JP2013012019A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel used for various electronic apparatuses, enabling corrosion prevention and secure operation.SOLUTION: A touch panel has a conductive coating layer 13, 16, 19 formed on at least one of an end portion 3A of an upper electrode 3 and an end portion 6A of a lower electrode 6, so that the end portion 3A or 6A of the upper electrode 3 or the lower electrode 6 is covered with a synthetic resin containing silver, carbon or conductive particles dispersed therein, so as to prevent corrosion thereof even when used in high temperature and high humidity and to enable a secure and stable 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. The number of devices that switch various functions of devices by touching the touch panel with a finger or the like while viewing the display is increasing, and there is a demand for a device that can be used easily and reliably.

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

  In addition, in this drawing, in order to make the configuration easy to understand, the dimensions are partially enlarged.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional touch panel. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a film-like and light-transmitting upper substrate, and the upper surface has a light-transmitting and substantially band-like shape such as indium tin oxide. Layers 2 are arranged in the front-rear direction, connected to the front end or rear end of the upper conductive layer 2, and a plurality of upper electrodes 3 made of copper foil whose end 3 A extends to the outer right end of the upper substrate 1. The upper conductive layer 2 is formed so as to extend in the left-right direction in the orthogonal direction.

  Similarly, 4 is a film-like, light-transmitting lower substrate, and a plurality of light-transmitting, substantially band-like lower conductive layers 5 such as indium tin oxide are formed on the upper surface, and the left-right direction perpendicular to the upper conductive layer 2 A plurality of lower electrodes 6 similar to the upper electrode 3, which are connected to the right end of the lower conductive layer 5 and have an end 6 A extending to the outer peripheral right end of the lower substrate 4, are parallel to the lower conductive layer 5. It is formed extending in the left-right direction.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a film-like light-transmitting cover substrate. The upper substrate 1 is overlaid on the upper surface of the lower substrate 4, and the cover substrate 7 is overlaid on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1, and these are adhered to each other with an adhesive (not shown). Together, a touch panel is configured.

  Note that the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 of such a touch panel are generally formed by forming a thin film of indium tin oxide and copper foil on the entire upper surface of the upper substrate 1 or the lower substrate 4 by sputtering or the like, The portions where the layer 2 and the upper electrode 3 and the lower conductive layer 5 and the lower electrode 6 are to be formed are masked with a coating made of an insulating resin such as a dry film, and immersed in a predetermined etching solution. The upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 having the upper conductive layer 2 and the upper electrode 3, and the lower conductive layer 5 and the lower electrode 6 formed on the upper surface are produced by melting and removing copper.

  And the touch panel comprised in this way is arrange | positioned in the front surface of display elements, such as a liquid crystal display element, is mounted | worn with an electronic device, and is the edge part of the several upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 extended to the outer periphery right end 3A and 6A are electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a flexible wiring board, a connector (not shown), or the like.

  In the above configuration, when a voltage is sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the plurality of upper electrodes 3 and the lower electrodes 6, when the upper surface of the cover substrate 7 is touched with a finger or the like according to the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel, the operation is performed. Since the electrostatic capacity between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 in the operated part changes, the electronic circuit detects the operated part, and various functions of the device are switched.

  That is, for example, when a finger or the like is touched on the upper surface of the cover substrate 7 on a desired menu in a state where a plurality of menus or the like are displayed on the display element on the back, a part of the charge is conducted to the finger, The capacitance between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the touch panel is changed, and the electronic circuit detects this, whereby a desired menu is selected.

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

JP 2009-93397 A

  However, in the above conventional touch panel, the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 made of copper foil extending on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 are generally about 150 nm thick by sputtering or the like. Since it is formed into a thin film, when it is used for a long time at high temperature and high humidity, the end portions 3A and 6A of the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 that are not covered with an adhesive or the like are particularly corroded, and the resistance value There is a problem that the increase in the connection and the connection may become unstable.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel that prevents corrosion and enables reliable operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a touch panel by forming a conductive coating layer on at least one end of an upper electrode or a lower electrode, and the end of the upper electrode or the lower electrode is made of silver or Even when it is covered with carbon or synthetic resin with dispersed conductive particles and used in high temperature and high humidity, these corrosions can be prevented, so that a touch panel capable of reliable and stable operation can be obtained. It has an action.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an advantageous effect that a touch panel capable of preventing corrosion and performing a reliable operation can be realized.

Sectional drawing of the touchscreen by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Partial sectional view of the same Partial sectional view according to another embodiment Exploded perspective view of a conventional touch panel

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

  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 cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the touch panel, in which 1 is a film of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, polycarbonate, etc. On the upper substrate, a plurality of light-transmitting, substantially band-like upper conductive layers 2 such as indium tin oxide and tin oxide are arranged on the upper surface in the front-rear direction by sputtering or the like. Yes.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes an upper electrode connected to the front end or the rear end of the upper conductive layer 2, and a copper foil having a thickness of about 150 nm is stacked on the indium tin oxide or the like by vapor deposition or the like. A plurality of upper electrodes 3 extending to the outer peripheral right end are formed to extend in the left-right direction perpendicular to the upper conductive layer 2.

  Further, as shown in the partial cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 3, the end portions 3A of the plurality of upper electrodes 3 have a thickness 10 in which conductive particles such as silver or carbon are dispersed in a resin such as polyester or epoxy. A conductive coating layer 13 having a thickness of about 20 μm covers the upper surface and side surfaces of the end portion 3A, and the lower end is printed in close contact with the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 in the vicinity thereof.

  Similarly, 4 is a film-like, light-transmitting lower substrate, and a plurality of light-transmitting, substantially band-like lower conductive layers 5 such as indium tin oxide are formed on the upper surface, and the left-right direction perpendicular to the upper conductive layer 2 A plurality of lower electrodes 6 similar to the upper electrode 3, which are connected to the right end of the lower conductive layer 5 and have an end 6 A extending to the outer peripheral right end of the lower substrate 4, are parallel to the lower conductive layer 5. It is formed extending in the left-right direction.

  A conductive coating layer 16 similar to the conductive coating layer 13 is also printed on the end portions 6A of the plurality of lower electrodes 6 by printing to cover the upper surface and side surfaces of the end portion 6A, and the lower end is the upper surface of the lower substrate 4 in the vicinity thereof. It is formed in close contact with.

  The plurality of upper conductive layers 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 are formed by connecting a plurality of square portions in a band shape, and a plurality of substantially square gap portions are provided between them, and the upper substrate 1 In the state where the lower substrate 4 and the lower substrate 4 are stacked, the respective rectangular portions are formed so as to alternately overlap the upper and lower spaces.

  Further, reference numeral 7 denotes a film-like and light-transmitting cover substrate. The upper substrate 1 is overlaid on the upper surface of the lower substrate 4, and the cover substrate 7 is overlaid on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1, and these are adhered by an adhesive layer 18 such as acrylic or rubber. Together, a touch panel is configured.

  That is, in the present embodiment, a plurality of upper conductive layers 2 arranged in the front-rear direction and a lower conductive layer 5 arranged in the left-right direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 2 are formed on the upper substrate 1 and the lower surface thereof. It is configured to be opposed to each other with a predetermined gap through the adhesive layer 18.

  In order to manufacture the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 of such a touch panel, first, a thin film such as indium tin oxide having a thickness of about 10 to 100 nm is formed on the entire upper surface of the upper substrate 1 or the lower substrate 4 by sputtering or the like. After that, a thin film of copper foil having a thickness of about 150 nm is formed on the entire upper surface by the same sputtering method or the like.

  Next, the upper surface of the thin film of the copper foil is exposed and developed by a photoresist method or the like, and a portion where the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 are formed is masked with a coating made of an insulating resin such as a dry film. Alternatively, the lower substrate 4 is immersed in a predetermined etching solution, and unnecessary portions of copper are melted and removed to form a plurality of upper electrodes 3 and lower electrodes 6 of copper foil on the upper surface of a thin film such as indium tin oxide.

  After that, the portions where the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 on the upper surface of the thin film such as indium tin oxide are formed are similarly masked and immersed in a predetermined etching solution to melt unnecessary portions of indium tin oxide and the like. A plurality of upper electrodes 3 and lower electrodes in which a copper foil is superimposed on a plurality of upper conductive layers 2 and lower conductive layers 5, indium tin oxide, and the like that are removed from the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4. 6 is formed.

  Further, after that, conductive coating layers 13 and 16 having a thickness of about 10 to 20 μm are formed by screen printing on the end portions 3A and 6A of the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5, and the upper surfaces of the end portions 3A and 6A The upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 are manufactured in which the side surfaces are covered with the conductive coating layers 13 and 16 and the lower ends of the conductive coating layers 13 and 16 are formed in close contact with the upper surfaces of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 in the vicinity.

  Further, an adhesive layer 18 is formed on the entire upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 except for the end portions 3A and 6A by printing or the like, and the upper substrate 1 is formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 4, and the cover substrate 7 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1. Are stacked together by the adhesive layer 18 to complete the touch panel.

  And the touch panel comprised in this way is arrange | positioned in the front surface of display elements, such as a liquid crystal display element, is mounted | worn with an electronic device, and is the edge part of the several upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 extended to the outer periphery right end 3A and 6A are electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a flexible wiring board, a connector (not shown), or the like.

  In the above configuration, when a voltage is sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the plurality of upper electrodes 3 and the lower electrodes 6, when the upper surface of the cover substrate 7 is touched with a finger or the like according to the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel, the operation is performed. Since the electrostatic capacity between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 in the operated part changes, the electronic circuit detects the operated part, and various functions of the device are switched.

  That is, for example, when a finger or the like is touched on the upper surface of the cover substrate 7 on a desired menu in a state where a plurality of menus or the like are displayed on the display element on the back, a part of the charge is conducted to the finger, The capacitance between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the touch panel changes, and an electronic circuit detects the capacitance, thereby selecting a desired menu and the like.

  Then, the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 are made of copper having a thickness of about 150 nm on the indium tin oxide having a thickness of about 10 to 100 nm by sputtering or the like as described above. The foils are overlapped to form a thin film, but the end portions 3A and 6A that are not covered with the adhesive layer 18 of the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 have a conductive thickness of about 10 to 20 μm covering them. Since the coating layers 13 and 16 are provided, the end portions 3A and 6A can be prevented from corroding even when used for a long time in high temperature and high humidity.

  That is, the conductive coating layer 13 having a thickness of about 100 times the thickness of the copper foil of the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 is formed on the end portions 3A and 6A that are not covered by the adhesive layer 18 of the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6. 16, thereby covering the upper surfaces and side surfaces of the end portions 3A and 6A, and forming the lower ends of the conductive coating layers 13 and 16 in close contact with the upper surfaces of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 in the vicinity. Even when it is used, it is configured to prevent the end portions 3A and 6A from being corroded and lost due to moisture and moisture, and to maintain a stable connection with a flexible wiring board and the like.

  In the above description, the conductive coating layers 13 and 16 in which conductive particles such as silver and carbon are dispersed in the resin are printed and formed on the end portions 3A and 6A of the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 so as to cover them. Although the configuration has been described, as shown in the partial sectional view of FIG. 4, the entire upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 4 on which the end portions 3A and 6A are formed, and in the synthetic resin 19A such as epoxy, acrylic, polyester, The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a plurality of conductive particles 19B obtained by plating nickel, resin, or the like with a plurality of conductive particles 19B dispersed therein is provided by printing or coating, thereby covering the end portions 3A and 6A. Can be implemented.

  In the above description, the conductive coating layers 13, 16, and 19 are provided on both the end portions 3 </ b> A and 6 </ b> A of the upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6. Good.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by forming the conductive coating layers 13, 16, and 19 on at least one of the end portion 3 A of the upper electrode 3 or the end portion 6 A of the lower electrode 6, Since the end portions 3A and 6A of the electrode 6 are covered with silver, carbon, or a synthetic resin in which conductive particles are dispersed and used in a high temperature and high humidity environment, these corrosions can be prevented, so that it is reliable and stable. The touch panel which can be operated can be obtained.

  The touch panel according to the present invention has an advantageous effect that it can prevent corrosion and can be reliably operated, and is mainly useful for operation of various electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper substrate 2 Upper conductive layer 3 Upper electrode 3A, 6A End 4 Lower substrate 5 Lower conductive layer 6 Lower electrode 7 Cover substrate 13, 16, 19 Conductive coating layer 18 Adhesive layer 19A Synthetic resin 19B Conductive particle

Claims (1)

A plurality of upper conductive layers in a substantially strip shape arranged in a predetermined direction, a plurality of upper electrodes made of copper foil connected to the upper conductive layer and having ends extending to the outer periphery, and a predetermined gap from the upper conductive layer The upper electrode or the lower electrode is composed of a plurality of lower conductive layers in a substantially strip shape arranged in an orthogonal direction with a space, and a plurality of lower electrodes made of copper foil connected to the lower conductive layer and having ends extending to the outer periphery. A touch panel having a conductive coating layer formed on at least one end thereof.

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