JP2006202042A - Touch panel device and input coordinate detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel device for preventing any erroneous operation due to the mixing of any foreign matter between a touch panel and an escatcheon. <P>SOLUTION: An insulating part for insulating a first conductive film and a second conductive film is installed in a clearance between a first substrate having the first conductive film and a second substrate having the second conductive film faced to the first conductive film. The insulating part is formed on the second conductive film of the second substrate in a region outside the inner peripheral edge of the escatcheon being an outer frame covering an outer peripheral region on an operation face to which an operation pressure being opposite to that of the face with the first conductive film of the first substrate is applied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel device and an input coordinate detection device using the same.

  In navigation devices for automobiles, by touching the navigation screen with your hand etc., you can set the destination of map route guidance on the map, or set radio reception tuning for audio devices connected to the system. A touch-type switch device is installed. When the touch switch is operated by the user, the position on the screen selected / pressed is converted into an electrical signal and output.

  In such a touch switch device, a resistive film touch switch in which a resistive film is opposed to upper and lower substrates is used. This is because when the glass surface is touched, the electrodes of the upper glass and the lower glass come into contact with each other and electricity flows, and at that time, the partial pressure ratio due to the resistance of each transparent electrode (resistive film) of the upper glass and the lower glass is measured. Thus, the pressed position is detected, and the function as a switch is achieved.

  In an in-vehicle display, a frame called an escutcheon is assembled around the touch panel. However, as shown in FIG. A gap 67 is provided in However, as shown in FIG. 9, foreign matter 75 or the like may be mixed in the gap 67, and when the foreign matter 75 or the like enters, the touch panel may be pressed and malfunction may occur.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel device that prevents foreign matters from entering a gap between the touch panel and the escutcheon and causing a malfunction, and an input coordinate detection device using the touch panel device.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

The touch panel device of the present invention for solving the above problems is
The first conductive film and the second conductive film are disposed opposite to each other, and the first conductive film partially contacts the second conductive film due to an operating pressure applied to the first conductive film to generate an electric signal. In the output touch panel device,
A first substrate having a first conductive film;
A second substrate having a second conductive film facing the first conductive film;
The first conductive film is disposed in the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in a part of the outer peripheral region outside the inner peripheral edge with reference to the inner peripheral edge that enters the inner side from the outer edge of the first substrate. An insulating part for insulating the second conductive film;
Is provided.

  With the above configuration having the insulating portion in the outer peripheral region of the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, when the first substrate is pressed in the region having the insulating portion, the first conductive film and the second conductive film The touch with the film is prevented, and the touch panel device is prevented from malfunctioning. The insulating portion is made of a material that can electrically insulate the first conductive film and the second conductive film, and is not particularly limited.

  The insulating portion is a region between the first substrate and the second substrate in the outer region, the region covered by the escutcheon that covers the operation surface to which the operation pressure opposite to the surface having the first conductive film of the first substrate is applied. It can be set as the structure arrange | positioned in a clearance gap. Thereby, when the area | region covered with the escutcheon of the 1st board | substrate is pressed down for some reason (for example, when a foreign material is pinched and pressed down), it can prevent that a touchscreen apparatus malfunctions.

  The insulating portion can be laminated on the second conductive film laminated on the second substrate. With such a configuration, contact between the first conductive film and the second conductive film is prevented in the outer peripheral region from the inner peripheral edge of the escutcheon, and malfunction of the touch panel device can be prevented.

  The conductive film can be formed of an ITO film that is an indium oxide film doped with Sn. The ITO film is a transparent conductive film, is transparent, conducts electricity, and absorbs ultraviolet rays. Therefore, the display device on which the touch panel device is installed can be seen through the ITO film.

The input coordinate detection device of the present invention for solving the above problems is
A display unit for displaying at least an image;
A touch panel device installed on the display unit;
An escutcheon covering an operation surface to which an operation pressure opposite to the surface having the first conductive film of the first substrate is applied in the outer peripheral region;
Determination processing means for determining a pressed position of the operation surface and performing a predetermined process when the operation surface is pressed.

  The escutcheon has a function as an outer frame that covers the touch panel device from the first substrate. And by providing said touch-panel apparatus, the contact with the 1st electrically conductive film and the 2nd electrically conductive film by the outer peripheral area | region of a 1st board | substrate being pushed, and the malfunction which accompanies it are prevented, and a touch panel is determined by the determination processing means It is possible to perform a predetermined process by determining the pressed position.

  The escutcheon is disposed with a gap between the first surface of the first substrate. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the escutcheon from coming into contact with the first surface of the first substrate due to the vibration of the input coordinate detection device and generating abnormal noise.

  The input coordinate detection device of the present invention can be applied to a vehicle navigation device that displays an electronic map that indicates the current location of the vehicle on a display screen to help the vehicle travel. Further, the present invention is not limited to a vehicle navigation device, and can be used for various terminals such as PDAs, ATMs, vending machines, and copying machines.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a navigation device 100 including a touch panel according to the present invention. An image display 51 such as a liquid crystal display is provided in a main body 52 in which a control unit having a navigation function is accommodated. Furthermore, a second substrate 34 and a first substrate 31 constituting the touch panel unit 45 are provided on the image display device 51.

  And the escutcheon 60 which is an outer frame covers these outer peripheral parts. The escutcheon 60 has a role of covering a portion other than the display area of the image display device 51, thereby improving the design of the navigation device 100.

  The image display device 51 constituted by a liquid crystal display or the like displays a road map, various guidance, and the like. A desired instruction can be given to the navigation device 100 when the user presses the touch panel unit 45 constituted by the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 on the image display device 51 with a finger or the like.

  The first substrate (upper substrate) 31 constituting the touch panel unit 100 is a transparent flexible insulating base material such as a plastic film. A resistance film (see FIG. 2) made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is formed on the lower surface (the surface facing the second substrate), and strip electrodes 32 are formed on both ends. The second substrate (lower substrate) 34 is a transparent substrate such as glass. A resistance film (see FIG. 2) made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is formed on the upper surface (the surface facing the first substrate), and strip electrodes 35 are formed on both ends.

  The touch panel unit 45 includes a dot-like spacer (see FIG. 2) between the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34, and the first resistance film of the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34. A gap is formed between the resistive film. The direction between the strip electrodes 32 of the first substrate 31 and the direction between the strip electrodes 35 of the second substrate 34 are shifted by 90 degrees and overlapped.

  The first substrate 31 is pressed and deformed by a finger or the like, and the resistance film of the first substrate 31 and the resistance film of the second substrate 34 come into contact with each other. The control unit of the navigation device 100 to which the electrodes 32 and 35 are connected can detect and specify the pressed position.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the display device including the touch panel unit 45. An image display 51 such as a liquid crystal panel display for displaying a map screen or a navigation operation screen is provided on a main body 52 including a control device including a CPU for performing signal processing. On the image display 51, the touch panel unit 45 of the present invention is provided. The touch panel unit 45 is configured to be translucent, and the user can view the liquid crystal screen through the touch panel unit 45.

  The touch panel unit 45 includes a transparent substrate (first and second substrate) 31, 34 such as a glass substrate provided with opposing resistance films (transparent conductive films) 41, 43 on the inner surface side, and humidity between the transparent substrates 31, 34. A sealing portion 40 made of a material such as a resin for preventing foreign matter from flowing in, a spacer 42 for keeping the distance between the opposing substrates at a predetermined value or more, and an insulating portion 48 formed on the second resistance film 43 of the second substrate. It is comprised including.

  For the first substrate 31, transparent thin glass or transparent plastic film is used. When durability and heat resistance are required, flexible glass is used. An example of the plastic film is a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film.

  The second substrate 34 is made of transparent glass. As the glass, soda glass, quartz glass, alkali glass, borosilicate glass, ordinary plate glass, and the like can be used.

  The resistance films 41 and 43 formed on the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 are indium oxide ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) films doped with tin (Sn), which are transparent conductive films. The ITO film is transparent, conducts electricity and absorbs ultraviolet rays. This is formed by a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, a CVD method, a printing method, or the like.

  The spacer 42 is formed by printing a transparent resin material such as a transparent epoxy resin, acrylic resin, or urethane resin by a method such as screen printing. The spacer 42 holds a gap between the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34, and prevents the resistance films in regions other than the pressed region from contacting each other when the first substrate 31 is pressed. Is.

  The sealing portion 40 has a function of keeping a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate constant and preventing foreign matters from entering the gap, and an insulating resin is used.

  In the touch panel unit 45 constituted by the first substrate 31, the second substrate 34, and the like, the second substrate is fixed to the main body unit 52 by sheet metal 68, 69.

  The escutcheon 60 functions as an outer frame that covers the touch panel device from the first surface (operation surface) 37 to which an external pressure (operation pressure) opposite to the surface having the first resistance film 41 of the first substrate 31 is applied. It is what you have. The rib abutting portion 61 is fixed to a sheet metal 69 that fixes the touch panel portion 45. Further, the tip portion 63 is installed so as to have a gap 67 between the first substrate 31. The gap 67 is provided so as not to react erroneously when the escutcheon 60 is pushed. In order to prevent malfunction when foreign matter enters the gap 67, an insulating portion 48 is formed. Thus, it has a role of preventing the generation of abnormal noise due to contact between the escutcheon 60 and the first surface 37 due to vibration of the apparatus. For example, in the case of a vehicle navigation device, it is possible to prevent the tip 63 of the escutcheon 60 from coming into contact with the first substrate 31 and generating abnormal noise due to vibrations caused by running of the vehicle. The shape of the escutcheon 60 is not limited to the example shown in the figure, but the tip portion 63 is installed so as not to contact the first surface 37 of the first substrate 31.

  The insulating part 48 is formed on the second substrate 34 in the outer peripheral region at least than the inner peripheral edge 62 of the escutcheon 60. Therefore, the area outside the inner peripheral edge 67 of the tip 63 becomes the touch panel non-reactive area, and the inner side becomes the touch panel reaction area. The insulating portion 48 may be formed closer to the inner peripheral region than the inner peripheral edge 62 of the escutcheon 60. However, when the insulating portion 48 is formed widely up to the inner peripheral region, a visible region where the display can be seen is input by pressing. The possible input area is reduced. The insulating portion 48 is formed on the second substrate 34 by laminating the second resistance film 43 and the insulating portion 48 in this order. Although the material which comprises an insulation part will not be limited if it is an insulating substance, For example, an insulating resin material can be used. More specifically, for example, it can be composed of an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polyimide resin, or the like.

  In order to prevent malfunction when the escutcheon 60 is pressed, the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 34 are provided in a region below the tip 63 of the escutcheon 60 (outer peripheral region than the inner peripheral edge 62 of the escutcheon 60). Instead of forming the insulating portion 48, there is a method in which the resistance films 41 and 43 are not formed. However, it is difficult to dispose the resistance films 41 and 43 within a predetermined range with a small variation. A method of forming the insulating portion 48 is desirable.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the input coordinate detection device. The outer peripheral region of the first surface 37 of the first substrate 31 is covered with the escutcheon 60, and the inner peripheral region is exposed. An insulating portion 48 is formed between the first resistance film 41 and the second resistance film 43 in the outer peripheral region inside the outer edge 38 of the first substrate 31 and outside the inner peripheral edge 62 of the escutcheon 60. The insulating portion 48 does not need to be formed in the entire region of this portion, and even if it is a partial region, the contact between the first resistance film 41 and the second resistance film 43 in the outer peripheral region can be prevented. That's fine.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the touch panel unit 45 having the above configuration is arranged on the screen display 51 of the liquid crystal panel and the operation screen is displayed on the navigation screen for displaying the map and guiding the route, The user follows the screen display and operates the touch panel unit 45 by pressing it with a finger or the like from the first substrate 31 side. The navigation device 100 detects the load position pressed by the user's finger or the like at that time using the touch panel unit 45, and performs processing corresponding to the switch function displayed on the liquid crystal screen.

  As shown in FIG. 5, even when the foreign substance 75 is mixed in the gap between the escutcheon 60 and the touch panel unit 45 and the first substrate of the touch panel unit 45 is pressed, the first resistance film 41 is The insulating portion 48 prevents contact with the second resistance film 40. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the touch panel due to the foreign matter 75 mixed in the gap 67.

  A vehicle navigation apparatus provided with an input coordinate detection apparatus using the touch panel of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The navigation device 100 includes a position detector 1, a map data input device 6, an operation switch group 7, a remote control (hereinafter referred to as “remote control”) sensor 11, a speaker (voice output unit) 15 that performs voice guidance, an external memory 9, A display device 10, a communication unit 19, a control circuit 8 connected thereto, and a remote control terminal 12 are provided.

  A position detector 1 as current position detecting means has a well-known geomagnetic sensor 2, a gyroscope 3, a distance sensor 4, and a GPS receiver 5 for GPS that detects the position of a vehicle based on radio waves from a satellite. is doing. Since these sensors 2, 3, 4, and 5 have errors of different properties, they are configured to be used while being complemented by a plurality of sensors.

  The map data input device 6 is a device for inputting various data including so-called map matching data for improving the accuracy of position detection and road data representing road connections from the storage medium 20. As a storage medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, or hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) is generally used because of the amount of data, but other media such as a memory card may be used.

  The map data stores predetermined map image information for display and road network information including link information and node information. The link information is predetermined section information constituting each road, and includes position coordinates, distance, required time, road width, number of lanes, speed limit, and the like. The node information is information that defines an intersection (branch road) and the like, and includes position coordinates, the number of right / left turn lanes, a connection destination road link, and the like.

  As the operation switch group 7, a touch switch using the touch panel of the present invention integrated with the display device 10 is used. A mechanical switch may be used in combination. Various instructions can be input by the operation switch group 7 and the remote control terminal 12.

  The display device 10 as a display unit is configured by a color liquid crystal display, and the screen of the display device 10 includes a vehicle current position mark input from the position detector 1, information received from the information center 14, and further on a map. The additional data such as the guidance route to be displayed is superimposed and displayed, and buttons for setting route guidance, guidance during route guidance, and switching operation of the screen are displayed on this screen.

  The transmitter / receiver 13 as a transmission unit and a reception unit is a device for receiving information provided from an information center 14 such as VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) and transmitting information to the information center 14.

  The vehicle navigation apparatus 100 can be connected to an external network 18 via a communication unit 19 by a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone 17 and connected to the Internet or a dedicated information center. be able to.

  Further, the external memory 9 stores data necessary for the operation of the navigation device. Note that the external memory 9 retains the stored contents even when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off (that is, the navigation device 100 is turned off).

  The control circuit 8 as a control unit is configured as a normal computer, and includes a well-known CPU 81, ROM 82, RAM 83, I / O 84, and a bus line 85 for connecting these configurations. The control circuit 8 constitutes determination processing means for determining the position and performing a predetermined process when the touch panel is pressed.

  The CPU 81 performs control based on programs and data stored in the ROM 82 and RAM 83. As shown in FIG. 6, the ROM 82 stores an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 82s and a navigation program (hereinafter referred to as navigation program) 82p. The RAM 83 includes an OS work memory 83s and a navigation work memory 83w.

  With this configuration, the navigation device 100 receives the information from the information center 14 when the driver inputs the destination, and the current location of the vehicle is obtained based on the satellite data obtained from the GPS receiver 5. Then, a road map is displayed on the display device 10, and an appropriate route is guided to the driver. The above operation is controlled by the navigation program 82p.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the screen display. On the display device 10, a road map 92 is displayed by the navigation program 82p, and a recommended route from the current position to the destination is also shown. An operation switch 91 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the map. The operation switch 91 is displayed on the display screen and can be viewed by the user through the touch panel device. Then, when the user presses the touch panel device on the operation switch 91, the pressed position is detected by the touch panel unit 45, and processing corresponding to the operation switch 91 is performed by the navigation device 100.

  The touch panel of the present invention can be used not only for navigation devices but also for various terminals such as PDAs, ATMs, vending machines, and copiers. And even when a foreign object enters the gap between the touch panel and the escutcheon, it can be used without causing malfunction.

The figure which shows the navigation apparatus with which the input coordinate detection apparatus of this invention was united. The figure explaining the cross section of a touch-panel apparatus. The figure explaining the area | region in which the insulating part was formed. The figure explaining pressing of a touch panel apparatus. The figure explaining the foreign material mixing between an escutcheon and a touch-panel part. The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the navigation apparatus with which the input coordinate detection apparatus of this invention was united. The figure of the Example of the display screen of a display apparatus. The figure explaining the cross section of the conventional touchscreen apparatus. The figure explaining the foreign material mixing between the conventional escutcheon and a touch-panel part.

Explanation of symbols

31 First substrate 32 First electrode 34 Second substrate 35 Second electrode 38, 39 Electrode film 41 First resistance film (first conductive film)
42 spacer 43 second resistance film (second conductive film)
45 Touch panel device 48 Insulating portion 51 Image display device 60 Escussion 62 Inner peripheral edge 63 Tip portion 67 Gaps 75 Foreign object 100 Navigation device

Claims (7)

The first conductive film and the second conductive film are disposed opposite to each other, and the first conductive film is partially in contact with the second conductive film by an operation pressure applied to the first conductive film. In touch panel devices that output electrical signals,
A first substrate having the first conductive film;
A second substrate having the second conductive film facing the first conductive film;
The first substrate is disposed in the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in a partial region of the outer peripheral region outside the inner peripheral edge with reference to the inner peripheral edge that enters the inner edge from the outer edge of the first substrate. An insulating portion that insulates the conductive film from the second conductive film;
A touch panel device comprising:   The insulating portion includes the first substrate in the region covered by an escutcheon that covers an operation surface to which an operation pressure opposite to the surface having the first conductive film of the first substrate is applied in the outer peripheral region. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel device is disposed in a gap with the second substrate.   The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating portion is stacked on the second conductive film stacked on the second substrate.   The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive film is formed of an ITO film that is an indium oxide film doped with Sn. A display unit for displaying at least an image;
The touch panel device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is installed on the display unit;
An escutcheon that covers the operation surface of the outer peripheral region to which an operation pressure opposite to the surface of the first substrate having the first conductive film is applied;
Determination processing means for determining a pressed position when the operation surface is pressed and performing a predetermined process;
An input coordinate detection device comprising:   The input coordinate detection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the escutcheon is disposed with a gap between the operation surface of the first substrate. 7. The input coordinate detection device according to claim 5, wherein the input coordinate detection device is applied to a vehicle navigation device that displays an electronic map that indicates a current location of the vehicle on a display screen to help the vehicle travel.

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