JP2011028680A - Input device and display apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact input device suppressing reduction in detection sensitivity, and to provide a display apparatus including the input device. <P>SOLUTION: The input device X includes: a base 2 having translucency; a plurality of detection electrodes 3a, 4a formed on the base 2 to detect an input position; and a plurality of wiring conductors 7 formed on the base 2 to apply voltage to the plurality of detection electrodes 3a, 4a. The adjacent wiring conductors 7 have different heights, at least. Concretely, one 7a of the adjacent wiring conductors 7 is formed on the upper surface of the base 2, and the other 7b is formed on the upper surface of an insulating layer 6 formed on the upper surface of the base 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, an input device that is arranged on a display panel and allows a user to input information by pressing with a finger or a pen, and a display device including the same.

  As an input device, for example, a capacitive touch panel that detects an input position by detecting a change in capacitance between a finger and a detection electrode is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such an input device includes a base having translucency, and has an input region and an outer region located outside the input region. In addition, the input device is provided on the base in the input region and has a plurality of detection electrodes for detecting the input position, and is provided on the base in the outer region, and a voltage is applied to the plurality of detection electrodes. And a plurality of wiring conductors.

JP 2008-97283 A

  By the way, in recent years, as the size of the display panel has been reduced, the demand for downsizing of the input device to be arranged on the display panel has been increased. Therefore, in the conventional input device, in order to meet the demand for miniaturization, the interval between the wiring conductors provided on the base in the outer region is narrowed. However, if this is done, the capacitance (stray capacitance) generated between the wiring conductors increases. When the capacitance generated between the wiring conductors increases, the detection sensitivity for detecting the input position decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is related to an input device capable of realizing downsizing while suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity, and a display device including the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to the present invention is provided on a substrate having translucency, a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the substrate and detecting an input position, and the substrate. And a plurality of wiring conductors for applying a voltage to the plurality of detection electrodes, and at least adjacent wiring conductors have different height positions.

  In order to achieve the above object, a display device according to the present invention includes the input device according to the present invention and a display panel disposed to face the input device.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The input device of the present invention and the display device including the same have an effect that downsizing can be realized while suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line II shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line II-II shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line III-III shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device according to the first modification. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device according to the second modification. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device according to the third modification. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device according to the fourth modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  However, in the drawings referred to below, for the convenience of explanation, among the constituent members of one embodiment of the present invention, only the main members necessary for explaining the present invention are shown in a simplified manner. Therefore, the input device according to the present invention and the display device including the input device can include arbitrary components not shown in the drawings referred to in this specification.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an input device X according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line II shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line II-II shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line III-III shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the input device X according to the present embodiment is a capacitive touch panel and includes a base 2 having translucency.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input device X according to the present embodiment is positioned outside the input area E _I and an input area E _I for inputting information when the user presses with a finger or the like. And an outer region _EO . Further, the outer region _EO includes an external conduction region G that is a region electrically connected to an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) or the like (not shown).

Base 2, the first detection electrode 3a to be described later in the input region E _I, the first connection electrode 3b, the second detection electrode 4a, the second connecting electrode 4b, and takes a roll which supports the shield electrode 5, the outer region E _{In O} , it is a member which plays the role which supports the wiring conductor 7 mentioned later. In addition, the base 2 is configured to be able to appropriately transmit light in a direction intersecting with the main surface (arrow EF direction) and to have an insulating property. Examples of the constituent material of the substrate 2 include those having translucency such as transparent glass or transparent plastic. Among them, transparent glass is preferable from the viewpoint of visibility and reliability (for example, long life). In addition, in this specification, translucency means having transparency with respect to visible light. Moreover, although the planar view shape of the base | substrate 2 which concerns on this embodiment is made into the substantially rectangular shape, it is not restricted to this.

Further, on the base body 2 in the input region E _I includes a first detection electrode 3a, a first connection electrode 3b, a second detecting electrode 4a, a second connection electrode 4b, a shield electrode 5 is provided (See FIGS. 1 to 3).

  The first detection electrode 3a has a role of performing position detection in a first direction (arrow CD direction) of a finger or the like approaching the input device X, and has a function of generating capacitance between the finger or the like. Have. That is, the first detection electrodes 3a according to the present embodiment are provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6 provided on the upper surface of the base 2, and a plurality of first detection electrodes 3a are arranged along the arrow AB direction. The insulating layer 6 has a role of electrically insulating the first detection electrode 3a and the shield electrode 5, the second detection electrode 4a and the shield electrode 5, and the first connection electrode 3b and the second connection electrode 4b. Examples of the constituent material include transparent resins such as acrylic resins, epoxy resins, and silicone resins. Here, from the viewpoint of improving the detection sensitivity, the first detection electrode 3a according to the present embodiment has a substantially rhombus shape in plan view, but is not limited thereto.

  The first connection electrode 3 b is a member that connects the adjacent first detection electrodes 3 a, and is provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6 provided on the upper surface of the base 2.

  The second detection electrode 4a has a role of performing position detection in a second direction (arrow AB direction) of a finger or the like approaching the input device X, and has a function of generating capacitance between the finger or the like. Have. That is, the second detection electrodes 4a according to the present embodiment are provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6 provided on the upper surface of the substrate 2, and a plurality of second detection electrodes 4a are arranged along the arrow CD direction. Here, from the viewpoint of improving detection sensitivity, the second detection electrode 4a according to the present embodiment has a substantially rhombus shape in plan view, but is not limited thereto.

  The second connection electrode 4 b is a member that connects the adjacent second detection electrodes 4 a, and is provided on the upper surface of the base 2.

  The shield electrode 5 suppresses the influence of noise such as a drive signal of the display device Y on the first detection electrode 3a and the second detection electrode 4a when the input device X is provided in the display device Y described later. It has a function to do. For this reason, the shield electrode 5 is set to a reference potential such as GND (0 V), and is provided on the upper surface of the base 2.

  Examples of the constituent material of the first detection electrode 3a, the first connection electrode 3b, the second detection electrode 4a, the second connection electrode 4b, and the shield electrode 5 include a conductive member having translucency. As the conductive member having translucency, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide), AZO (Al-Doped Zinc Oxide), tin oxide, zinc oxide, or Examples thereof include conductive polymers (for example, PEDOT and PSS).

Further, a plurality of wiring conductors 7 for applying a voltage to the first detection electrode 3a and the second detection electrode 4a are provided on the base 2 in the outer region _EO (see FIGS. 1 and 4).

  One end of the plurality of wiring conductors 7 is electrically connected to the first detection electrode 3a and the second detection electrode 4a, and the other end is located in the external conduction region G. For example, the wiring conductor 7 according to the present embodiment is made of a metal thin film so as to be hard and have high shape stability. Examples of the metal thin film include an aluminum film, an aluminum alloy film, a laminated film of a chromium film and an aluminum film, or a laminated film of a chromium film and an aluminum alloy film. Examples of the method for forming the metal thin film include a sputtering method, a vapor deposition method, and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the wiring conductor 7 is a first wiring conductor 7a, a wiring conductor adjacent to the first wiring conductor 7a, and at a height position different from the first wiring conductor 7a. And a second wiring conductor 7b provided. That is, at least the adjacent wiring conductors 7 have different height positions. Specifically, the first wiring conductor 7 a is provided on the upper surface of the base 2, and the second wiring conductor 7 b is provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6 provided on the upper surface of the base 2. For this reason, the input device X according to the present embodiment has the first wiring conductor 7a and the second wiring conductor in the plan view as compared with the aspect in which the first wiring conductor and the second wiring conductor are provided at the same height position. A distance between the first wiring conductor 7a and the second wiring conductor 7b in a cross-sectional view can be increased while maintaining a distance from the wiring conductor 7b. Therefore, the input device X according to the present embodiment has a capacitance (floating capacitance) generated between the wiring conductors 7 as compared with the aspect in which the first wiring conductor and the second wiring conductor are provided at the same height position. ) Becomes lower. As a result, the input device X according to the present embodiment can achieve downsizing while suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity.

  Further, the bonding member 8 is provided on the base 2 so as to cover the first detection electrode 3a, the first connection electrode 3b, the second detection electrode 4a, the second connection electrode 4b, the shield electrode 5, and the wiring conductor 7 described above. Is provided.

  The joining member 8 is a member for bonding a protective substrate 9 described later, and examples of the constituent material thereof include a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or a silicone resin. Further, the joining member 8 also has a role of suppressing the occurrence of shape defects such as scratches in the first detection electrode 3a, the second detection electrode 4a, and the wiring conductor 7. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the contact area with the joining member 8 is increased by the insulating layer 6 and the wiring conductor 7 provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6, the joining member 8, the insulating layer 6, and the wiring conductor. 7 can be improved.

  The protective substrate 9 is provided on the upper surface of the bonding member 8 and has a light-transmitting property such as an acrylic plate, a glass plate (including a tempered glass plate), a resin film, a resin coating material, or a polarizing plate. It is comprised from the board | substrate which has.

  Next, the detection principle of the input device X according to this embodiment will be described.

  That is, the input device X according to the present embodiment first applies a voltage to the first line of the second detection electrode 4a (second detection electrode located on the arrow A side in FIG. 1) via the wiring conductor 7. . Thereby, an electric charge is provided between the first line of the second detection electrode 4a and all the first detection electrodes 3a. Then, a driver (not shown) provided in the input device X detects a change in capacitance in each of the first detection electrodes 3a. Similarly to this, the second line, the third line,..., And the voltage of the second detection electrode 4a are applied to detect the change in capacitance in all the first detection electrodes 3a.

When a finger, which is a conductor, contacts or approaches any part of the protective substrate 9 in the input area E _I , the first detection electrode 3a and the second detection electrode 4a that are in contact with or close to the finger The capacity changes. Here, in the input device X according to the present embodiment, as described above, the change in capacitance is always detected by the driver. Therefore, when the driver detects a change in capacitance that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the driver detects a position where the change in capacitance is detected as an input position. Thus, the input device X according to the present embodiment can detect the input position.

  Further, the input device X according to the present embodiment can be used for a display device, for example. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the display device Y according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the display device Y according to the present embodiment includes the input device X according to the present embodiment and a liquid crystal display device Z disposed to face the input device X.

  The liquid crystal display device Z according to the present embodiment includes a liquid crystal display panel 50, a backlight 51, and a housing 52.

  The backlight 51 includes a light source 51a and a light guide plate 51b. The light source 51a is a member that plays a role of emitting light toward the light guide plate 51b, and includes, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). Instead of the LED, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, or an EL (Electro-Luminescence) may be used. The light guide plate 51 b is a member that plays a role for guiding light from the light source 51 a substantially uniformly over the entire lower surface of the liquid crystal display panel 50.

  The housing 52 plays a role of housing the liquid crystal display panel 50 and the backlight 51, and includes an upper housing 52a and a lower housing 52b. Examples of the constituent material of the housing 52 include a resin such as polycarbonate, or a metal such as stainless steel (SUS) or aluminum.

  Here, the input device X and the liquid crystal display device Z are bonded via a double-sided tape T. That is, the input device X and the liquid crystal display device Z are bonded via the double-sided tape T so that the main surface (back surface) of the base 2 in the input device X is disposed opposite to the main surface of the liquid crystal display panel 50. . In addition, the fixing member used for the fixing method of the input device X and the liquid crystal display device Z is not limited to the double-sided tape T. For example, an adhesive member such as a thermosetting resin or an ultraviolet curable resin, or the input device X It may be a fixed structure that physically fixes the liquid crystal display device Z.

As described above, the input device X according to the present embodiment can input various types of information by pressing the input area E _I of the input device X while seeing through the liquid crystal display panel 50 of the liquid crystal display device Z. it can. In addition, when inputting various information, you may provide the input device X with the function which gives a vibration (click feeling) with respect to the user who input information. In this case, when the base 2 in the input device X is provided with one or a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a predetermined load due to the pressing operation is detected, the piezoelectric element can be vibrated at a predetermined frequency.

  In addition, the display device Y according to the present embodiment includes various terminal devices such as a mobile phone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an electronic notebook, a personal computer, a copying machine, and a game terminal device. Provided in electronic equipment.

  As described above, according to the input device X and the display device Y according to the present embodiment, downsizing can be realized while suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity.

  The above-described embodiment shows a specific example of the embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made. The following are some major changes.

[Modification 1]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device X1 according to the first modification. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the same part as FIG. In FIG. 6, configurations having the same functions as those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the input device X <b> 1 according to the first modification includes a resin layer 11 on the upper surface of the base 2. That is, the first wiring conductor 7 a is provided on the upper surface of the resin layer 11 provided on the upper surface of the base 2, and the second wiring conductor 7 b is provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6 provided on the upper surface of the resin layer 11. Is provided. In addition, as a constituent material of the resin layer 11, transparent resins, such as an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or a silicone resin, are mentioned, for example.

  That is, the resin layer 11 generally has a lower dielectric constant than the transparent glass or the transparent plastic constituting the substrate 2. For example, the dielectric constant of glass is approximately 7.0 or higher, whereas the dielectric constant of resin is approximately 3.5. For this reason, the input device X1 according to the modification 1 has a lower capacitance generated between the wiring conductors 7 than the input device X according to the above-described embodiment. That is, the capacitance value is proportional to the dielectric constant. As a result, the input device X1 according to the modified example 1 can achieve downsizing while further suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity.

[Modification 2]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device X2 according to the second modification. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the same part as FIG. In FIG. 7, components having the same functions as those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a groove 2a is formed in the base 2 in the input device X2 according to the second modification. That is, the first wiring conductor 7 a is provided on the upper surface of the groove 2 a formed in the base 2, and the second wiring conductor 7 b is provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 6 provided on the upper surface of the base 2. .

  For this reason, compared with the input device X according to the above-described embodiment, the input device X2 according to the modified example 2 may have a wider separation distance between the first wiring conductor 7a and the second wiring conductor 7b in a cross-sectional view. it can. Therefore, the input device X2 according to the modification 2 has a lower capacitance generated between the wiring conductors 7 than the input device X according to the above-described embodiment. That is, the capacitance value is inversely proportional to the distance between the first wiring conductor 7a and the second wiring conductor 7b. As a result, the input device X2 according to the modified example 2 can achieve downsizing while further suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity.

[Modification 3]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device X3 according to the third modification. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the same part as FIG. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to configurations having the same functions as those in FIG. 4, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the input device X3 according to the third modification, a part of the first wiring conductor 7a is embedded in the insulating layer 6 provided with the second wiring conductor 7b. Thereby, compared with the input device X which concerns on the above-mentioned embodiment, the input device X3 which concerns on the modification 3 can implement | achieve size reduction more.

[Modification 4]
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device X4 according to the fourth modification. 9, components having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the input device X4 according to the modification example 4, the wiring conductor 7 in the portion H where the wiring conductor 7 is bent is formed in a curved shape. In the following, a portion where the wiring conductor 7 is bent in the plan view of the base 2 is referred to as a “bent portion” H.

  That is, in the input device X according to the above-described embodiment, the wiring conductor 7 is bent at a substantially right angle toward the first detection electrode 3a in the bent portion H. For this reason, it may be difficult for the current to flow through the wiring conductor 7 in the bent portion H. Therefore, the input device X according to the above-described embodiment may have a reduced detection sensitivity. However, in the input device X4 according to the modification example 4, since the wiring conductor 7 in the bent portion H is formed in a curved shape in plan view, it is possible to suppress the current from flowing through the wiring conductor 7 in the bent portion H. . As a result, the input device X4 according to the modification 4 can further suppress a decrease in detection sensitivity as compared with the input device X according to the above-described embodiment.

  An input device in which the input device X1 according to the modification example 1 and the input device X4 according to the modification example 4 are combined may be employed. Similarly, an input device in which the input device X2 according to the modification example 2 and the input device X4 according to the modification example 4 are combined may be employed. Furthermore, you may employ | adopt the input device which combined the input device X3 which concerns on the modification 3, and the input device X4 which concerns on the modification 4.

[Modification 5]
In the input device X described above, the example in which the input position is detected by touching or approaching the protective substrate 9 with a finger or the like from the arrow E direction side has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, an input device that detects an input position by bringing a finger or the like into contact with or close to the substrate 2 from the arrow F direction side may be employed.

[Modification 6]
In the above description, a capacitive touch panel has been described as an example of the input device, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a resistive film type touch panel using a matrix resistive film. Specifically, a resistive film type touch panel using a matrix resistive film includes a first base, a stripe-shaped first detection electrode provided on the first base, a second base, and a second base. A stripe-shaped second detection electrode that intersects with the first detection electrode and a plurality of wiring conductors for applying a voltage to these detection electrodes are provided. That is, by forming the wiring conductor as described above, the present invention can be applied to a resistive film type touch panel using a matrix resistive film.

  The present invention can also be applied to, for example, a resistive film type touch panel using an analog resistive film. That is, the present invention can also be applied to a resistive film type touch panel using an analog resistance film by forming the wiring conductor as described above, similarly to a resistive film type touch panel using a matrix resistive film.

[Modification 7]
In the above description, an example in which the display panel to which the input device X is bonded is a liquid crystal display panel is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the display panel on which the input device X is mounted may be a CRT, plasma display, organic EL display, inorganic EL display, LED display, fluorescent display tube, field emission display, surface electric field display, or the like.

  Furthermore, although the example of the display device Y provided with the input device X has been described above, instead of the input device X, the input device X1 according to the modification example 1, the input device X2 according to the modification example 2, or the modification example 3 may be adopted.

  As described above, the present invention is useful as an input device that can realize downsizing while suppressing a decrease in detection sensitivity, or a display device including the input device.

X, X1 to X4 Input device Y Display device 2 Base 2a Groove 3a First detection electrode (detection electrode)
4a Second detection electrode (detection electrode)
6 Insulating layer 7 Wiring conductor 7a First wiring conductor 7b Second wiring conductor 11 Resin layer 50 Liquid crystal display panel (display panel)

Claims (8)

A substrate having translucency;
A plurality of detection electrodes provided on the substrate and for detecting an input position;
A plurality of wiring conductors provided on the base and for applying a voltage to the plurality of detection electrodes,
The input device characterized in that at least the adjacent wiring conductors have different height positions. One of the adjacent wiring conductors is provided on the upper surface of the base body,
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the other wiring conductor among the adjacent wiring conductors is provided on an upper surface of an insulating layer provided on an upper surface of the base.   The input device according to claim 2, wherein a part of one of the adjacent wiring conductors is embedded in the insulating layer. One of the adjacent wiring conductors is provided on the upper surface of the resin layer provided on the upper surface of the base body,
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the other wiring conductor among the adjacent wiring conductors is provided on an upper surface of an insulating layer provided on an upper surface of the resin layer. One of the adjacent wiring conductors is provided on the upper surface of the groove formed in the base body,
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the other wiring conductor among the adjacent wiring conductors is provided on an upper surface of an insulating layer provided on an upper surface of the base.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring conductor in a portion where the wiring conductor is bent is formed in a curved shape when the base is viewed in plan. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A display device comprising: a display panel disposed opposite to the input device. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.

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