JP2012088822A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel mainly used for operating various electronic devices, manufactured at low cost, and realizing secure operation.SOLUTION: Plural upper electrodes 5 and 6 or lower electrodes 7 and 18 are provided at an exposed portion between a notch 9A of a spacer 9 and an outer periphery of a wiring board 10, for example, the lower electrode 18 is branched and formed into plural lower electrodes 18A and 18B. Thus, for example, even when a resistance value of one lower electrode 18A of the plural lower electrodes becomes high because of an attached foreign substance, an operation position can be stably detected with the other lower electrode 18B. Further, the exposed portion does not need to be covered with an adhesive or the like, whereby a touch panel can be easily manufactured at low cost and realizes secure operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel used mainly for operating various electronic devices.

  In recent years, as various types of electronic devices such as mobile phones and electronic cameras have become highly functional and diversified, a light-transmissive touch panel is mounted on the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal display element, and the display element on the back side is attached through this touch panel. There is an increasing number of devices that switch various functions of devices by pressing a touch panel with a finger, a pen, or the like while viewing a display, and there is a need for a device that can be operated inexpensively and reliably.

  Such a conventional touch panel will be described with reference to FIGS.

  These drawings are partially enlarged in size for easy understanding of the configuration.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional touch panel, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view. In FIG. 3, 1 is a film-like upper substrate that is light-transmissive, and 2 is a light-transmissive lower substrate such as glass. A light transmissive upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide is formed on the lower surface of the substrate 1, and a lower conductive layer 4 is formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2.

  Further, a pair of upper electrodes 5 and 6 such as silver are provided at the left and right ends of the upper conductive layer 3, and a pair of lower electrodes 7 and 8 are provided at the front and rear ends in the direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 3 of the lower conductive layer 4. Each of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 8 extend to the outer peripheral front ends of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 as they are formed.

  A plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 4 by an insulating resin at a predetermined interval, and the outer peripheral inner edges of the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the upper surface of the lower substrate 2 are insulated in a substantially frame shape. Resin spacers 9 are provided, and the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded to each other by an adhesive (not shown) applied and formed therebetween, so that the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 are separated by a predetermined gap. Facing each other.

  Further, reference numeral 10 denotes a film-like wiring board. A plurality of wiring patterns 11 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces, and the rear end of the wiring board 10 is connected to the upper board 1 and the lower board in the notch 9A at the front end of the spacer 9. The rear end of each wiring pattern 11 is sandwiched between the substrates 2 by an anisotropic conductive adhesive (not shown) in which conductive particles are dispersed in a synthetic resin. A touch panel is configured by being adhesively connected to the front end.

  The touch panel configured as described above is disposed on the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal display element and attached to an electronic device, and the front ends of the plurality of wiring patterns 11 of the wiring board 10 are connected to connectors or solders. It is electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device by attachment or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is pressed with a finger or a pen according to the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel, the upper substrate 1 bends, and the upper conductive layer 3 at the pressed position becomes the lower conductive layer 4. To touch.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the pair of upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 8 through the plurality of wiring patterns 11 of the wiring substrate 10, and both ends of the upper conductive layer 3 and the direction orthogonal thereto are applied. The electronic circuit detects the pressed location based on the voltage ratio across the lower conductive layer 4, and various functions of the device are switched.

  That is, when, for example, a plurality of menus and the like are displayed on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 on the desired menu is pressed, the position of the operation is changed to the plurality of wiring patterns 11 on the wiring substrate 10. The electronic circuit is configured to detect and select a desired menu from among a plurality of menus, or perform operations such as confirmation.

  In order to manufacture the touch panel as described above, first, an upper substrate 1 in which an upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide is formed on a lower surface, or a lower substrate 2 in which a lower conductive layer 4 is formed on an upper surface, After forming the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 8 by printing or the like, a substantially frame-shaped spacer 9 is formed on the outer peripheral inner edges of the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 and the upper surface of the lower substrate 2 by printing or the like so as to cover them. At the same time, the front ends of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 8 are extended into the notch 9A at the front end.

  Then, the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded by the spacer 9 so that the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 face each other with a predetermined gap, and the wiring substrate 10 coated with an anisotropic conductive adhesive is used. The rear end is sandwiched between the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 in the notch 9A at the front end of the spacer 9.

  At this time, there is almost no gap between the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the rear end of the wiring board 10, but there is a gap of about 2 mm between the left and right ends of the notch 9A and the left and right ends of the wiring board 10. Since L is provided, the wiring board 10 is moved in the left-right direction by this, so that the rear end of each wiring pattern 11 and the upper ends of the upper electrodes 5, 6 and the lower electrodes 7, 8 coincide with each other with no center shift. Next, the horizontal alignment is performed.

  Further thereafter, the rear end of the wiring board 10 in the notch 9A and the upper ends of the upper and lower upper substrates 1 and 2 are heated and pressurized, and the rear end of the wiring pattern 11 of the wiring board 10 is connected to the upper electrodes 5, 6 and the lower electrode. 7, 8 Adhesive connection to the front end completes the touch panel.

  However, at this time, the front ends of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 8 are pressure-bonded to the rear end of the wiring pattern 11 as described above, and other portions extending to the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are The spacer 9 is covered with a substantially frame-shaped spacer 9, and the lower electrode 8 is provided in the gap L between the notch 9 A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10, for example, between the notch 9 A and the right end of the wiring board 10. The lower electrode 8A, which is a part of, is exposed.

  In the unlikely event that fine foreign matter containing sodium chloride or the like such as skin debris adheres to this exposed location, the foreign matter may be removed depending on the ambient temperature, humidity, etc. used, or prolonged use. The resin such as epoxy forming the lower electrode 8A may be decomposed, which may partially increase the resistance value of the lower electrode 8 and may make the detection of the operation position unstable.

  Therefore, when a part of the lower electrode 8 is exposed in the gap L between the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10 in this way, an adhesive or the like is applied to the lower electrode 8A. By taking measures such as covering, it was configured to prevent such problems.

  As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2009-176199 A

  However, in the above conventional touch panel, the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring substrate 10 are used to align the rear end of the wiring pattern 11 of the wiring substrate 10 and the front ends of the upper electrodes 5, 6 and the lower electrodes 7, 8. When a part of the lower electrode 8 is exposed in the gap L between the two electrodes, the exposed lower electrode 8A is covered with an adhesive or the like, so that the production takes time and is expensive. was there.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a touch panel that is inexpensive and can be reliably operated.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a touch panel by forming a plurality of upper or lower electrodes exposed between the notch portion of the spacer and the outer periphery of the wiring board into a plurality of branches. Even if the resistance value of the electrode becomes high due to adhesion of foreign matter, it is possible to detect the stable operation position with the other electrode, and it is not necessary to cover the exposed part with an adhesive or the like. It is possible to obtain a touch panel that can be operated inexpensively and reliably.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize a touch panel that is inexpensive and can be reliably operated.

The top view of the touchscreen by one embodiment of the present invention Exploded perspective view Plan view of a conventional touch panel Exploded perspective view

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  These drawings are partially enlarged in size for easy understanding of the configuration.

  Further, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the background art section, and the detailed description will be simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a film-like light-transmitting film such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, or polycarbonate. The upper substrate 2 is a film-like or glass-like thin plate and is a light transmissive lower substrate. On the lower surface of the upper substrate 1, a light transmissive upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide or tin oxide is provided. Similarly, the lower conductive layer 4 is formed on the upper surface of 2 by sputtering or the like.

  Further, a pair of upper electrodes 5 and 6 such as silver and carbon are provided at the left and right ends of the upper conductive layer 3, and a pair of lower electrodes 7 are provided at the front and rear ends in the direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 3 of the lower conductive layer 4. 18 are formed, and the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 extend to the outer peripheral front ends of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2.

  A plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 4 with an insulating resin such as epoxy or silicone at predetermined intervals, and on the outer peripheral edges of the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the upper surface of the lower substrate 2. A spacer 9 made of polyester, epoxy, nonwoven fabric or the like is provided in a substantially frame shape, and the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded together by an adhesive (not shown) such as acrylic or rubber that is applied and formed therebetween. The upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap.

  Further, reference numeral 10 denotes a film-like wiring substrate such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, and a plurality of wiring patterns 11 such as copper foil, silver, and carbon are formed on the upper and lower surfaces.

  The rear end of the wiring board 10 is sandwiched between the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 in the notch 9A at the front end of the spacer 9, and is placed in a synthetic resin such as epoxy, acrylic, polyester, etc. The rear ends of the wiring patterns 11 are adhesively connected to the front ends of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 by an anisotropic conductive adhesive (not shown) in which a plurality of conductive particles subjected to gold plating are dispersed. ing.

  Further, a gap L of about 2 mm is provided between the left and right ends of the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the left and right ends of the wiring board 10, and a lower electrode is provided in the gap L between the notch 9A and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10. Although a part of 18 is exposed, the lower electrode 18 at this exposed portion is formed of a plurality of lower electrodes 18A and 18B branched in the front and rear directions to constitute a touch panel.

  The touch panel configured as described above is disposed on the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal display element and attached to an electronic device, and the front ends of the plurality of wiring patterns 11 of the wiring board 10 are connected to connectors or solders. It is electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device by attachment or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is pressed with a finger or a pen according to the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel, the upper substrate 1 bends, and the upper conductive layer 3 at the pressed position becomes the lower conductive layer 4. To touch.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the pair of upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 through the plurality of wiring patterns 11 of the wiring substrate 10, and both ends of the upper conductive layer 3 and the direction orthogonal thereto are applied. The electronic circuit detects the pressed location based on the voltage ratio across the lower conductive layer 4, and various functions of the device are switched.

  That is, when, for example, a plurality of menus and the like are displayed on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 on the desired menu is pressed, the position of the operation is changed to the plurality of wiring patterns 11 on the wiring substrate 10. The electronic circuit is configured to detect and select a desired menu from among a plurality of menus, or perform operations such as confirmation.

  In order to manufacture the touch panel as described above, first, an upper substrate 1 in which an upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide is formed on a lower surface, or a lower substrate 2 in which a lower conductive layer 4 is formed on an upper surface, After forming the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 by printing or the like, a substantially frame-shaped spacer 9 is formed on the outer peripheral inner edges of the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 and the upper surface of the lower substrate 2 by the same printing or the like so as to cover them. At the same time, the front ends of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 are extended into the notch 9A at the front end.

  Then, the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded by the spacer 9 so that the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 face each other with a predetermined gap, and the wiring substrate 10 coated with an anisotropic conductive adhesive is used. The rear end is sandwiched between the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 in the notch 9A at the front end of the spacer 9.

  At this time, there is almost no gap between the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the rear end of the wiring board 10, but between the notch 9A and the left and right ends of the wiring board 10 as described above, Since a gap L of about 2 mm is provided, the wiring board 10 is moved in the left-right direction by this, and there is no center deviation between the rear end of each wiring pattern 11 and the upper ends of the upper electrodes 5, 6 and the lower electrodes 7, 18. Align left and right so that they overlap.

  Further thereafter, the rear end of the wiring board 10 in the notch 9A and the upper ends of the upper and lower upper substrates 1 and 2 are heated and pressurized, and the rear end of the wiring pattern 11 of the wiring board 10 is connected to the upper electrodes 5, 6 and the lower electrode. 7, 18 Adhesive connection to the front ends completes the touch panel.

  That is, when the wiring board 10 is bonded and connected, a gap L of about 2 mm is provided between the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the left and right ends of the wiring board 10, and the wiring board 10 is moved within this range to align in the left-right direction. As a result, the rear end of the wiring pattern 11 and the upper ends of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 can be adhesively connected with no center deviation.

  At this time, the front ends of the upper electrodes 5 and 6 and the lower electrodes 7 and 18 are crimped to the rear end of the wiring pattern 11 as described above, and other portions extending to the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are as follows. The spacer 9 is covered with a substantially frame-like spacer 9, but the lower electrode 18 is provided in the gap L between the notch 9 A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10, for example, between the notch 9 A and the right end of the wiring board 10. A part of is exposed.

  For this reason, in the unlikely event that fine foreign matter containing sodium chloride or the like such as skin debris adheres to this exposed location, this foreign matter may be affected by the ambient temperature or humidity environment used, or by long-term use. May decompose the resin such as epoxy forming the lower electrode 18, which may cause the resistance value of the lower electrode 18 to partially increase. The electrode 18 is formed of a plurality of lower electrodes 18A and 18B that are bifurcated back and forth.

  Therefore, even if a foreign substance such as skin debris adheres to a portion exposed to the gap L when the touch panel is manufactured or used for a long period of time, for example, the foreign substance adheres to one lower electrode 18A. Even if the resistance value of 18A partially increases, the lower electrode 18B having a low resistance value with no other foreign matter attached thereto can detect a stable operation position.

  That is, by forming the lower electrode 18 exposed at the gap L between the notch portion 9A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10 from the plurality of lower electrodes 18A and 18B branched in a bifurcated manner, adhesion of foreign matters, etc. Thus, even when the resistance value of one lower electrode 18A increases, the other lower electrode 18B can be configured to detect a stable operation position.

  In addition, since the lower electrode 18 exposed in the gap L is formed from the plurality of lower electrodes 18A and 18B, it is not necessary to apply an adhesive or the like to the gap L and cover them. Can be easily performed in a short time, and a touch panel can be manufactured at a low cost.

  In the above description, the lower electrode 18 exposed between the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10 has been described as being branched from the plurality of lower electrodes 18A and 18B. In the case of a configuration in which 5 and 6 are exposed in the gap L, the present invention can be implemented even if the exposed portion is formed of a plurality of upper electrodes branched in a bifurcated manner.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the upper electrode 5 or 6 or the lower electrode 7 or 18 is exposed to a plurality of portions exposed between the notch 9A of the spacer 9 and the outer periphery of the wiring board 10, for example, the lower electrode 18 is provided. By branching to the plurality of lower electrodes 18A and 18B, even when the resistance value of one lower electrode 18A is increased due to adhesion of foreign matter, for example, the stable operation position can be detected by the other lower electrode 18B. At the same time, since it is not necessary to cover the exposed portion with an adhesive or the like, it can be easily manufactured, and a touch panel that can be operated reliably and inexpensively can be obtained.

  The touch panel according to the present invention has an advantageous effect that an inexpensive and capable of reliable operation can be obtained, and is mainly useful for operation of various electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper substrate 2 Lower substrate 3 Upper conductive layer 4 Lower conductive layer 5 Upper electrode 6 Upper electrode 7 Lower electrode 9 Spacer 9A Notch 10 Wiring board 11 Wiring pattern 18, 18A, 18B Lower electrode

Claims (1)

An upper substrate having an upper conductive layer formed on the lower surface, a lower substrate having a lower conductive layer formed on the upper surface, a pair of upper electrodes extending from both ends of the upper conductive layer to the front end of the upper substrate, and the lower conductive layer The upper conductive layer of the layer is formed on a pair of lower electrodes extending from both ends in the orthogonal direction to the front end of the lower substrate, and on the outer peripheral inner edge of the lower surface of the upper substrate and the upper surface of the lower substrate, and a notch is provided at the front end. A substantially frame-shaped spacer and a wiring board having rear ends of a plurality of wiring patterns connected to the upper electrode and the lower electrode front end, and a portion exposed between the spacer notch and the outer periphery of the wiring board. A touch panel in which the upper electrode or the lower electrode is branched into a plurality.

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