JP2007047961A - Electro-optical device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro-optical device, capable of attaining suppression of manufacturing cost or improvement in electric reliability by reducing a substrate mounting process as well as miniaturization of a tablet by reducing a death area. <P>SOLUTION: This electro-optical device 10 comprises an electro-optical panel 12 and a tablet arranged in layer with the electro-optical panel and detecting a position within a display area of the electro-optical panel. The tablet 11 includes a flexible substrate 11s having a position detection area 11A having an area flatly overlapping with at least a part of the display area of the panel 12 and a wiring area 11B provided at the end of the position detection area and including a wire 11b derived from the position detection area. At least part of the wiring area 11B is bent to the position detection area 11A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to a structure of an electro-optical device having a position detection tablet.

  In general, an electro-optical device including an electro-optical panel such as a liquid crystal display panel includes a position detection tablet, and is configured to be able to input position coordinates using a pen or the like on a display screen. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

  A tablet mounted on such an electro-optical device usually includes a position detection plate in which a position detection region that overlaps the display surface of the electro-optical panel in a planar manner is formed on a rigid substrate such as a glass epoxy substrate. In addition, a flexible board having a predetermined wiring structure is mounted on the position detection plate and connected to the outside via this flexible board, or a part of the circuit configuration of the position detection area of the position detection board is supplemented. The method is known.

As the position detection tablet, for example, an electromagnetic induction type tablet having a loop coil in a position detection region is known. This electromagnetic induction type tablet is configured so that the position of a pen with a built-in coil can be detected by a loop coil. Since this electromagnetic induction type tablet can be arranged behind the electro-optical panel, it has the advantages that the display quality is not impaired and the structural freedom of the electro-optical device can be secured.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-338992

  However, in the electro-optical device provided with the above-described position detection tablet, it is necessary to provide a wiring area including wiring other than the position detection area on the position detection plate, and this wiring area is around the display area of the electro-optical panel. Since the death area that protrudes over is formed, the planar dimensions become large, which hinders downsizing of the apparatus.

  In addition, when the tablet has a structure in which a flexible substrate is connected to the position detection plate, the planar dimension can be reduced, but a substrate mounting process for mounting the flexible substrate on the position detection plate is required. Therefore, there are problems that the manufacturing cost increases and the electrical reliability decreases.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and the problem is that it is possible to reduce the death area and reduce the size of the tablet, reduce the board mounting process, reduce the manufacturing cost, and An object of the present invention is to provide an electro-optical device capable of improving the reliability.

  In view of such circumstances, an electro-optical device of the present invention includes an electro-optical panel, and a tablet that is stacked on the electro-optical panel and detects a position of the electro-optical panel in a display area. In the apparatus, the tablet is provided at a position detection region having a region overlapping at least a part of the display region of the electro-optical panel and at an end portion of the position detection region and is derived from the position detection region. And a wiring area including a wiring line, wherein at least a part of the wiring area is bent with respect to the position detection area.

  According to the present invention, the position detection area and the wiring area of the tablet for position detection are formed on the integrated flexible substrate, and at least a part of the wiring area is bent with respect to the position detection area. Since the amount of protrusion of the electro-optical panel beyond the display area can be reduced or eliminated, the apparatus can be downsized. In addition, since it is not necessary to secure a mounting area for another substrate (flexible substrate), the structure is more suitable for downsizing. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to increase the substrate mounting process in order to reduce the size of the tablet, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the electrical reliability can be improved.

  In this specification, “folding” is used as a term encompassing all cases of refraction, bending, and folding.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the electro-optical panel has a polygonal shape in plan view (for example, a rectangular shape in plan view), and a fold line of the flexible substrate is configured along at least one side of the electro-optical panel. . According to this, since the folding line is configured along the outer side of the electro-optical panel configured in a polygonal shape in plan view, the tablet can be effectively downsized by bending the flexible substrate.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the fold lines are provided along the plurality of sides of the electro-optical panel. According to this, the tablet can be further miniaturized by providing a plurality of fold lines along each of the plurality of sides.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that at least a part of the wiring region is bent along a plane intersecting a plane of the position detection region. According to this, the amount of outward protrusion at the bent portion can be kept to a minimum, and the bent portion does not overlap the position detection region in a planar manner, so that the electromagnetic influence by the bent portion can be prevented. In particular, in an electromagnetic induction type tablet, there is no inconvenience in position detection due to a bent portion. In this case, it is desirable that at least a part of the wiring area be bent along a plane orthogonal to the position detection area.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that at least a part of the wiring area is bent toward the electro-optical panel with respect to the position detection area. According to this, since the bent portion is arranged on the electro-optical panel side, an increase in the thickness of the apparatus due to the bent portion can be suppressed or eliminated.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a shield layer is disposed on a side opposite to the detection side with respect to the position detection region, and at least a part of the wiring region is further folded on the opposite side of the shield layer. By providing the shield layer on the side opposite to the detection side, the detection sensitivity of the position detection region can be increased, and the bent portion is arranged further on the opposite side of the shield layer, so that the bent portion becomes the position detection region. Electromagnetic effects due to overlapping in a plane can be prevented.

  An electronic apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes the electro-optical device according to any one of the above and a control unit of the electro-optical device. Examples of electronic devices include portable information terminals, portable computers, various display devices, cellular phones, and electronic watches. In particular, the electronic device having a display screen equipped with a tablet is preferably a portable electronic device.

[First Embodiment]
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan development view of a position detection tablet 11 that is mounted on the electro-optical device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and detects the position of the electro-optical panel 12 in the display area. FIG. It is a bottom development view.

  The tablet 11 of this embodiment has a flexible substrate 11s made of a flexible material such as polyimide resin. The flexible substrate 11s is provided with a position detection area 11A and a wiring area (peripheral area) 11B existing around the position detection area 11A. The position detection area 11 </ b> A is a planar range having a position detection function as a tablet and its detection structure. In the case of the illustrated example, since the electromagnetic induction type tablet 11 is employed, a plurality of loop coils are constituted by the electrode 11a in the position detection region 11A. In the illustrated position detection area 11A, as a configuration example for detecting a planar position, a plurality of loop coils arranged in the horizontal direction in the figure and a plurality of loop coils arranged in the vertical direction in the figure intersect each other. As a result, the position coordinates of each intersection can be detected (identified).

  The present invention is not limited to an electromagnetic induction type tablet, and may be, for example, a capacitance type or resistance type tablet. In the illustrated example, a plurality of loop coils arranged in the same direction are configured not to overlap each other, but a part of the plurality of loop coils is configured to overlap each other in a plane. Also good. In the illustrated example, each loop coil has a single turn structure, but may have a multiple turn structure.

  In the wiring area 11B, a plurality of wirings 11b that are conductively connected to the electrodes 11a formed in the position detection area 11A are provided. These wirings 11b extend in the wiring region 11B and are conductively connected to a plurality of terminals (not shown) arranged in the terminal portion 11c.

  The electrode 11a and the wiring 11b may be formed on the surface of the flexible substrate 11s, or may be formed inside the flexible wiring substrate 11s (that is, covered with an insulating layer). Good.

  In the illustrated example, the flexible substrate 11s is formed by integrally forming all of the position detection region 11A and all of the wiring region 11B. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and the position detection is performed. What is necessary is just to provide at least a part of the region 11A and at least a part of the wiring region 11B integrally. For example, a part of the position detection region 11A is formed on the flexible substrate 11s, but the remaining part of the position detection region 11A may be formed on another substrate mounted on the flexible substrate 11s.

  A shield layer 11e made of a conductive layer such as copper or aluminum is formed on the back surface of the flexible wiring substrate 11s (the surface opposite to the side where the electro-optical panel 12 is disposed). The shield layer 11e is configured to cover at least the position detection region 11A in a planar manner. The shield layer 11e may be disposed on the back side of the loop coil in the position detection region 11A and insulated from the electrode 11a and the wiring 11b.

  The tablet 11 configured as described above has a structure in which at least a part (that is, part or all) of the wiring region 11B is bent with respect to the position detection region 11A. In the illustrated example, a fold line 11f is provided outside the position detection area 11A, and the flexible substrate 11s is bent at the fold line 11f, so that the portion on the right side of the fold line 11f is bent with respect to the positioning area 11A. It is in a state.

  In the present embodiment, the bending line 11f intersects the wiring 11b provided in the wiring region 11B. In the case of the illustrated example, the bending line 11f is configured to be orthogonal to all the wirings 11b. In this way, damage to the wiring 11b can be reduced, and the flexible substrate 11s can be easily bent.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the structure of the electro-optical device 10 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the electro-optical device 10. The electro-optical device 10 includes the above-described tablet 11 and the electro-optical panel 12, and is configured so that the position detection region 11A of the tablet 11 and the electro-optical panel 12 overlap in a plane. Specifically, the drive area (display area) 12A of the electro-optical panel 12 and the position detection area 11A are in a positional relationship in which they are substantially aligned in a plane.

  The electro-optical panel 12 has a rectangular (quadrangle) shape in plan view, and a bent portion 11x (at least a part of the wiring region 11B) bent by the bending line 11f extends along one side of the electro-optical panel 12. Be placed. That is, by providing the folding line 11x along one side of the electro-optical panel 12, the folding part 11x is also arranged along the one side of the electro-optical panel 12. In the case of the illustrated example, the portion excluding the bent portion 11 x of the flexible substrate 11 s is disposed substantially within the plane range of the electro-optical panel 12.

  The bent portion 11x is bent to the electro-optical panel 12 side (the direction along the end face / side surface of the electro-optical panel 12, the thickness direction) with respect to the position detection region 11A. Further, the bent portion 11x is arranged along a plane intersecting the position detection region 11A. Specifically, the bent portion 11x has a refracted posture along a plane orthogonal to the position detection region 11A. The height of the bent portion 11x is arbitrary, but it is desirable that it be less than the thickness of the electro-optical panel 12 in order to prevent the thickness of the entire apparatus from being reduced. Also in the illustrated example, the bent portion 11x is preferably lower than the surface position of the electro-optical panel 12 so that it does not protrude above the surface position of the electro-optical panel 12 in the assembled state of the electro-optical device 10. Configured to fit.

  The bent portion 11x is preferably arranged along the side surface (side wall of the panel frame) of the electro-optical panel 12, and is particularly fixed to the side surface (side wall) by some method (fitting, sandwiching, bonding, etc.). It is desirable that This makes it difficult for the bent portion 11x to be caught or interfere with other members, so that the handleability of the electro-optical device 10 is improved.

  The electro-optical panel 12 can be configured with various panel structures such as a liquid crystal display panel, an organic electroluminescence display panel, a plasma display panel, a field effect display panel, and an electrophoretic display panel. Moreover, what has display panels other than a self-light-emitting type, such as a liquid crystal display panel, may incorporate a backlight.

  Further, in the illustrated example, the position detection region 11A of the tablet 11 is arranged behind the electro-optical panel 12 (that is, the side opposite to the viewing side), but if the visibility of the electro-optical panel 12 is not hindered, It may be arranged on the viewing side of the electro-optical panel 12 or may be arranged inside the electro-optical panel 12.

  In this embodiment, the position of a pen with a built-in coil can be detected by the electromagnetic induction tablet 11 disposed behind the electro-optical panel 12. For example, by using a pen with a built-in LC circuit, a detection circuit connected to the wiring 11b detects a change in the resonance frequency due to electromagnetic interaction between the loop coil configured in the position detection region 11A and the LC circuit, and the pen The position coordinates are determined. Here, the shield layer 11e shields the back surface side of the tablet 11 and improves detection sensitivity.

  In the present embodiment, the position detection region 11A is reliably secured to the drive region 12A in a planar direction by fixing the bent portion 11x to the electro-optical panel 12 by a structure (not shown) (fitting, sandwiching, bonding, etc.). Can be positioned.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the above embodiment. In this modified example, the tablet 11 and the electro-optical panel 12 that are basically the same as those described above are provided. However, the bent portion 11x of the tablet 11 is folded further behind the position detection region 11A. Is different. At this time, the position detection region 11A and the bent portion 11x overlap in a planar manner, but since the shield layer 11e is disposed between them, the electromagnetic influence is cut off, and the position detection region 11A. Is not inhibited by the bent portion 11x.

  Even in this case, the bent portion 11x is preferably fixed to the bottom surface of the shield layer 11e by some method (fitting, sandwiching, adhesion, etc.). This makes it difficult for the bent portion 11x to be caught or interfere with other members, so that the handleability of the electro-optical device 10 is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is a plan development view of the tablet 21, FIG. 7 is a bottom development view of the tablet 21, FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the present embodiment, FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modification of the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a form. In this embodiment, since it is comprised similarly to the said 1st Embodiment except the tablet 21, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part and those description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the tablet 11 of the first embodiment, the bent portion 11x is provided only on one side (one side) of the position detection region 11A, but in the tablet 21, the bent portion 21x is formed on both sides (a plurality of sides) of the position detection region 21A. , 21y are provided. A wiring 21b that is conductively connected to the electrode 21a in the position detection area 21A is formed in each of the plurality of bent portions 21x and 21y. In the tablet 21, wiring regions 21B having substantially the same width are provided on the left and right sides of the position detection region 21A in the drawing, respectively, and at least a part (part or all) of these wiring regions 21B is the bent portions 21x and 21y. Yes.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the bent portions 21x and 21y are provided on both sides of the position detection region 21A, so that the width of each of the bent portions 21x and 21y can be reduced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the bent portions 21x and 21y are bent along the plane intersecting the position detection region 21A (so as to be substantially perpendicular to the position detection region 21A), the respective bent portions 21x and 21y are bent. The occupied range in the thickness direction of the portions 21x and 21y is reduced, and as a result, there is an advantage that even the thinner electro-optical panel 12 does not hinder the thinning of the device.

  In the present embodiment, the position detection region 21A is planar with respect to the drive region 12A by fixing the bent portions 21x and 21y to the electro-optical panel 12 by a structure (not shown) (fitting, sandwiching, bonding, etc.). Positioning can be ensured depending on the direction. Particularly, since the bent portions 21x and 21y are provided on both sides of the position detection region 21A, the positioning action can be further enhanced. In particular, although different from the present embodiment, a side where a plurality of bent portions extend in different directions of the electro-optical panel 12 (in the case of the rectangular electro-optical panel 12 in the illustrated example, the sides are adjacent and orthogonal to each other). By providing in, it becomes possible to perform planar positioning more reliably.

  Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, it can arrange | position so that bending part 21x, 21y may be folded on the opposite side of the shield layer 21e seeing from the position detection area | region 21A.

[Electronics]
Finally, the case where the electro-optical device according to each of the above-described embodiments is mounted on an electronic apparatus will be described. FIG. 11 shows a notebook personal computer which is an embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the present invention. The personal computer 200 includes a main body unit 201 including a plurality of operation buttons 201a and other operation devices 201b, and a display unit 202 connected to the main body unit 201 and including a display screen 202a. In the case of the illustrated example, the main body unit 201 and the display unit 202 are configured to be openable and closable. The display unit 202 includes the above-described electro-optical device (liquid crystal device) 10 so that a desired display image is displayed on the display screen 202a. In this case, a display control circuit for controlling the electro-optical device 10 is provided inside the personal computer 200. The display control circuit is configured to send an image signal and other input data and a predetermined control signal to the electro-optical device 10 to determine the operation mode.

  FIG. 12 shows a mobile phone which is another embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention. A cellular phone 300 shown here includes an operation unit 301 including a plurality of operation buttons 301a and 301b and a mouthpiece, and a display unit 302 including a display screen 302a and a mouthpiece. The electro-optical device 10 is incorporated inside. The display image formed by the electro-optical device 10 can be viewed on the display screen 302a of the display unit 302. In this case, a display control circuit for controlling the electro-optical device 10 is provided inside the mobile phone 300. The display control circuit is configured to send an image signal and other input data and a predetermined control signal to the electro-optical device 10 to determine the operation mode.

  In addition to the electronic devices shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, examples of the electronic device according to the present invention include a liquid crystal television, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a workstation, a video phone, and a POS terminal. It is done. The electro-optical device according to the present invention can be used as a display unit of these various electronic devices.

The plane expanded view of the tablet of 1st Embodiment. The bottom development view of the tablet of a 1st embodiment. The disassembled perspective view which shows the whole structure of 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the modification of 1st Embodiment. The plane expanded view of the tablet of 2nd Embodiment. The bottom expanded view of the tablet of 2nd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of 2nd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view which shows the whole structure of 2nd Embodiment. The schematic perspective view of an electronic device. The schematic perspective view of a different electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electro-optical device, 11 ... Tablet, 11s ... Flexible substrate, 11A ... Position detection area, 11B ... Wiring area, 11x ... Bending part, 11f ... Bending line, 11e ... Shield layer, 12 ... Electro-optical panel, 12A ... Drive Area (display area)

Claims (7)

In an electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical panel; and a tablet that is disposed so as to be laminated with the electro-optical panel and detects a position in a display area of the electro-optical panel.
The tablet is provided with a position detection area having an area that overlaps at least a part of the display area of the electro-optic panel, and wiring provided at an end of the position detection area and derived from the position detection area An electro-optical device, comprising: a flexible substrate having a wiring area including a plurality of wiring areas, wherein at least a part of the wiring area is bent with respect to the position detection area.   2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical panel is configured in a polygonal shape in plan view, and a folding line of the flexible substrate is configured along at least one side of the electro-optical panel. .   The electro-optical device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the fold lines are provided along the plurality of sides of the electro-optical panel.   4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the wiring area is bent along a plane intersecting a plane of the position detection area. 5.   The electro-optical device according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the wiring area is bent toward the electro-optical panel with respect to the position detection area.   The shield layer is disposed on the opposite side of the position detection region to the detection side, and at least a part of the wiring region is further folded on the opposite side of the shield layer. The electro-optical device according to claim 1. An electronic apparatus comprising: the electro-optical device according to claim 1; and a control unit for the electro-optical device.

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