JP2010176438A - Display device with touch switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clear click feeling without giving discomfort to a finger tip in a key input operation using a touch panel. <P>SOLUTION: A display device 1 with a touch switch includes: a display device 5 provided with a display surface; a touch panel 2 installed on the display surface and provided with a touch part 4 for inputting information; and a translucent sheet 3 installed on a surface of the touch panel 2 where information is input. The translucent sheet 3 is provided with a swollen part 6 where an area corresponding to the touch part 4 is swollen to the side opposite to the touch panel 2, and the swollen part 6 is made of an elastic material to be deformed to the side of the touch panel 2 when pressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device with a touch switch that includes a touch panel on an upper surface of a display screen and can be input from the display screen.

  In recent years, a display device with a touch switch in which a touch switch is combined with a display input device such as a mobile phone, a ticket machine, or a portable game machine has been widely put into practical use. In the display device with a touch switch, a button for touching the display device is displayed. When the button is pressed with a finger or a pen, the touch switch detects that the button is pressed and information is input. The control unit switches the image displayed by the display device based on the input information, and performs the next input or other operation. The display device with a touch switch saves space because the touch switch is integrally formed on the display screen of the display device. In addition, since the position and function of the input button can be freely changed, operability is good.

  However, since the touch panel that has been used conventionally has a flat surface of the input unit, it is impossible to obtain a reliable feel that an input is made even if the surface of the touch panel is touched with a finger. For this reason, it is necessary to make a judgment by looking at the display screen in order to confirm the input.

  In patent document 1, when a touch sensor is touched, an impact generating mechanism that causes an impact on the touch portion using an electromagnetic coil or the like is configured. When the operator touches the touch sensor, a current flows through the coil and gives an impact to the touch sensor, and the operator experiences the input by the feeling of the impact. Further, in Patent Document 2, guidance is provided on the upper surface of the touch panel so that the key position of the touch unit can be recognized with a finger sense.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the touch panel input method keyboard 51 described in Patent Document 2. A touch panel 53 is superimposed on the display unit 52. On the upper surface of the touch panel 53, a guidance 54 having a hole 55 is installed at a position corresponding to the touch part 53a. By forming the hole 55 in the guidance 54, it is possible to recognize the key position 52a as a reference when inputting a key with the sense of a finger. As a result, the burden of visual confirmation required for a conventional touch panel input method keyboard is reduced, blind touch is possible, and the operability of touch input is remarkably improved.

JP-A-7-64723 JP 2001-117721 A

  However, when an impact generating mechanism is installed on the touch panel, the apparatus becomes large, and the advantages of a display device with a touch panel that can be configured to be lightweight, thin, and compact are lost, and power consumption also increases.

  In the touch panel input method keyboard 51 shown in FIG. 9, the guidance 54 in which the hole 55 is formed is a flat plate. If the thickness of the guidance 54 is reduced, or the gap between the touch panel 53 and the guidance 54 is narrowed, the feeling of the position when touching with a finger is diminished, and the purpose of installing the guidance 54 cannot be achieved. Further, if the thickness of the guidance 54 is increased, or the gap between the touch panel 53 and the guidance 54 is widened, the finger will feel that it is caught in the hole 55 when touched, and the fingertip will feel uncomfortable and the operability is not good. . In addition, since the guidance 54 is flat and hard, there is a problem in operability such that it is not possible to obtain a feeling that the user has surely input a key by pressing a key.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a display device with a touch switch that can input touch panel input with a touch feeling similar to that of a normal keyboard.

  In the present invention, a display device having a display surface, a touch panel provided on the display surface and provided with a touch unit for inputting information, and the touch panel installed on the surface on the information input side. A translucent sheet, and the translucent sheet includes a bulging portion in which a region corresponding to the touch portion bulges to a side opposite to a side where the touch panel is located, and the bulging portion Is a display device with a touch switch formed from an elastic material that is deformed to the touch panel side when pressed.

  Further, the bulging portion is formed by embossing the translucent sheet.

  In addition, a spacer is installed between the translucent sheet and the touch panel and around the bulging portion.

  In addition, a character or a pattern is printed on the surface of the translucent sheet on the touch panel side and around the bulging portion.

  Moreover, the convex part or the recessed part was formed in the top part of the said bulging part.

  In addition, a translucent plate having a flat surface is installed at the top of the bulging portion.

  In addition, a translucent material is provided on the top surface of the bulging portion and on the surface on the touch panel side.

  Further, a sound is generated when the bulging portion is pressed and deformed, or when the deformed bulging portion returns to a shape before being depressed.

  The translucent sheet is detachably installed on the surface of the touch panel.

  The display device with a touch switch of the present invention includes a display device having a display surface, a touch panel provided on the display surface and provided with a touch unit for inputting information, and a surface on the information input side of the touch panel. The translucent sheet is provided with a bulging portion in which a region corresponding to the touch portion bulges on a side opposite to the side where the touch panel is located. Is formed of an elastic material that is deformed to the touch panel side when pressed. As a result, when performing a key input operation, it is possible to provide a touch-sensitive feeling that the fingertip has no sense of incongruity at the time of input.

It is a typical perspective view of the mobile phone which installed the display apparatus with a touch switch of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the display apparatus with a touch switch which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of a display with a touch switch concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of a display with a touch switch concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of a display with a touch switch concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of a display with a touch switch concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of a display with a touch switch concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of a display with a touch switch concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of a conventionally well-known touch-panel input system keyboard.

  Hereinafter, the display device with a touch switch of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the mobile phone 10 when the lid 20 is opened with respect to the main body 21. On the inner surface of the lid 20 of the mobile phone 10, a display unit 13 for displaying images from mail and the Internet is installed. The display device 1 with a touch switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed on the inner surface of the main body 21 of the mobile phone 10.

  2 is an explanatory diagram of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a portion AA ′ in FIG. ) Represents a state in which the bulging portion 6 formed on the translucent sheet 3 is pressed.

  As shown to Fig.2 (a), the display apparatus 1 with a touch switch inputs the information of the display apparatus 5 whose upper surface is a display surface, the touch panel 2 installed on the display surface, and the touch panel 2. It is comprised from the translucent sheet | seat 3 installed in the side. The translucent sheet 3 is formed with a bulging portion 6 in which a region corresponding to the touch portion 4 of the touch panel 2 bulges on the opposite side to the touch panel 2 side. A spacer 7 is sandwiched between the touch panel 2 and the translucent sheet 3. In addition, in this 1st Embodiment, although the spacer 7 is inserted between the translucent sheet | seat 3 and the touchscreen 2, the display apparatus 1 with a touch switch which does not insert the spacer 7 is also contained in this invention.

  As the display device 5, a flat display device such as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, or an organic EL display device can be used. The display device 5 displays characters and images on the display surface. Since the touch panel 2 is translucent, the position and function to be touched displayed on the display device 5 can be viewed from above.

  As the touch panel 2, a touch panel of a resistance film method, a capacitive coupling method, an infrared scanning method, or the like can be used. In a resistive film type touch panel, two transparent substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on the inner surface are bonded together with a gap therebetween. An electrode is formed around the transparent electrode, and a voltage is applied to the electrode. Therefore, a potential gradient is formed on the transparent electrode. When the surface of the touch panel is pressed, the opposing transparent electrodes come into contact with each other. The potential at the contact point is detected to identify the pressed position. Further, as another resistive film method, a touch panel configured by opposing a plurality of transparent electrodes separated in a stripe shape so as to be orthogonal to each other can be used. Also in this method, the transparent electrodes facing each other come into contact with each other when the surface of the transparent substrate is pressed, and the touched electrodes are detected to identify the pressed position.

  In the capacitively coupled touch panel, two transparent substrates provided with a plurality of transparent electrodes that are separated into stripes are bonded together with a gap between the transparent electrodes. The striped transparent electrodes on each transparent substrate are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other. When a finger approaches the touch panel, the capacitance between the transparent electrode and the human body changes, and the change of the capacitance is detected to specify the position where the finger has approached.

  As another capacitive coupling method, it is possible to use a touch panel in which a transparent electrode is formed on the surface of a single transparent substrate, and electrodes are formed at a plurality of peripheral portions. As the finger approaches the transparent electrode, the capacitance between the transparent electrode and the human body changes. When the capacitance changes, a current flows through the transparent electrode. This current is detected by a plurality of electrodes, and the magnitudes are compared to identify the position where the finger is approaching. Since this type of touch panel is composed of a single transparent substrate, the thickness can be reduced and the transmittance can be increased.

  As the translucent sheet 3, a resin such as translucent silicone, polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl chloride, and polyurethane can be used. The bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3 is formed in a dome shape by embossing the translucent material. Since the translucent sheet | seat 3 permeate | transmits light, images, such as a character and a symbol displayed on the lower display apparatus 5, can be visually recognized from upper part. The translucent sheet 3 has elasticity, and is depressed into a concave shape when the bulging portion 6 is pressed, and returns to its original shape when the finger is released. With this elasticity, key input by pressing can be confirmed by the touch of a fingertip. By appropriately setting the thickness and elasticity of the translucent sheet 3, when the bulging portion 6 is pressed down or when it returns to its original shape, the bulging portion 6 vibrates and generates a sound. It can be constituted as follows. Thus, the user can aurally confirm the key input by pressing with the sound emitted from the bulging portion 6, and the operability of the input is improved.

  As the spacer 7, a resin plate such as translucent silicone can be used. In the spacer 7, an area corresponding to the touch part 4, that is, an area of the bulging part 6 of the translucent sheet 3 is opened. By providing the spacer 7, it is possible to ensure a stroke when the bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3 is pressed. The spacer 7 is made of a translucent resin. Since it is translucent, the display image of the display device 5 located in the lower part can be viewed from the upper part.

  If the spacer 7 and the translucent sheet 3 are adhered by an adhesive, and the spacer 7 and the touch panel 2 are adhered by a weak adhesive material, the translucent sheet 3 can be easily attached to and detached from the touch panel 2. For example, when a silicone resin is used as the spacer 7, the spacer 7 and the translucent sheet 3 can be easily adhered to the surface of the touch panel 2 and can be easily peeled off. Moreover, the translucent sheet | seat 3 and the spacer 7 can be integrally formed with the same material. In this case, it is not necessary to insert the spacer 7 again.

  FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the touch unit 4 of the touch panel 2 is pressed with the finger 15. The function of the touch unit 4 is displayed on the display surface of the display device 5. The user can read the function of the touch unit 4 through the translucent sheet 3. When the user presses the bulging part 6 of the touch part 4 with a finger 15 or a pen, the translucent sheet 3 is an elastic body. Return to the state. When the resistive film type touch panel 2 is used, when the finger 15 is pressed, the inner surface of the bulging portion 6 presses the upper surface of the touch panel 2 and information can be input. When the touch panel 2 is a capacitive coupling method, information can be input even if the inner surface of the bulging portion 6 does not necessarily contact the upper surface of the touch panel 2. When information is input, the display device 5 changes the display state of the input touch unit 4. Thereby, the user can visually confirm whether or not an input is made when the bulging portion 6 of the touch portion 4 is pressed.

  As described above, the bulging portion 6 having elasticity is formed on the touch portion 4 of the touch panel 2, and the bulging portion 6 is pressed to perform an input operation. You can definitely get a feel. Further, if a sound is generated when the bulging portion 6 is pressed or released, the pressing can be confirmed audibly, so that the blind input becomes easy. Moreover, the translucent sheet | seat 3 and the spacer 7 are installed as needed on the touch panel 2 by forming the spacer 7 with an adhesive material, or forming an adhesive material in the contact surface with the touch panel 2. Can do.

  Note that the bulging portion 6 does not necessarily have a dome shape, and may have a cross-sectional shape that bulges into a trapezoidal shape, or a shape in which the upper side of the trapezoid is recessed toward the touch panel 2. Also good. Moreover, the top part of the bulging part 6 means the upper surface part of the bulging part 6, and does not necessarily mean the upper end part of the bulging part 6.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that a printing layer 8 made of a pattern or the like is formed on the inner surface of the translucent sheet 3 on the touch panel 2 side. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a printing layer 8 made of a pattern or the like is formed by printing on the inner surface on the touch panel 2 side around the bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3. The printing layer 8 can be read from the upper surface using light-shielding ink. The print layer 8 may be a character or a figure that represents the function of the touch unit 4, or may be a pattern or the like for improving design. In FIG. 3, the printing layer 8 is formed in the peripheral portion of the bulging portion 6. However, the printing layer 8 may be formed on the touch panel 2 side of the bulging portion 6. You may combine with the formed printing layer 8. FIG.

  Moreover, as already demonstrated, the translucent sheet | seat 3 and the spacer 7 are adhere | attached, and the spacer 7 and the touch panel 2 are fixed with a weak adhesive material. Or the touch panel 2 and the spacer 7 can be adhere | attached, and the translucent sheet | seat 3 and the spacer 7 can be fixed with a weak adhesive material. In this case, if a plurality of translucent sheets 3 printed with different patterns or the like are prepared and the translucent sheet 3 is replaced as necessary, a different design can be easily given to the mobile phone 10 or the like. can do.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that a convex portion 9 is formed on the top of the bulging portion 6. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a convex portion 9 is formed on the top of the bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3. By forming the convex portion 9, the reference position of the input key can be confirmed with the fingertip. Moreover, it can form in the some bulging part 6 by changing the number and shape of the convex part 9 according to the function of each input key. As a result, blind input is facilitated. Moreover, if the convex part 9 which consists of Braille is formed in the top part of the bulging part 6, a user with a blindness can input easily. In addition, the convex part 9 can be formed simultaneously with the bulging part 6 by embossing.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. A difference from the third embodiment is that a concave portion 9 ′ is formed at the top of the bulging portion 6. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a concave portion 9 ′ is formed at the top of the bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3. The concave portion 9 ′ can also be formed simultaneously with the bulging portion 6 by embossing. By forming the concave portion 9 ′ at the top of the bulging portion 6, the reference position of the input key can be confirmed with the fingertip. As a result, blind input is facilitated.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, a translucent plate 11 having a flat surface is attached to the top of the bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3. The total thickness of the translucent plate 11 and the lower translucent sheet 3 is substantially uniform. Therefore, the characters and images displayed on the display device 5 can be viewed as an image with little distortion even through the translucent sheet 3. Further, since the surface touched by the finger 15 in the information input operation is a flat surface, the input operation can be performed with a feeling similar to that of a normal keyboard. Moreover, since the translucent plate 11 sinks to the touch panel 2 side when the translucent plate 11 is touched with a finger, there is no sense of incongruity at the fingertip, and a feeling that the user has surely input is obtained.

  The translucent plate 11 can use a translucent polymer material or an inorganic material such as glass. The light transmissive plate 11 can be integrally formed from the same material as the light transmissive sheet 3. In this case, the polymer material can be simultaneously formed by a mold or press working.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that a translucent plate 11 ′ is installed on the inner surface of the translucent sheet 3, and other configurations are the same as in the fifth embodiment. The description is omitted.

  Thereby, the outer surface of the top part of the bulging part 6 is a smooth flat surface having no corners, and the input operation can be performed more smoothly. Further, since the total thickness of the translucent plate 11 ′ and the translucent sheet 3 is substantially uniform, characters and images displayed on the display device 5 are not distorted. Moreover, since it sinks when it touches the surface of the bulging part 6, the touch input certainly into the fingertip without a sense of incongruity is obtained.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the display device 1 with a touch switch according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment, the top inner surface of the bulging portion 6 of the translucent sheet 3 is filled with a translucent material 12. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The translucent material 12 has a convex shape toward the outer side opposite to the touch panel 2 side. The touch panel 2 side of the translucent material 12 has a flat surface. Since the translucent material 12 gives the function of a convex lens to the bulging part 6 of the translucent sheet 3, the characters and images displayed on the touch part 4 of the display device 5 can be enlarged and viewed from above. The translucent material 12 secures the height of the top of the bulging portion 6 and reduces the displacement stroke when the bulging portion 6 is pressed down. Will improve. As the translucent material 12, an inorganic material made of translucent polymer material or glass can be used. The translucent material 12 can be integrally formed of the same material as the translucent sheet 3 at the same time.

  Although the first to seventh embodiments have been described above, it goes without saying that the display device 1 with a touch switch can be configured by combining a plurality of these embodiments. According to the present invention, the touch panel 2 is installed on the upper surface of the display device 5, and the bulging portion 6 that bulges to the outside opposite to the touch panel 2 side is formed of an elastic elastic material. When inputting to the touch panel 2, it is possible to obtain a feeling that is surely input. In addition, by printing characters and patterns on the periphery of the bulging portion 6, a surface rich in design can be configured. Further, by forming the convex portion 9 and the concave portion 9 'on the top of the bulging portion 6, the position of the reference key or the position of the specific key can be obtained by the touch of the finger. It becomes easy.

  The display device 1 with a touch switch according to the present invention is preferably used for a mobile phone, a personal computer, a game machine, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and the like. Further, it can be applied to various information terminals such as ATMs, ticket vending machines, vending machines, and remote controllers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus with a touch switch 2 Touch panel 3 Translucent sheet 4 Touch part 5 Display apparatus 6 Bulging part 7 Spacer 8 Print layer 9 Convex part 9
10 Mobile phone

Claims (9)

A display device having a display surface;
A touch panel installed on the display surface and provided with a touch unit for inputting information;
A translucent sheet installed on the surface of the touch panel for inputting information,
The translucent sheet includes a bulging portion in which a region corresponding to the touch portion bulges on a side opposite to a side where the touch panel is located,
The display device with a touch switch, wherein the bulging portion is formed of an elastic material that is deformed toward the touch panel when pressed.   The display device with a touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portion is formed by embossing the translucent sheet.   The display device with a touch switch according to claim 1, wherein a spacer is provided between the translucent sheet and the touch panel and around the bulging portion.   The touch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a character or a pattern is printed on a surface of the translucent sheet on the touch panel side and around a bulge portion. Display device with switch.   The display device with a touch switch according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion or a concave portion is formed on a top portion of the bulging portion.   The display device with a touch switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a translucent plate having a flat surface is installed on a top portion of the bulge portion.   7. The display device with a touch switch according to claim 1, wherein a translucent material is provided on a surface of the bulge portion on the touch panel side.   8. A sound is generated when the bulging portion is pressed and deformed, or when the deformed bulging portion returns to a shape before being depressed. A display device with a touch switch according to item.   The display device with a touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the translucent sheet is detachably installed on a surface of the touch panel.

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