JP2001154592A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device equipped with a touch panel having high strength against bending even when the panel is formed from a lightweight thin material. SOLUTION: The display device 2 is equipped with a display member (e.g. liquid crystal panel) 8 in a thin plate state to display a picture and with a touch panel 7 in a thin plate state disposed in the front of the display member 8. The tough panel 7 is formed into a curved face protruding in the opposite side of the touch panel 7 to the display member 8. Further, the display member 8 is preferably formed into a curved face having a curvature almost the same as that of the touch panel 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display or an electroluminescence display), and more particularly to a display device provided with a translucent member (for example, a touch panel or a light guide plate) mounted on the front surface of the display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for a lighter display device such as a liquid crystal display. For this reason, it is necessary to use a light and thin material such as resin for a light-transmitting member mounted on the front surface of the display device, for example, a touch panel. There is.

[0003]

However, in the case of a touch panel using such a material, the strength against bending is lower than that of a touch panel using glass or the like. May cause physical interference with the display unit. For example, when the display unit is a liquid crystal, there is a possibility that the state of the liquid crystal changes due to the pressure on the liquid crystal and the display screen is disturbed. Further, when the screen size is large or the screen size is long, there is a problem that the translucent member is easily bent.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device provided with a touch panel having high strength against bending even when formed from a light and thin material.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device comprising: a thin display member for displaying a screen; A thin plate-shaped translucent member having a curved surface convexly curved away from the member, and an exterior member covering at least the back surface of the display member, wherein the display member and the translucent member overlap each other. It is characterized by joining in such a manner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device comprising: a display member;
A thin plate-shaped light-transmitting member that is provided on the front surface of the display member and has a curved surface that is convexly curved in a direction away from the display member, and an exterior member that covers at least the back surface of the display member; The member is characterized in that the display is degraded by an external pressure.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a display device includes: a display member;
A thin plate-shaped translucent member provided on the front surface of the display member and having a curved surface convexly curved in a direction away from the display member, and contacting the display member by external contact with the translucent member; And a support member for supporting the light-transmitting member so as to bend within a range where the light-transmitting member is prevented from being deformed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device, comprising: a display member;
A thin plate-shaped light-transmitting member provided on the front surface of the display member and having a curved surface convexly curved in a direction away from the display member; and a support member for supporting the light-transmitting member at a peripheral portion thereof. It is characterized by having.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device, comprising: a display member;
A thin plate-shaped translucent member provided on the front surface of the display member,
And a support member that supports the translucent member at a peripheral edge thereof so as to form a curved surface that is convexly curved away from the display member.

The display device according to claim 6 is the display device according to claims 2 to 5.
The display device according to any one of the above, wherein the display member is on a thin plate, and is joined to the translucent member.

A display device according to a seventh aspect is the display device according to the first to sixth aspects.
The display device according to any one of the above, further comprising a display control unit that controls display of the display member on a back surface of the display member.

The display device according to claim 8 is the display device according to claims 2-5.
The display device according to any one of the above, wherein a clearance is provided between the display member and the translucent member.

The display device according to the ninth aspect is the display device according to the first to eighth aspects.
The display device according to any one of the above, wherein the display member is a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of flexible resin substrates.

The display device according to claim 10 is the display device according to claim 2.
5. The display device according to any one of items 5, wherein the display member is
The light-transmitting member is curved in a convex shape in a direction toward the light-transmitting member, and has a curved surface having a curvature corresponding to the curved surface of the light-transmitting member.

The display device according to claim 11 is the display device according to claims 1 to
10. The display device according to any one of items 10, wherein the shape of the light-transmitting member is a cubic curved surface.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device, comprising: a thin plate-shaped display member; and a touch panel provided on a front surface of the display member, wherein the touch panel has a curved surface that is convexly curved in a direction away from the display member. It is a feature. The touch panel may be flexible. Further, the touch panel may be made of a resin material.

A display device according to a thirteenth aspect includes a display member, a touch panel provided on a front surface of the display member, and a support member for holding the touch panel at a predetermined position, wherein the touch panel is separated from the display member. It is characterized by having a curved surface curved in a convex shape in the direction, and being supported by a support member so as to bend within a range where contact with the display member is prevented by a touch operation by an operator.

The display device according to the fourteenth aspect is the display device according to the twelfth aspect.
Or the display device according to any one of the thirteenth aspect, wherein the touch panel is a pressure-sensitive touch panel.

The display device according to claim 15 is the display device according to claims 1 to
11. The display device according to any one of items 11, wherein the translucent member is a touch panel.

The display device according to claim 16 is the display device according to claims 1 to
12. The display device according to any one of items 11, wherein the translucent member is a light guide plate.

A display device according to claim 17 is the display device according to claim 16.
In the display device described above, a light source is provided near the light guide plate.

A display device according to claim 18 is the display device according to claim 15.
Alternatively, in the sixteenth display device, the translucent member and the touch panel are stacked.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a display device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG.
Are joined to each other in the shape of a curved surface (for example, a secondary curved surface, a cubic curved surface) convex toward the upper side of the drawing.
The touch panel 7 includes a press detection film 4 facing a user (not shown) and a first base (shape holding member) 6 made of a resin such as plastic (for example, polycarbonate). On the back surface of the first base portion 6, a film-shaped liquid crystal panel (a liquid crystal panel () joined to a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the curved surface of the touch panel 7 at a predetermined distance from the base portion 6. A display member) 8 and a second base (shape holding member) 9 made of a resin such as plastic (for example, polycarbonate) are provided. The size L of the gap is determined by the external force of the touch panel 7 as described later. The first base portion 6 is set so as not to contact the liquid crystal panel 8 when flexing downward. As the liquid crystal panel 8, for example, a liquid crystal sandwiched between a resin film substrate having flexibility and a spacer is used, and a reflection type liquid crystal panel using selective reflection by a cholesteric phase of the liquid crystal is used. be able to. Also, on the back surface (the lower side in the drawing) of the second base portion 9,
A substrate (screen display control unit) 10 on which various components for controlling the touch panel 7 and the liquid crystal panel 8 are mounted at a predetermined interval from the curved base unit 9.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the touch panel 7, the liquid crystal panel 8, and the second base portion 9 are formed at their peripheral edges by the frame 11 of the display device 2 (for example, a part of an exterior member). Is fixedly supported.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the exterior member when the touch panel 7, the liquid crystal panel 8, and the second base 9 are fixedly supported by a part of the exterior member of the display device. As shown in FIG. 3, this exterior member 20 is
2, and the curved surface portion 22 is provided with an opening 24. The opening 24 is formed in a size and shape capable of fitting the touch panel 7, the liquid crystal panel 8, and the second base 9, and a peripheral portion 26 of the opening 24.
A touch panel 7, a liquid crystal panel 8, and a second base 9
By joining them, they are supported in a curved state.

Next, the configuration of the touch panel 7 will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 1B, the press detection film 4
Are a first and a second arranged at a predetermined interval from each other.
12A, 12B, and these films 12A,
First and second transparent conductive films (for example, ITO films) 14A and 14B respectively formed inside 12B, and a plurality of spacers 16 for maintaining a gap between these conductive films 14A and 14B substantially uniformly. And the second film 12
By bonding the curved base portion 6 to the back surface (the lower side in the drawing) of B, the film-shaped touch panel 7 is held in a curved shape.

In the display device 2 configured as described above, an external force (arrow in FIG. 1B) is applied to the first film 12A of the touch panel 7, thereby corresponding to the portion where the force is applied. The first conductive film portion to be brought into contact with the second conductive film portion. As a result, an electric circuit (not shown) including the conductive portion is formed, and the coordinates of the pressed position on the touch panel are electrically specified by a position detection circuit (not shown) through the electric circuit. Then, if necessary, a predetermined voltage is applied to a predetermined liquid crystal portion (for example, a portion below the conductive portion) in the liquid crystal panel 8 by a driving circuit (not shown) based on the coordinates to apply the predetermined voltage to the liquid crystal portion. Change the state of.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2A, in the touch panel 7 held in a curved shape, the stress generated in the touch panel 7 when the touch panel 7 is pressed is dispersed, so that the touch panel 7 is held in a flat shape. When the touch panel 7 'is depressed, the bending is smaller than in the case of [FIG. 2B].

The shape of the touch panel 7 used in the display device 2 according to the present invention may be, for example, as shown in FIG. Figures (a), (b), (c), and (d) show the secondary curved surface, the secondary polyhedral, the tertiary curved surface, and the tertiary polyhedral touch panel 7, respectively. The secondary curved surface in FIG. 7A is easier to process the shape than the tertiary curved surface, and is more robust against bending (that is, harder to bend) than the secondary multiple surface. The secondary multi-plane (including the plane that only bends the end of the plane) in FIG. 6B is easy to process because it is a combination of planes. The tertiary curved surface (including the spherical surface) in FIG. 9C has more supporting portions (frames) 11 than the secondary curved surface, and thus has a greater effect of dispersing stress than the secondary curved surface. The tertiary multi-plane (including one that only bends the ends of the plane) in FIG. 4D is easy to process because it is a combination of planes. In any case, the exterior shape can be variously designed by making the shape of the touch panel 7 which is a translucent member provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 which is a display member not a flat surface but a variety of shapes such as a curved surface or multiple surfaces. (Ie, the degree of freedom of the outer shape is increased).
Useful for design and implementation.

The base 6 of the touch panel 7, the substrate of the liquid crystal panel 8, and the second base 9 are made of a material to prevent cracks from being caused by flexural deformation. It is preferable to use a flexible resin such as plastic (for example, polycarbonate) in order to facilitate formation into a shape and to reduce the weight. However, even a hard material such as glass can be used as long as it is thin and can be bent.

The above description relates to one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention can be variously modified. For example,
The shape of the liquid crystal panel 8 is not limited to a curved shape, but may be a flat shape as shown in FIG. 5, for example. In this case, in the display device 2 ′, instead of bonding the shape holding member to the liquid crystal panel 8 ′, the liquid crystal panel 8 ′ is stuck on the mounting substrate 10 ′ to maintain the shape of the liquid crystal panel 8 ′ in a planar shape. (Note that components that cannot be arranged at the joint with the liquid crystal panel 8 'are arranged on the opposite side of the joint with respect to the mounting board 10'.) However, the liquid crystal panel 8 and the touch panel 7
In consideration of the optical characteristics described above, it is preferable that the liquid crystal panel 8 is also formed into a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the touch panel 7. The reason for this is that if the liquid crystal panel 8 is flat, it is inevitable that the clearance between the touch panel 7 and the liquid crystal panel 8 increases, and the position where the user touches the touch panel 7 and the position where the user sees it are shifted, When non-glare processing is performed to prevent regular reflection and to prevent contamination, problems such as a reduction in luminance may occur. In addition, there is a problem in that the degree of positional shift due to parallax differs depending on the position, resulting in poor operability, and a decrease in luminance due to the non-glare processing varies depending on the position, and image quality tends to deteriorate.

As shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal panel 8 is directly pasted (ie, without providing a clearance) to the press detection film 4 and the shape holding member 6 which are joined to each other. In this case, even if the touch panel 7 is pressed, the liquid crystal panel 8 bends as a whole together with the touch panel 7, so that the liquid crystal panel 8 receives local pressure and is The state of the liquid crystal does not change.

As shown in FIG. 7, if a film-like flexible substrate is used as a mounting substrate for each component, the liquid crystal panel 8
By pasting the mounting substrate 10 "on the back surface of the display device, it becomes unnecessary to set a clearance between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the mounting substrate 10", and the display device 2 "" becomes compact. Components that cannot be arranged at the joint with the liquid crystal panel 8 may be arranged on the opposite side of the joint with respect to the mounting board 10 ″. In the embodiment shown in FIG. By using the strength of 6, the strength of the mounting substrate 10 ″ required for maintaining the shape can be set low, so that the display device 2 ′ ″ can be made lighter.

In the above embodiment, a pressure-sensitive touch panel is used as a panel mounted on the front surface of the display device. However, an optical touch panel or a touch panel using surface acoustic waves may be used.

In addition, although the liquid crystal panel is used as the display member in the above embodiment, the display member is a thin plate-like display member such as an EL (electroluminescence) display panel, and the display is disturbed by pressing or the display member itself is pressed. This applies to anything that causes a defect such as damage to the device.

Further, the liquid crystal panel is not limited to a reflection type by selective reflection of the liquid crystal itself, but also needs a transmission type liquid crystal, a reflection type provided with a reflection plate on the back surface, and a backlight as a whole. It may be a transmissive liquid crystal panel. In the former case, the entire liquid crystal panel including the reflection plate is flexible, and in the latter case, the back diffusion plate is made flexible and the entire liquid crystal panel including the back diffusion plate is flexible. As long as a film-shaped backlight using EL is provided on the back surface to make it flexible as a whole, the present invention can be applied to a mode in which a curved display member and a light-transmitting member are joined as shown in FIG.

As the translucent member, not only the above touch panel but also various optical members can be applied. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a light guide plate for illumination for illuminating a liquid crystal panel as a display member from the front surface is used as a light transmitting member will be described.

FIG. 8 shows the light guide plate 2 on the front of the liquid crystal panel 8 ″.
This is an example in which a light source 24 (for example, a white LED, a fluorescent lamp, or the like) having a reflector 22 disposed on the back surface is arranged opposite to the side surface of the light guide plate 20 by bonding the light source 24. In this example, the light guide plate 20 also serves as a base material for holding the curved surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 ″, thereby reducing the overall thickness.

FIG. 9 shows a light guide plate 20 in addition to the configuration of FIG.
In this example, the touch panel 7 "(only the press detection film) is joined to the front surface of the touch panel. In this example, the light guide plate 20 also serves as a base material of the touch panel 7", and the thickness is reduced by adding the touch panel function. The increase is suppressed.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which a clearance is provided between the touch panel 7 ′ ″ (press detection film and base portion) and the light guide plate 20 in the embodiment of FIG. 9.

The display device shown in FIGS. 9 to 10 has a flat liquid crystal panel as shown in FIG. 5, a space having a gap between the liquid crystal panel and the substrate as shown in FIG. 6, and a substrate as shown in FIG. May be in a flexible form. Further, the rear side of the liquid crystal panel (for example, the liquid crystal panel 8 in the forms of FIGS. 1 and 6).
Or, between the base portion 9 and the mounting substrate 10, or between the mounting substrate 10 ″ and the exterior member in the embodiment of FIG. 7, a buffer member that absorbs bending of the touch panel and the liquid crystal panel due to the pressing force from the outer surface of the touch panel. May be provided.

As a liquid crystal panel which can clearly display by illumination from the front, a liquid crystal panel as described above by selective reflection of the liquid crystal itself or a reflection type using a transmissive liquid crystal on a rear surface using a reflection plate is used. A reflection type liquid crystal panel is exemplified. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the reflection type liquid crystal panel, and may be a non-light emitting type display element.

The display device of the present invention may be applied to a portable radio terminal such as a portable telephone and a PHS, and a portable terminal such as a PDA and an electronic book device.

[0044]

According to the display device of the present invention, since the thin plate-like light-transmitting member such as the touch panel disposed on the front surface of the display member is formed in a convex shape, the amount of deflection against an external force is formed in a flat shape. Even when the light-transmitting member is pressed from the outside and bends, a local pressing force is hardly applied to the display member. Therefore, even when a display member whose display is deteriorated by pressing is used, the deterioration of the display is prevented.
Even when the display control unit is provided on the back surface of the display member, it is possible to prevent the pressing force from reaching the display control unit.

In particular, by supporting the light transmitting member so as to bend in a range where contact with the display member is prevented, physical interference between the display member and the light transmitting member is reliably prevented.

Further, according to the display device of the present invention, since the strength of the light-transmitting member against deformation is high, the thickness of the light-transmitting member itself can be reduced, and the material for selecting the material of the light-transmitting member can be reduced. The degree of freedom increases.

Further, according to the display device of the present invention, when the shape of the translucent member is a cubic curved surface, the degree of freedom in the design of the exterior member is increased, which is advantageous.

When a thin plate-shaped light-transmitting member having a curved structure is used, the structure of the supporting member for supporting the light-transmitting member can be simplified. Further, when the thin plate-shaped light-transmitting member is supported by the support member so as to be curved, the manufacture of the light-transmitting member becomes easy.

If the display member is formed in a thin plate shape and the display member and the light-transmitting member are joined together, the display member and the light-transmitting member are interlocked by an external pressure. It is easier to prevent a local pressing force from being applied to the surface. When a liquid crystal panel in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a pair of flexible resin substrates is used as a display member, flexibility can be favorably provided, and the above-described effect is more remarkable.

When a clearance is provided between the display member and the translucent member, physical interference between the display member and the translucent member is reliably prevented in a range where the external pressing force is small.

By making the curvatures of the display member and the translucent member correspond, the parallax can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the invention. (B) Sectional drawing which shows the display device of one Embodiment which concerns on this invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of stress when an external force acts on a curved touch panel according to the present invention. (B) Schematic sectional view showing the state of stress when an external force acts on a flat touch panel.

FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating a configuration example of an exterior member of a display device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a curved touch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a display device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: display device, 6: first base, 7: touch panel, 8: display member (liquid crystal panel), 9: second base, 10: mounting board, 11: frame, 12: film, 14: transparent Conductive film, 16: spacer.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G06F 3/033 360 G09F 9/30 310 G09F 9/30 310 G02F 1/1335 530 F-term (Reference) 2H089 HA18 QA16 TA18 TA20 2H091 FA23Z FA41Z FD06 5B087 AA04 CC02 CC15 5C094 AA03 AA36 AA43 AA48 BA43 DA06 DA12 ED01 FA04 HA10 5G435 AA01 AA07 AA18 BB12 BB16 EE03 EE22 EE36 EE40 FF08 FF12 GG24 HGG43 H02

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A thin plate-shaped display member, a thin plate-shaped translucent member provided on a front surface of the display member and having a curved surface convexly curved in a direction away from the display member, and at least the display member A display device, comprising: an exterior member covering a back surface, wherein the display member and the translucent member are joined so as to overlap each other. 2. A display member, a thin plate-shaped translucent member provided on a front surface of the display member and having a curved surface convexly curved in a direction away from the display member, and covering at least a back surface of the display member. A display device, comprising: an exterior member, wherein the display member degrades display when pressed from outside. 3. A display member, a thin plate-shaped light-transmitting member which is provided on a front surface of the display member and has a curved surface convexly curved in a direction away from the display member, and an external member connected to the light-transmitting member. And a support member that supports the translucent member so as to bend within a range where contact with the display member is prevented by contact with the display member. 4. A display member, a thin plate-shaped translucent member provided on the front surface of the display member and having a curved surface protruding in a direction away from the display member, and a peripheral edge of the translucent member. A display device comprising: a support member supported by a part. 5. A display member, a thin plate-shaped translucent member provided on a front surface of the display member, and a curved surface which is convexly curved in a direction away from the display member. A display device comprising: a supporting member that is supported by a peripheral portion thereof. 6. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display member has a thin plate shape, and is joined to the translucent member. 7. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit that controls display of the display member on a back surface of the display member. 8. The display device according to claim 2, wherein a clearance is provided between the display member and the translucent member. 9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display member is a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of flexible resin substrates. . 10. The display member according to claim 2, wherein the display member is convexly curved in a direction toward the translucent member, and forms a curved surface having a curvature corresponding to the curved surface of the translucent member. 5
The display device according to any one of the above. 11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the translucent member is a cubic curved surface. 12. A display comprising: a thin display member; and a touch panel provided on a front surface of the display member, wherein the touch panel has a curved surface that is convexly curved in a direction away from the display member. apparatus. 13. A display member, comprising: a touch panel provided on a front surface of the display member; and a support member for holding the touch panel at a predetermined position, wherein the touch panel is convex in a direction away from the display member. A display device which has a curved surface and is supported by the support member so as to bend within a range where contact with the display member is prevented by a touch operation by an operator. 14. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the touch panel is a pressure-sensitive touch panel. 15. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent member is a touch panel. 16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said translucent member is a light guide plate. 17. A light source provided near a light guide plate.
The display device according to the above. 18. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the translucent member and the touch panel are laminated.