JP2011138238A - Input device and display device with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device allowing miniaturization, and to provide a display device with the same. <P>SOLUTION: The input device X including an input area E<SB>I</SB>and an outer area E<SB>o</SB>positioned outside the input area E<SB>I</SB>includes: a substrate 2; detection electrodes 3a, 4a formed on the substrate 2 in the outer area E<SB>o</SB>; and wiring conductors 6 formed on the substrates 2 in the input area E<SB>I</SB>, and electrically connected with the detection electrodes 3a, 4a. The substrate 2 in the outer area E<SB>o</SB>is formed with a through-hole H, and the input device X also includes a flexible board 8 electrically connected with the wiring conductors 6 thorough the through-hole H. <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 approaching, touching, or pressing 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 has an input area and an outer area located outside the input area. The input device is provided on the base body, the base body in the input area, and is provided on the base body in the outer area and is electrically connected to the detection electrode. A wiring conductor to be connected and a flexible substrate for applying a voltage to the wiring conductor are provided. This flexible substrate bypasses the outer periphery of the base and is connected to, for example, a circuit board of the display device.

JP 2008-97283 A

  However, in the above conventional input device, the flexible substrate bypasses the outer periphery of the base and is connected to, for example, the circuit board of the display device. It will jump out of the outer periphery of the substrate. For this reason, in the said conventional input device, it spreads to the horizontal direction, and there existed a problem that an input device enlarged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is related to an input device that can be downsized and a display device including the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to the present invention is an input device having an input region and an outer region located outside the input region, the substrate, and a detection electrode provided on the substrate in the input region. A wiring conductor that is provided on the base in the outer region and is electrically connected to the detection electrode, and a through hole is formed in the base in the outer region, and the through hole And a flexible substrate electrically connected to the wiring conductor via the wiring board.

  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 a reduction in size can be realized.

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. 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 cross-sectional 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.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input device X according to the present embodiment is a capacitive touch panel, and an input area E for a user to input information by approaching, touching, or pressing a finger F. _I and an outer area E _O located outside the input area E _I. The input device X may be a resistive touch panel or an ultrasonic touch panel.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the input device X includes a base 2 having translucency.

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, and it takes a roll for supporting the second connection electrode 4b, described later in the outer region E _O It is a member that plays a role of supporting the wiring conductor 6. The base 2 has a first main surface 2a and a second main surface 2b provided on the opposite side of the first main surface 2a. The base body 2 is configured to be able to appropriately transmit light in a direction (arrow EF direction) intersecting the main surfaces 2a and 2b, and has an insulating property. Examples of the constituent material of the substrate 2 include those having translucency such as transparent glass or transparent plastic, among which transparent glass is preferable from the viewpoint of visibility. 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 in this embodiment is substantially rectangular shape, it is not restricted to this.

Further, the base body 2 has a through hole H formed in the outer region _EO . This through hole H will be described later. In addition, this through-hole H is formed by using the drill by which the front-end | tip comprised with the diamond, for example.

Further, on the first main surface 2a of the substrate 2 in the input region _{E I,} a first detection electrode 3a, a first connection electrode 3b, a second detecting electrode 4a, a second connection electrode 4b, the insulating film 5 And are provided.

  The first detection electrode 3a has a role of detecting the input position of the user's finger F approaching the input device X in the second direction (arrow CD direction). It has a function of generating capacity. That is, the first detection electrodes 3a are provided on the first main surface 2a of the base 2 at a predetermined interval along the first direction (arrow AB direction). 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 3b is a member that plays a role of electrically connecting the adjacent first detection electrodes 3a. The first connection electrode 3 b is provided on the first main surface 2 a of the base 2.

  The second detection electrode 4a has a role of detecting the input position of the user's finger F approaching the input device X in the first direction (arrow AB direction). It has a function of generating capacity. That is, the second detection electrodes 4a are provided on the first main surface 2a of the base 2 at a predetermined interval along the second direction (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 4b is a member that plays a role of electrically connecting the adjacent second detection electrodes 4a. The second connection electrode 4b is provided on the upper surface of the insulating film 5 so as to be electrically insulated from the first connection electrode 3b. Here, the insulating film 5 is provided on the first main surface 2a of the base 2 so as to cover the first connection electrode 3b. Examples of the constituent material of the insulating film 5 include a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or a silicone resin.

  Examples of the constituent material of the first detection electrode 3a, the first connection electrode 3b, the second detection electrode 4a, and the second connection electrode 4b 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).

A wiring conductor 6 for applying a voltage to the first detection electrode 3a and the second detection electrode 4a is provided on the first main surface 2a of the base 2 in the outer region _EO .

  One end of the wiring conductor 6 is electrically connected to the first detection electrode 3 a and the second detection electrode 4 a, and the other end is electrically connected to the flexible substrate 8 via the connection member 7. For example, the wiring conductor 6 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, a laminated film of a chromium film and an aluminum alloy film, a silver film, a silver alloy film, or a gold 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.

  The connection member 7 is conductive and has a role of connecting the wiring conductor 6 and the flexible substrate 8. The connecting member 7 is made of, for example, a conductive adhesive (ACF).

The flexible substrate 8 is a flexible substrate in which a plurality of wirings are formed on a base film formed of a resin film such as polyimide. That is, the flexible substrate 8 can be bent or folded. The flexible substrate 8 is electrically connected to the wiring conductor 6 through the through hole H, and is a member that plays a role of applying a voltage to the wiring conductor 6. In the present embodiment, one end of the flexible substrate 8 is connected to the wiring conductor 6 via the connection member 7, and the other end of the flexible substrate 8 is connected to a circuit substrate 53 of the display device Y described later. In other words, a part of the flexible substrate 8 is provided on the first main surface 2a of the base 2 in the outer region _EO , a part of the flexible substrate 8 is bent, and the through hole extends from the first main surface 2a side of the base 2. It is pulled out to the second main surface 2b side of the base 2 through H. In FIG. 4, the bent portion of the flexible substrate 8 is indicated by G.

  Thus, in the input device X, the flexible substrate 8 is electrically connected to the wiring conductor 6 through the through hole H by being bent at the bent portion G. For this reason, in the input device X, the bent portion G of the flexible substrate 8 does not jump out of the outer periphery of the base 2 when the base 2 is viewed in plan, unlike the conventional input device. Therefore, the input device X does not spread in the lateral direction unlike the conventional input device, and the input device X can be downsized. Further, when the input device X is to be attached to the display device Y, the bent portion G of the flexible substrate 8 does not get in the way. As a result, the input device X can be easily attached to the display device Y.

  Note that unevenness may be formed on the surface of the flexible substrate 8. If it does in this way, since the surface area of the flexible substrate 8 with respect to the adhesive material 10 will increase, the adhesive strength between the flexible substrate 8 and the adhesive material 10 will improve.

  A protective member 9 is provided on the first main surface 2 a of the base 2.

  The protection member 9 is provided on the first main surface 2a of the base 2 so as to cover the first detection electrode 3a, the second detection electrode 4a, and the wiring conductor 6, and against the input operation of the user This member is responsible for protecting the first detection electrode 3a, the second detection electrode 4a, and the wiring conductor 6. That is, the protection member 9 is a member that the user's finger F directly touches. The protective member 9 is bonded to the first main surface 2 a of the base 2 via the adhesive material 10. Examples of the protective member 9 include a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, an acrylic film, a polycarbonate film, and a resin film.

  Thus, since the input device X performs an input operation through the protective member 9, it is between the user's finger F and the detection electrodes 3a and 4a as compared with the mode in which the input operation is performed through the base body 2. The distance becomes shorter. That is, the thickness of both the protective member 9 and the adhesive material 10 is smaller than the thickness of the base 2. For this reason, the detection sensitivity of the input device X is improved as compared with a mode in which an input operation is performed via the base 2.

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

  First, the input device X 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 flexible substrate 8 and the wiring conductor 6. Thereby, an electric charge is provided between the first line of the second detection electrode 4a and all the first detection electrodes 3a. Then, in a driver (not shown), a change in capacitance in each of the first detection electrodes 3a is detected. Similarly to this, voltages are sequentially applied to the second line, the third line,... Of the second detection electrode 4a to detect the change in capacitance in all the first detection electrodes 3a.

Then, when the finger F, which is a conductor, approaches, touches, or presses on any part of the protection member 9 in the input region E _I, the first detection electrode 3a corresponding to the place where the finger F approaches, contacts, or presses. And the second detection electrode 4a change the electrostatic capacitance. Here, in the input device X, as described above, the change in capacitance is always detected by the driver. For this reason, when the driver detects a change in the electrostatic capacitance of a predetermined value or more, the driver detects a position where the change in the electrostatic capacitance is detected as an input position. In this way, the input device X can detect the input position.

  Here, the input device X can be mounted on a display device. As shown in FIG. 5, the display device Y includes an input device X and a liquid crystal display device Z disposed to face the input device X. The input device X and the liquid crystal display device Z are bonded through an adhesive member such as a double-sided tape T.

  The liquid crystal display device Z includes a liquid crystal display panel 50, a backlight 51, a housing 52, and a circuit board 53.

  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.

  The circuit board 53 is a board on which an electronic circuit for driving the input device X and the liquid crystal display device Z is formed, and is provided in the lower housing 52b. That is, the flexible substrate 8 of the input device X is connected to the circuit substrate 53 via the housing 52 by being partially bent. For this reason, a through-hole for allowing the flexible substrate 8 to pass through is formed in the housing 52.

As described above, the input device X can input various types of information by allowing the user's finger F to approach, touch, or press the input area E _I while looking through the liquid crystal display panel 50. . In addition, when inputting various information, you may provide the input device X with a function that gives a pressing feeling (click feeling) to a user who has 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.

  The display device Y is provided in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Alternatively, the display device Y is provided in various electronic devices such as an electronic notebook, a personal computer, a copying machine, a programmable display, or a game terminal.

  As described above, according to the input device X, downsizing can be realized.

  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 portion as FIG. 6, 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. 6, in the input device X1, a part of the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through hole H in the vicinity of the first main surface 2a of the base 2 has a taper S toward the inside. That is, the inner diameter of the through hole H increases toward the wiring conductor 6 from the second main surface 2b of the base 2 toward the first main surface 2a of the base 2. Thus, since the taper S is formed in the through-hole H, the stress added to the flexible substrate 8 by the taper S can be relieved. As a result, compared to the input device X, the input device X1 can suppress a decrease in electrical characteristics due to disconnection or the like of the wiring of the flexible substrate 8.

  The taper S may be provided on the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through hole H in the vicinity of the second main surface 2b of the base 2.

  Further, a part of the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through hole H may be an R-shaped surface.

[Modification 2]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device X2 according to the second modification. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the same portion as 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, the input device X2 further includes a resin member 11 filled in the through hole H. The resin member 11 is a member that plays a role of fixing the flexible substrate 8 so that the flexible substrate 8 located inside the through hole H does not move. Instead of the resin material 11, the flexible substrate 8 may be fixed with metal fittings or double-sided tape. Thus, since the resin member 11 is filled in the through hole H, the movement of the flexible substrate 8 positioned inside the through hole H is suppressed. For this reason, compared with the input device X, the input device X2 can reduce the possibility of disconnection of the wiring of the flexible substrate 8 due to the movement of the flexible substrate 8 located inside the through hole H. As a result, compared with the input device X, the input device X2 can suppress a decrease in electrical characteristics.

  In addition, by filling the through hole H with the resin member 11, the following effects are further achieved. That is, since the adhesive material 10 is not exposed through the through hole H, there is a possibility that the wiring of the flexible substrate 8 electrically connected to the wiring conductor 6 through the connection member 7 and the detection electrodes 3a and 3b are corroded. Can also be reduced.

[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 portion as FIG. 8, 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. 8, in the input device X3, the flexible substrate 8 is electrically connected to the wiring conductor 6 via the connection member 7 that is a conductive adhesive member. The peripheral surface Ha is connected via a connecting member 7. That is, in the input device X3, the flexible substrate 8 and the wiring conductor 6 are electrically connected by the connection member 7 by heating and pressurizing the flexible substrate 8 with a thermocompression bonding head (not shown). At this time, a part of the connection member 7 flows toward the through hole H. The flexible substrate 8 and the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through hole H are connected by the connection member 7 that has flowed into the through hole H.

  Thus, since the flexible substrate 8 and the inner peripheral surface Ha of the through hole H are connected via the connecting member 7, the movement of the flexible substrate 8 located inside the through hole H is suppressed. For this reason, compared with the input device X, the input device X3 can reduce the possibility of disconnection of the wiring of the flexible substrate 8 due to the movement of the flexible substrate 8 located inside the through hole H. As a result, compared with the input device X, the input device X3 can suppress a decrease in electrical characteristics.

[Modification 4]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an input device X4 according to Modification 4. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the same portion as FIG. 9, 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. 9, in the input device X <b> 4, an inclined surface 8 a that is inclined toward the first main surface 2 a of the base 2 is formed on a part of the flexible substrate 8. Since the inclined surface 8a is formed in a part of the flexible substrate 8, for example, the user presses the protective member 9 in the input region E _I, protection member 9 and in the input region E _I toward the direction of the base 2 Even when a pressing force is applied to the adhesive material 10, the pressing force can be relaxed on the inclined surface 8 a of the flexible substrate 8. For this reason, the input device X4 can reduce the possibility that a crack or the like occurs in the connection member 7 due to the pressing force by the user, and can realize an improvement in the electrical connectivity between the flexible substrate 8 and the wiring conductor 6.

[Modification 5]
In the above description, the example in which the display panel to which the input device X is bonded is a liquid crystal display panel, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 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, electronic paper, or the like.

  Moreover, although the example of the display device Y provided with the input device X has been described above, the input device X1, the input device X2, or the input device X3 may be employed instead of the input device X.

  Furthermore, the configuration described in the input device X1 and the configuration described in the input device X2 may be combined, or the configuration described in the input device X1 and the configuration described in the input device X3 may be combined. Moreover, you may combine the structure demonstrated by input device X1-X3, and the structure demonstrated by input device X4.

X, X1 to X4 Input device Y Display device 2 Base 2a First main surface 2b Second main surface 3a First detection electrode (detection electrode)
4a Second detection electrode (detection electrode)
6 Wiring conductor 7 Connection member (conductive adhesive member)
8 Flexible substrate 9 Protection member 11 Resin member (fixing member)
50 Liquid crystal display panel (display panel)
E _I input area E _O outer area H through hole S taper

Claims (8)

An input device having an input region and an outer region located outside the input region,
A substrate;
A detection electrode provided on the substrate in the input region;
A wiring conductor provided on the base in the outer region and electrically connected to the detection electrode;
A through hole is formed in the base in the outer region,
An input device, further comprising: a flexible substrate electrically connected to the wiring conductor through the through hole. The base has a first main surface and a second main surface provided on the opposite side of the first main surface;
The detection electrode is provided on the first main surface of the base in the input region,
The wiring conductor is provided on the first main surface of the base in the outer region,
The flexible substrate is drawn from the first main surface side of the base body to the second main surface side of the base body through the through hole by being partially bent,
The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a protection member provided on the first main surface of the base body so as to cover the detection electrode and the wiring conductor.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the inner peripheral surface of the through hole tapers inward.   The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a fixing member for fixing the flexible substrate located inside the through hole.   The input device according to claim 4, wherein the fixing member is a resin member filled in the through hole. The flexible substrate is electrically connected to the wiring conductor via a conductive adhesive member,
The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible substrate and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole are connected via the conductive adhesive. 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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