JP2005339220A - Display sheet, and input device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive input device with positive operation in regard to a display sheet, and an input device using it used in input operation of various types of electronic apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: By composing the display sheet 13 by providing a light guiding layer 12 on bottom faces of display layers 8A and 8B formed by printing in predetermined portions of a light transmitting base material 7 bottom face, since light of a display element 14 end part passes through the light guiding layer 12 and it is irradiated on a whole of a display part 8 even when a small display element 14 is used, the inexpensive input device with easily viewable display which can be positively operated can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display sheet used for input operations of various electronic devices and an input device using the display sheet.

  In recent years, as various electronic devices such as mobile phones and mobile terminals have become highly functional and diversified, an input device is formed by attaching a light transmissive touch panel to the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal. There are an increasing number of devices that switch between functions by visually checking and selecting characters, symbols, patterns, etc. displayed on the display element on the back, and pressing the touch panel with a finger or a dedicated pen. There are demands for easy-to-read and reliable operations.

  Such a conventional input device will be described with reference to FIG.

  In addition, in order to make the structure easy to understand, the drawing shows an enlarged dimension in the thickness direction.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional input device. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a film-shaped and light-transmitting upper substrate, 2 denotes a lower substrate, and the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 transmits light such as indium tin oxide. The lower conductive layer 4 is formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2.

  A plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 4 by an insulating resin at predetermined intervals, and a pair of upper electrodes (not shown) are formed at both ends of the upper conductive layer 3. At both ends of the lower conductive layer 4, a pair of lower electrodes (not shown) perpendicular to the upper electrode are formed.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a frame-shaped spacer. The outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded to each other by an adhesive (not shown) applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the spacer 5, and the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer are bonded together. The touch panel 6 is configured such that 4 faces each other with a predetermined gap.

  Further, 7 is a film-like or plate-like light-transmitting base material. On the left side of the bottom surface of the base material 7 is formed a display portion 8 on which display layers 8A and 8B are printed with ink, and on the right side. A transparent see-through portion 7A is provided to constitute a display sheet 9.

  For example, the display unit 8 prints a black display layer 8A cut out in a shape such as a character, a symbol, or a pattern, and then prints a green display layer 8B under the black display layer 8A. A display unit 8 on which characters, symbols, pictures, and the like are printed is formed.

  Then, the display sheet 9 configured in this way is attached to the lower surface of the lower substrate 2 of the touch panel 6 with a transparent adhesive (not shown) to form an input device, and below this, a display of liquid crystal or the like The element 10 is disposed and mounted on a casing (not shown) of the electronic device, and the upper electrode and the lower electrode are connected to a control circuit (not shown) of the device.

  In the above configuration, when the right upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is pressed with a finger or a pen while visually recognizing the display of the display element 10 on the back surface of the touch panel 6 through the fluoroscopic portion 7A on the right side of the display sheet 9, the upper substrate 1 is The upper conductive layer 3 that is bent and pressed contacts the lower conductive layer 4.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the control circuit to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and the control circuit detects the pressed position based on a voltage ratio between these electrodes, and various functions of the device are switched.

  Further, according to the display on the display unit 8 on the left side of the display sheet 9, which is illuminated by the light on the left side of the display element 10 and displaying characters, symbols, designs, etc. When the upper left side of the substrate 1 is pressed, the upper substrate 1 is similarly bent so that the upper conductive layer 3 comes into contact with the lower conductive layer 4, and the power of the device is turned on / off. there were.

For example, Patent Document 1 is known as prior art document information related to the invention of this application.
JP 2003-280821 A

  However, in the conventional display sheet 9 and an input device using the same, the display unit 8 does not need to display the hidden element itself in order to illuminate the display on the display unit 8 on the left side of the display sheet 9 and make it easy to see. There is a problem that the element 10 needs to be a large element that extends to the lower side of the display unit 8 and is expensive as a whole apparatus.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and provides a display sheet that is easy to see the display of a display unit even if a small display element is used, is reliable and inexpensive, and an input device using the display sheet. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a display sheet is configured by providing a light guide layer on a lower surface of a display layer printed and formed at a predetermined position on a lower surface of a light-transmitting base material. However, since the light at the edge of the display element illuminates the display layer through the light guide layer, the display is easy to see and operate reliably, and an inexpensive input device can be realized.

  The invention according to claim 2 is an input device configured by sticking the display sheet according to claim 1 to the lower surface of the lower substrate of the touch panel. Even if a small display element is used, the operation is reliable and inexpensive. The input device can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize an inexpensive and reliable display sheet and an input device using the display sheet.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In addition, in order to make the structure easy to understand, the drawing shows an enlarged dimension in the thickness direction.

  Also, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the background art section, and the detailed description will be simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a light-transmitting upper substrate such as polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate, 2 is glass or acrylic, polycarbonate or the like. A light-transmissive lower substrate, a light-transmissive upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide or tin oxide on the lower surface of the upper substrate 1, and a lower conductive layer 4 on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2 are similarly formed by sputtering. Are formed respectively.

  A plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 4 by an insulating resin such as epoxy or silicon at a predetermined interval, and a pair of silver or carbon or the like is formed at both ends of the upper conductive layer 3. A pair of lower electrodes (not shown) perpendicular to the upper electrode are formed at both ends of the lower conductive layer 4.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a frame-shaped spacer. The outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded to each other by an adhesive (not shown) applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the spacer 5, so that the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer are bonded together. The touch panel 6 is configured such that 4 faces each other with a predetermined gap.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a film-like material such as polyethylene terephthalate or a plate-like light-transmitting base material such as acrylic. A transparent see-through portion 7A is provided on the lower right side of the base material 7 and acrylic or polyester is provided on the left side. The display portion 8 on which the display layers 8A and 8B are printed is formed of ink in which pigments are dispersed in the above.

  For example, the display unit 8 prints a black display layer 8A cut out in a shape such as a character, a symbol, or a pattern, and then prints a green display layer 8B under the black display layer 8A. Characters, symbols, designs, etc. are printed and formed.

  Further, a light-transmitting light guide layer 12 is formed on the lower surface of the display layers 8A and 8B with transparent acrylic, polyester, or ink in which a dye is dispersed, thereby forming a display sheet 13.

  Then, the display sheet 13 configured in this manner is attached to the lower surface of the lower substrate 2 of the touch panel 6 with a transparent adhesive (not shown) to form an input device, and below this, a display such as a liquid crystal display The element 14 is disposed and mounted on a casing (not shown) of the electronic device, and the upper electrode and the lower electrode are connected to a control circuit (not shown) of the device.

  The display element 14 has a smaller horizontal dimension than that described in the background art section, and is arranged so that the left end part slightly overlaps the right end of the light guide layer 12 on the lower surface of the display unit 8. ing.

  In the above configuration, when the right upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is pressed with a finger or a pen while visually recognizing the display of the display element 14 on the back surface of the touch panel 6 through the fluoroscopic portion 7A on the right side of the display sheet 13, the upper substrate 1 is The upper conductive layer 3 that is bent and pressed contacts the lower conductive layer 4.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the control circuit to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and the control circuit detects the pressed position based on a voltage ratio between these electrodes, and various functions of the device are switched.

  Further, when the left upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is pressed according to the display on the left side of the display section 13 on which characters, symbols, pictures, etc. are displayed, for example, on / off of power, etc. When the upper substrate 1 is bent, the upper conductive layer 3 comes into contact with the lower conductive layer 4, and the power of the device is turned on / off.

  At this time, the display element 14 is small and is not sized to illuminate the entire lower surface of the display unit 8. However, since the light-transmitting light guide layer 12 is formed on the lower surface of the display unit 8, The light at the left end of the display element 14 enters from the right end of the light guide layer 12, and this light passes through the light guide layer 12 and the entire light guide layer 12 emits light. It is configured to be easy to see and operate reliably.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light guide layer 12 is provided on the lower surface of the display layers 8A and 8B that are printed and formed at predetermined positions on the lower surface of the light-transmitting base material 7, thereby configuring the display sheet 13. Thus, even if a small display element 14 is used, the light at the end of the display element 14 illuminates the entire display unit 8 through the light guide layer 12, so that the display is easy to see and operate reliably, and an inexpensive input device is obtained. It is something that can be done.

  In the above description, after the display layer 8A cut out in the shape of characters, symbols, patterns, etc. is printed, the display layer 8B is printed under this to form the display unit 8, and on the lower surface of the display unit 8 Although the structure in which the light guide layer 12 is formed has been described, when characters, symbols, patterns, etc. are formed in a transparent or light color, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. The present invention can also be implemented as a configuration in which the display portion is formed by printing the transparent or light-colored and light-transmissive light guide layer 12A.

  The display sheet and the input device using the display sheet according to the present invention are reliable and inexpensive, and are useful for operating various electronic devices.

Sectional drawing of the input device by one embodiment of this invention Sectional drawing of the display sheet by other embodiment Sectional view of a conventional input device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper substrate 2 Lower substrate 3 Upper conductive layer 4 Lower conductive layer 5 Spacer 6 Touch panel 7 Base material 7A Perspective part 8 Display part 8A, 8B Display layer 12, 12A Light guide layer 13 Display sheet 14 Display element

Claims (2)

A display sheet comprising a light-transmitting base material and a display layer printed and formed at a predetermined position on the lower surface of the base material, wherein a light guide layer is provided on the lower surface of the display layer. A display sheet according to claim 1, comprising: an upper substrate having an upper conductive layer formed on a lower surface; and a lower substrate having an upper conductive layer formed on the upper surface and facing the upper conductive layer with a predetermined gap therebetween. An input device attached to the lower surface of the lower substrate.

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