surface of a large glass plate G is scratched in the same shape as the rectangular shape of the substrate 1 with a diamond cutter or the like. At the time of the scribe operation, a crack called a median crack M formed from the front side with the scratch S of the glass plate G toward the back side, and a crack formed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the median crack M, and a crack is formed in the glass sheet G. Small cracks called lateral cracks L exposed on the upper surface of the plate G remain on the glass plate G. Next, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4A, an external force is applied from the back surface direction of the glass plate G to enlarge the median crack M and reach the back surface, thereby breaking the glass plate G as shown in FIG. 4B. A break operation is performed to obtain a desired rectangular substrate 1. As described above, the coordinate input device as shown in FIG. 3 is completed. The scratch S formed by the scribing operation can be provided on the back surface of the glass plate G to perform the breaking operation.

In the above-described cutting step of forming the glass plate G on the desired rectangular substrate 1, the lateral crack L formed on the substrate 1 during the scribing operation remains on the substrate 1 even after the breaking operation. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the crack is exposed at the upper end and the side surface (cut surface) of the glass plate G. When an impact load is applied to the coordinate input device using the substrate 1 on which the lateral cracks L are left by dropping something or the like, or a static load is applied so that the coordinate input device itself is bent, a lateral load is applied. The substrate 1 is cracked starting from the crack L.
In the substrate 1 having the lateral crack L, 1/5 to 1 to 1 compared with the same glass plate having no lateral crack L.
It is known that it breaks under a load of / 3.

As described above, the presence of the lateral crack L lowers the strength of the substrate 1 against the load and tends to cause cracking. Therefore, it is desirable that the lateral crack L is not generated at all in the scribing operation in the cutting step. However, it is very difficult to completely eliminate the generation of the lateral crack L in the above-described glass plate cutting step.

[0009]

Conventionally, as a general method for obtaining a substrate made of a desired glass from which a lateral crack has been removed, a substrate including a portion where a lateral crack generated by a scribing operation in a cutting process of a glass plate exists is present. After the coordinate input device as shown in FIG. 3 is assembled, a method of removing the side surface by chamfering by grinding has been adopted.

However, during the chamfering of the glass plate, water is required for reasons such as cooling of the processing point. Therefore, water or glass powder generated by grinding enters the inside of the coordinate input device, and the lower electrode portion is removed. There is a possibility that operation failures of the upper electrode part 21 and the upper electrode part 24 may be caused. As described above, in order to prevent water or glass powder from being mixed into the coordinate input device, it is conceivable to first scribe and break a large glass plate G to form the substrate 1 and then to perform chamfering to assemble the coordinate input device. Since the lower electrode portion 21 and the dot spacers 22 cannot be formed by printing a plurality of sets at a time and must be formed for each substrate 1, the manufacturing cost of the coordinate input device increases.

After the chamfering, it is necessary to perform ultrasonic cleaning in order to completely remove the glass powder remaining on the substrate 1 and the like. However, the ultrasonic waves may destroy the lower electrode portion 21 and the dot spacer 22 and the like. Therefore, ultrasonic cleaning cannot be performed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coordinate input device capable of preventing a glass substrate from breaking due to a lateral crack, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0013]

As a first means for solving the above problems, a coordinate input device according to the present invention is provided on a side surface formed of a cut surface of a glass substrate formed by cutting. Alternatively, a protective layer formed by curing an inorganic material is provided. According to the coordinate input device having such a configuration,
Resin is filled in the gaps between the lateral cracks where the cracks are exposed on the side surfaces of the glass substrate, and the entire side surfaces including the vicinity of the lateral cracks are covered. Therefore, according to the coordinate input device of the present invention,
When a certain load is applied to the coordinate input device itself, the presence of the protective layer can prevent the substrate from breaking from a lateral crack as a starting point.

As a second solution, the coordinate input device of the present invention has a configuration in which the protective layer provided on the side surface is provided so as to extend to an end of the upper surface of the substrate. Thus, by filling the cured resin into the gaps between the lateral cracks exposed at the upper end of the substrate, it is possible to more reliably prevent the substrate from being cracked from the lateral cracks.

As a third solution, in the coordinate input device of the present invention, the protective layer is selected from the group consisting of water glass, silicone resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin and cyanoacrylate resin. And a single configuration. These inorganic materials and resins have good adhesion to glass, and are applied well to the side surface formed by a cut surface, and then adhered well when cured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the coordinate input device of the present invention, the protective layer has a thickness of 5 μm or more and 200 μm or more.
μm or less.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a coordinate input device according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: forming a scratch on a surface of a glass plate in a desired shape; A step of forming a substrate by dividing the board, a step of applying a resin or an inorganic material to a side surface of the cut surface of the substrate, and a step of curing the resin or the inorganic material to form a protective layer; did. According to the method for manufacturing such a coordinate input device, when a glass plate is split to form a substrate, a crack is generated at a side surface and an upper end portion so as to be exposed, and a side surface including a gap in a lateral crack and its vicinity. By applying and filling the resin on the upper surface end and curing it, when any load is applied to the coordinate input device manufactured using this substrate, the presence of the protective layer,
It is possible to prevent the substrate from being cracked starting from a lateral crack.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A coordinate input device and a method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals are given to components in the coordinate input device of the present invention that are the same as those in the conventional coordinate input device. 1 is a sectional view of a coordinate input device of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the entire coordinate input device of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a main part of the coordinate input device of the present invention. . FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the coordinate input device of the present invention.

The coordinate input device of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
As shown in B, the substrate 1 made of a rectangular transparent plate-like glass is made of a cured water glass, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin and a silicon resin formed so as to cover the side surface 1a. A protective layer 2 consisting of a selected one;
A transparent lower electrode portion 3 made of an ITO film (a resistive film made of indium oxide) is provided on the entire upper surface 1b of the substrate 1. Further, on the upper surface of the lower electrode portion 3, dot spacers 4 made of a plurality of insulating materials are provided at intervals. The film 5 made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate has an ITO
A transparent upper electrode portion 6 made of a film is provided, and the upper electrode portion 6 is placed on the dot spacer 4 so as to face the lower electrode portion 3, and the lower electrode portion 3 and the upper electrode portion 6 are connected to each other. It is configured to be combined in an insulated state.

Such a coordinate input device presses an input member (not shown) such as an input pen or the like, and
Is deformed, the upper electrode section 6 is brought into contact with the lower electrode section 3, and desired coordinates are input.

A method of manufacturing the coordinate input device according to the present invention will be described. First, a lower electrode portion 3 made of a plurality of ITO films is formed by printing on a large glass plate G serving as the substrate 1 for obtaining a large number of pieces. Then, a plurality of dot spacers 4 made of an insulating material are formed at predetermined intervals on each lower electrode portion 3 by printing. Also,
An upper electrode portion 6 made of an ITO film is formed on a film 5 having a desired shape by printing. Then, the upper electrode unit 6 is
It is arranged on the lower electrode part 3 with the dot spacer 4 interposed therebetween. In this way, a plurality of sets of coordinate input devices are continuously formed on the large glass plate G.

Next, in order to obtain an individual coordinate input device, a cutting step similar to the conventional method for manufacturing a coordinate input device, in which a glass plate G is formed on a desired rectangular substrate 1, is performed. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, a scribing operation is performed in which a surface of a large glass plate G is scratched in the same shape as the rectangular shape of the substrate 1 with a diamond cutter or the like. At the time of the scribe operation, a crack called a median crack M formed from the front side with the scratch S of the glass plate G toward the back side, and a crack formed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the median crack M, and a crack is formed in the glass sheet G. Small cracks called lateral cracks L exposed on the upper surface of the plate G
To remain. Next, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4A, an external force is applied from the back surface direction of the glass plate G, and the median crack M
4B, a break operation of breaking the glass plate G is performed to obtain the desired rectangular substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 4B.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, a resin or an inorganic material is applied to the cut side surface 1a of the substrate 1 to fill the gap of the lateral crack L generated on the side surface 1a of the substrate 1, The entire side surface 1a including the vicinity of the lateral crack L is covered. Also, as a resin or an inorganic material,
Water glass, silicone resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin and cyanoacrylate resin, which have high adhesion because the main component is the same as the glass plate, and are cured at room temperature, A material that is cured by heat and a material that is cured by ultraviolet rays are used, and are appropriately selected according to the use environment and the manufacturing conditions of the coordinate input device. Then, the protective layer 2 is formed by curing the resin or the inorganic material by an appropriate method.

Thereafter, a lower electrode portion 3 made of an ITO film is formed on the substrate 1. Then, a plurality of dot spacers 4 made of an insulating material are placed on the lower electrode portion 3 at predetermined intervals.

Then, an upper electrode portion 6 made of an ITO film is formed on the film 5 having a desired shape. The upper electrode unit 6 is disposed on the lower electrode unit 3 with the dot spacer 4 interposed therebetween, to obtain a coordinate input device.

According to the coordinate input device of the present invention, the coordinate input device to which the substrate 1 on which the lateral crack L generated in the scribing operation in the cutting step of the glass plate G is applied applies an impact load by dropping something or the like. As described above, in order to prevent the substrate 1 from cracking starting from the lateral crack L when a static load is applied or the coordinate input device itself is bent, as described above,
The protective layer 2 is provided on the cut surface of the substrate 1, that is, the side surface 1a where the crack of the lateral crack L is exposed. That is, the gap between the lateral cracks L is filled with a resin or an inorganic material to fill the gaps, and the substrate 1 including the vicinity of the lateral cracks L
Is cured so as to cover the side surface 1a of the protective layer 2 and the protective layer 2 is provided. By providing such a protective layer 2, cracking of the substrate 1 originating from the lateral crack L can be prevented.

The thickness of the protective layer 2 is 5 μm or more and 200 μm or more.
It is preferable to provide it within the range of μm or less. This is 5
When the thickness is smaller than μm, the effect of reinforcing the substrate 1 is reduced. When the thickness exceeds 200 μm, the thickness of the protective layer 2 increases, so that the outer shape of the substrate 1 becomes larger and exceeds the allowable range of the dimensional accuracy of the coordinate input device. That's why.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the protective layer 2
It may be provided also at the end of the upper surface 1b of the substrate 1 on the side where the substrate 1 is damaged by a diamond cutter or the like. That is, the cracks of the lateral crack L are exposed not only at the side surface 1a of the substrate 1 but also at the end of the upper surface 1b, so that the protective layer 2 provided on the side surface 1a extends to the end of the upper surface 1b. L is filled and reinforced by covering the end of the upper surface 1b. By providing the protective layer 2 on the side surface 1a and the end portion of the upper surface 1b in this manner, it is possible to more reliably prevent the substrate 1 from being cracked starting from the lateral crack L in the substrate 1 and to reinforce the end portion of the substrate 1 The effect is also increased.

The thickness of the protective layer 2 provided at the end of the upper surface 1b of the substrate 1 is preferably in the range of 5 μm or more and 200 μm or less, similarly to the thickness of the side surface 1a. It is preferable that the protective layer 2 is provided within a range of 2 mm from the edge of the substrate 1. This is because if it is 2 mm or more, it exceeds the allowable range of the dimensional accuracy of the coordinate input device.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A substrate on which a protective layer 2 is formed by applying and curing a resin on a cut side surface 1a of a glass plate G by a method similar to the cutting process shown in the above-described method for manufacturing a coordinate input device. For No. 1, a static load was applied to perform a destructive test, and the strength was measured.

First, using a glass plate G having a thickness of 0.7 mm, two sets of coordinate input devices are manufactured by the above-described method for manufacturing a coordinate input device, and each of the glass plates is cut.
The substrate 1 was a rectangular substrate 1 of 40 mm × 60 mm. Next, an epoxy resin was applied to the side surface 1a of the substrate 1 of the one coordinate input device, which was a cut surface, and was heated and cured to form the protective layer 2, thereby obtaining a sample (Example). In addition, the other coordinate input device is a conventional example for comparison without forming a protective layer on the substrate 1.

Next, beneath each sample (Example and Conventional Example), a 10 mm square section and a length of 4 mm were cut parallel to the short side (40 mm).
Two 0-mm steel materials were laid, and the center of each sample was gradually pressed with a 9-mm-diameter steel ball to apply a static load (a fracture test with two sides fixed). Then, the load (breaking load) when the substrate 1 was broken was measured. These tests were performed five times on each sample. The average was calculated. Table 1 shows the results.

[0033]

[Table 1]

As can be seen from the results shown in Table 1, the embodiment of the coordinate input device of the present invention provided with the protective layer 2 has a higher breaking load than the conventional coordinate input device without the protective layer 2. Small variation and high average breaking load. In addition, the breaking load of the example is close to the original strength of the glass plate G constituting the substrate 1, but the strength is low due to the lateral crack L of the cut surface generated in the cutting step, and it is easily broken. As described above, the resin 1 is coated and cured on the side surface 1a which is the cut surface of the cut glass plate G to form the substrate 1 protective layer 2.
It can be seen that the strength is improved.

[0035]

According to the coordinate input device of the present invention, a protective layer formed by curing a resin or an inorganic material is provided on the side surface of a cut surface of a glass substrate formed by cutting. When a certain load is applied to the coordinate input device itself, the presence of the protective layer can prevent the substrate from breaking from a lateral crack as a starting point.

According to the coordinate input device of the present invention, since the protective layer provided on the side surface is provided so as to extend to the end of the upper surface of the substrate, it is possible to prevent the substrate from being cracked starting from a lateral crack. Can be prevented more reliably.

Further, according to the coordinate input device of the present invention, the protective layer is made of water glass, silicone resin, acrylic resin,
By being composed of one selected from the group consisting of an epoxy-based resin and a cyanoacrylate-based resin, it is possible to select a suitable resin according to the use environment of the coordinate input device and the manufacturing conditions of the coordinate input device. .

Further, according to the coordinate input device of the present invention, since the thickness of the protective layer is 5 μm or more and 200 μm or less, the effect of reinforcing the substrate within the allowable dimensions of the outer shape of the substrate can be maintained. it can.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing the coordinate input device of the present invention, a step of forming a desired shape on the surface of the glass plate, and applying an external force from the back surface of the glass plate to divide the glass plate to form a substrate. Step, by applying a resin or inorganic material to the side surface of the cut surface of the substrate, by having a step of curing the resin or inorganic material to form a protective layer,
When a certain load is applied to the coordinate input device manufactured using this substrate, the presence of the protective layer can prevent the substrate from cracking starting from a lateral crack.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a coordinate input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the coordinate input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional coordinate input device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a conventional coordinate input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate 1a Side surface 1b Upper surface 2 Protective film 3 Lower electrode part 4 Dot spacer 5 Film 6 Upper electrode part G Glass plate S Scratch M Median crack L Lateral crack

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate input device comprising: a glass substrate formed by cutting; and a protective layer formed by curing a resin or an inorganic material on a side surface of the cut surface of the substrate. 2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer provided on the side surface is provided so as to extend to an end of an upper surface of the substrate. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer is made of one selected from the group consisting of water glass, a silicone resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, and a cyanoacrylate resin. Item 3. The coordinate input device according to Item 2. 4. The protective layer has a thickness of 5 μm or more and 200 μm or more.
The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate input device is equal to or less than μm. 5. A step of forming a desired shape on the surface of the glass plate, a step of applying an external force from the back surface of the glass plate to split the glass plate to form a substrate, and a side surface comprising a cut surface of the substrate. A method for manufacturing a coordinate input device, comprising: a step of applying a resin or an inorganic material to a substrate; and a step of curing the resin or the inorganic material to form a protective layer.