JP2014048675A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capacitive touch panel used for various input devices suitable for reducing the thickness.SOLUTION: A first plate 33 having plural strips of first electrodes 31 disposed thereon and a second plate 43 having plural strips of first electrodes 41 disposed thereon. A cover layer 21 is bonded over the upper face of the first plate 33. In the touch panel 100, the thickness of the cover layer 21 is set in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, thus a thin type touch panel is achieved.

Description

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

  In recent years, in various input devices such as a mobile phone and a car navigation system, a display device such as a liquid crystal display equipped with a light transmissive touch panel is increasing.

  A conventional touch panel will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, in order to make the structure easy to understand, the drawing shows an enlarged dimension in the thickness direction.

  4 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional touch panel 20, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof. Here, the touch panel 20 includes a cover layer 1, a first electrode layer 2, intermediate film layers 3, 4, 5, and a second electrode layer 6.

  The cover layer 1 is an insulating and translucent film. The cover layer 1 was a film having a thickness of 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.

  The first electrode layer 2 includes a plurality of strip-shaped first electrodes 11 arranged in parallel to the first direction D1, a wiring 12 having one end connected to the first electrode 11, and a first It has the 1st board | substrate 13 used as the base material with which the electrode 11 and the wiring 12 are arrange | positioned. The first substrate 13 is an insulative and translucent film. The translucent and conductive first electrode 11 on the first substrate 13 and a wiring 12 made of a conductive metal such as silver or copper. Is formed by etching or the like.

  The intermediate film layers 3, 4, and 5 are insulating and translucent films each having a thickness of about 0.3 mm.

  The second electrode layer 6 includes a plurality of strip-shaped second electrodes 14 arranged in parallel with the second direction D2, a wiring 15 having one end connected to the second electrode 14, and a second It has the 2nd board | substrate 16 used as the base material with which the electrode 14 and the wiring 15 are arrange | positioned. The second substrate 16 is an insulative and translucent film, and the translucent conductive second electrode 14 and the wiring 15 made of a conductive metal such as silver or copper on the second substrate 16. Is formed by etching or the like. The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 have a predetermined angle and are not in a parallel relationship.

  Then, the intermediate film layers 5, 4, and 3 are fixed on the upper surface of the second electrode layer 6 in this order with an adhesive layer (not shown) such as an acrylic adhesive interposed therebetween. Similarly, the first electrode layer 2 and the cover layer 1 are fixed on the upper surface of the intermediate film layer 3 with an adhesive layer (not shown) such as an acrylic adhesive sandwiched therebetween.

  When the touch panel 20 operates, the second electrode 14 to be transmitted among the plurality of second electrodes 14 is transmitted while switching one by one from the upper end to the lower end, for example. When each second electrode 14 is transmitting, the receiving first electrode 11 is also switched one by one from the left end to the right end, for example. Then, it is detected from the capacitance detected by the first electrode 11 which of the first electrodes 11 the capacitance has changed, and the detection position of an object such as a finger in the second direction D2 is determined. To do. At this time, the detection position of an object such as a finger in the first direction D1 is determined by determining which second electrode 14 is transmitting.

  As described above, when detecting the capacitance between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 14, it is better to increase the distance between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 14. This is advantageous for detecting an object approaching or contacting the upper side of the object.

  Therefore, in the conventional touch panel 20, the intermediate film layers 3, 4, and 5 are disposed between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 14 with an adhesive layer, thereby arranging a distance of 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. It was ensured between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 14.

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

JP 2012-138018 A

  However, due to the demand for thinner input devices equipped with a touch panel, the touch panel is also required to be thinner.

  The present invention addresses such a need and an object thereof is to provide a thin touch panel.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first substrate on which a plurality of strip-shaped first electrodes are disposed and a second substrate on which a plurality of strip-shaped second electrodes are disposed, A touch panel is formed by adhering a cover layer to the upper surface of one substrate and setting the thickness of the cover layer to 0.3 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the first substrate on which the plurality of strip-shaped first electrodes are disposed and the second substrate on which the plurality of strip-shaped second electrodes are disposed are bonded, Since a cover layer is adhered to the upper surface of the substrate and the thickness of the cover layer is set to 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm to constitute the touch panel, a thin touch panel can be realized.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cross section of the touch panel Sectional view of an input device using the same touch panel Exploded perspective view of a conventional touch panel Cross-sectional view of a conventional touch panel

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

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

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

  In the figure, the touch panel 100 includes a cover layer 21, a first substrate layer 22, a second substrate layer 23, and a reinforcing layer 24.

  Here, the cover layer 21 is formed in a substantially square shape, for example, by providing a hard coat layer on the upper surface of a film of a resin material. Moreover, you may comprise glass as a material.

  The cover layer 21 has a thickness of 0.3 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, which is thinner than the conventional touch panel 20. This is to make electric field radiation easier to pass by making it thinner.

  The first substrate layer 22 includes a plurality of first electrodes 31 arranged in parallel to the first direction D1, a plurality of wirings 32 having one ends connected to the first electrode 31, and a first electrode 31. And a first substrate 33 on which the wiring 32 is disposed.

  Here, the 1st board | substrate 33 is comprised by films, such as a translucent insulating resin, for example in a substantially square shape. Or you may comprise glass as a material.

  In addition, the first electrodes 31 are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval, and each of the first electrodes 31 is formed in a strip shape with an equal width. The material of the first electrode 31 is suitably indium tin oxide, tin oxide or the like.

  One end of the wiring 32 is connected to the first electrode 31 and extends from the first electrode 31 one by one. The wiring 32 is preferably made of a conductive metal such as silver or copper.

  The second substrate layer 23 includes a plurality of second electrodes 41 arranged in parallel to the second direction D2, a plurality of wirings 42 having one ends connected to the second electrode 41, and a second electrode 41. And a second substrate 43 on which the wiring 42 is arranged. The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are not parallel but have a predetermined angle. This predetermined angle is preferably vertical.

  Here, the 2nd board | substrate 43 is comprised by films, such as a translucent insulating resin, for example in a substantially square shape. Or you may comprise glass as a material.

  In addition, the second electrodes 41 are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval, and each of the second electrodes 41 is formed in a strip shape with an equal width. Note that the material of the second electrode 41 is suitably indium tin oxide, tin oxide, or the like.

  One end of the wiring 42 is connected to the second electrode 41 and extends from the second electrode 41 one by one. The wiring 42 is preferably made of a conductive metal such as silver or copper.

  The reinforcing layer 24 is substantially square and is made of, for example, a film of translucent insulating resin or the like. Or you may comprise glass as a material. The thickness of the reinforcing layer 24 is suitably 1.0 mm or greater and 3.0 mm or less. The reinforcing layer 24 is for ensuring the rigidity of the touch panel 100. If the reinforcing layer 24 is not present or the thickness is less than 1.0 mm, the touch panel 100 is too thin and handling becomes difficult. In addition, if the thickness of the reinforcing layer 24 is greater than 3.0 mm, the effect of thinning the touch panel 100 cannot be exhibited.

  That is, when the thickness of the reinforcing layer 24 is 1.0 mm or greater and 3.0 mm or less, the touch panel 100 can be thinned and sufficient rigidity can be ensured.

  The reinforcing layer 24 is bonded to the lower surface of the second substrate layer 23 with an acrylic adhesive or the like, and the first substrate layer 22 is bonded to the upper surface of the second substrate layer 23 with an acrylic adhesive or the like. Further, the cover layer 21 is bonded to the upper surface of the first substrate layer 22 with, for example, an acrylic adhesive.

  That is, the first substrate 33 on which the first electrode 31 is disposed and the second substrate 43 on which the second electrode 41 is disposed are bonded, and the cover layer 21 is disposed on the upper surface of the first substrate 33. Glued. By bonding the first substrate 33 and the second substrate 43, the interval between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 41 is narrowed, and the electric field is less likely to be emitted above the first electrode 31, By making the thickness of the cover layer 21 not less than 0.3 mm and not more than 1.0 mm, the electric field can be easily passed, and the detection sensitivity of the object is prevented from being lowered.

  Further, the first substrate 33 and the second substrate 43 are bonded to achieve a reduction in thickness.

  When the touch panel 100 configured as described above operates, the second electrode 41 to be transmitted among the plurality of second electrodes 41 is transmitted while switching one by one from the upper end to the lower end, for example. When each second electrode 41 is transmitting, the receiving first electrode 31 is also switched one by one from the left end to the right end, for example. Then, it is detected from which capacitance detected by the first electrode 31 which one of the first electrodes 31 the capacitance has changed, and the detection position of an object such as a finger in the second direction D2 is determined. To do. At this time, the detection position of an object such as a finger in the first direction D1 is determined by determining which second electrode 41 is transmitting.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 110. In FIG. 1, the input device 110 includes a touch panel 100, a housing 101, and a display device 102.

  The housing 101 accommodates the touch panel 100 and the display device 102, and the display device 102 is disposed below the touch panel 100.

  Here, the display device 102 is a device capable of displaying an image such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (electroluminescence) display on the upper surface.

  The plurality of first electrodes 31 and second electrodes 41 of the touch panel 100 and the display device 102 are connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the input device 110 via a connector, a lead wire (not shown), or the like. Connected.

  Then, the electronic circuit detects a change in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 41, and determines whether an object such as a finger approaches or touches the touch panel 100. Various functions of the input device 110 are switched according to the contact position of the object.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first substrate 33 on which the plurality of strip-shaped first electrodes 31 are disposed and the second substrate 43 on which the plurality of strip-shaped second electrodes 41 are disposed. Since the cover layer 21 is bonded to the upper surface of the first substrate 33 and the thickness of the cover layer 21 is set to 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm to configure the touch panel 100, the thin touch panel 100 can be realized.

  Moreover, the rigidity of the touch panel 100 can be ensured by setting the thickness of the reinforcing layer 24 bonded to the lower surface of the second substrate 43 to 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

  The touch panel according to the present invention is advantageous for thinning, and is mainly useful for various input devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Cover layer 22 1st board | substrate layer 23 2nd board | substrate layer 24 Reinforcement layer 31 1st electrode 32, 42 Wiring 33 1st board | substrate 41 2nd electrode 43 2nd board | substrate 100 Touch panel 101 Case 102 Display apparatus 110 Input device

Claims (2)

A cover layer on which an operator performs contact operation; a plurality of first electrodes arranged in parallel below the cover layer; a first substrate on which the plurality of first electrodes are disposed; and the first A plurality of second electrodes insulated from the first electrode and arranged in parallel below the first electrode, and a second substrate on which the plurality of second electrodes are arranged, the first electrode An approach or contact position of an object is detected by a capacitance between an electrode and the second electrode, and the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded, and the first substrate A touch panel in which the cover layer is bonded to the upper surface of the substrate, and the thickness of the cover layer is 0.3 mm or greater and 1.0 mm or less. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing layer bonded to a lower surface of the second substrate, wherein the thickness of the reinforcing layer is 1.0 mm or greater and 3.0 mm or less.

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