JP2014093010A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel easy to view and reliable to operate used for various electronic apparatuses.SOLUTION: The touch panel has a cover plate 8 which bonded to the upper face of an upper plate 1; and a bonded layer 10 the lower surface of which is formed to have concave and convex. The cover plate 8 is bonded to the upper face of the upper plate 1 partially at several points, not entire of the upper face, by means of lower surface of the bonded layer 10 formed in a concave and convex shaped. Therefore, even when a roll is generated on the upper board 1, no notable roll is generated on the cover plate 8. The touch panel which is easy to view and reliable to operate is achieved.

Description

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

  In recent years, with the advancement and diversification of various electronic devices such as mobile phones and car navigation systems, a light-transmissive touch panel is mounted on the front surface of the liquid crystal display element, and the display on the rear liquid crystal display element can be viewed through this touch panel. However, the number of devices that switch various functions of a device by pressing the touch panel with a finger, a pen, or the like is increasing, and there is a demand for a device that can be easily viewed and surely operated.

  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.

  3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional touch panel, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof. In FIG. 3, 1 is a film-like and light-transmissive upper substrate, and 2 is a film-like or plate-like and light-transmissive lower substrate. Thus, a light-transmissive upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide is formed on the lower surface of the upper substrate 1, and a lower conductive layer 4 is formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2.

  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 a pair of upper electrodes 5 such as silver and carbon are formed on the left and right ends of the upper conductive layer 3. However, a pair of lower electrodes 6 are formed at front and rear ends in a direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 3 of the lower conductive layer 4, and the ends of the upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 are connected to the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate, respectively. Each of the two outer peripheral front ends extends.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a substantially frame-like spacer provided at the outer peripheral inner edge between the upper substrate 1 or the lower substrate 2, and the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded to the upper conductive layer by the adhesive spacer 7. 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap.

  Further, 8 is a film-like and light-transmitting cover substrate, and a window frame portion 8A having a dark frame such as black and a substantially frame shape is printed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the lower surface of the cover substrate 8 and transparent at the center portion. Each of the transparent portions 8B is provided, and the cover substrate 8 is attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 by the adhesive layer 9 formed on the lower surface to constitute a touch panel.

  In order to manufacture the touch panel as described above, first, the upper substrate 1 having the upper conductive layer 3 and the upper electrode 5 formed on the lower surface, and the lower substrate having the lower conductive layer 4 and the lower electrode 6 formed on the upper surface. 2 are overlapped via the spacer 7, the outer peripheral edges of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are heated and pressed, and the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded together by the spacer 7.

  After that, a flexible wiring board (not shown) having a plurality of wiring patterns formed on the ends of the upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 extending to the front ends of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is anisotropically arranged. The connection is made with a conductive adhesive or the like, and finally, the cover substrate 8 is adhered to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 with the adhesive layer 9 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, and is mounted | worn with an electronic device, and the edge part of a pair of upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 is a flexible wiring board, It is electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a connector (not shown) or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the cover substrate 8 on the desired display is pressed with a finger or a pen while watching the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel through the light transmitting portion 8B of the cover substrate 8, the cover substrate 8 is pressed. Then, the upper substrate 1 bends and the upper conductive layer 3 at the pressed position comes into contact with the lower conductive layer 4.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the pair of upper electrode 5 and lower electrode 6, and the electronic circuit detects the pressed portion by the voltage ratio between both ends of the upper conductive layer 3 and both ends of the lower conductive layer 4 in the direction orthogonal thereto. Detection and switching of various functions of the device are performed.

  That is, when the upper surface of the transparent portion 8B of the cover substrate 8 on the desired menu is pressed in a state where, for example, a plurality of menus are displayed on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 The electronic circuit detects the operated position based on the voltage ratio, and a desired menu is selected from a plurality of menus.

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

JP 2011-248621 A

  However, in the conventional touch panel, the front end of the spacer 7 from which the end portions of the upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 extend has a width dimension of 5 to 5 compared to the left and right ends and the rear end of the width dimension of about 2 to 3 mm. Since the outer periphery inner edge of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is heated and pressed and the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded together by the spacer 7, the upper end of the upper substrate 1 is wavy. As a result, there is a problem that the undulation is conspicuous also at the front end of the cover substrate 8 attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1.

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

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured to form a touch panel by forming the front end of the adhesive layer on the lower surface of the cover substrate attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate in a concavo-convex shape. However, the front edge of the cover substrate that is affixed to the upper surface is partially affixed to the front edge of the concave and convex adhesive layer on the lower surface rather than the entire surface, preventing the occurrence of noticeable undulations at the front edge of the cover substrate. The touch panel is easy to see and can be operated 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 prevents undulation of the front end of the cover substrate, is easy to see, and can be reliably operated.

Sectional drawing of the touchscreen by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Cross-sectional 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 cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and 1 is a light film in the form of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, polycarbonate or the like. A transparent upper substrate 2 is a light-transmissive lower substrate which is also in the form of a film or glass or acrylic, and the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 is light-transmitting in a substantially rectangular shape such as indium tin oxide or tin oxide. Similarly, the lower conductive layer 4 is formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2 by sputtering or the like.

  In addition, a plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 4 by an insulating resin such as epoxy and silicone at predetermined intervals, and silver and carbon are formed on the left and right ends of the upper conductive layer 3. A pair of lower electrodes 6 is formed at the front and rear ends in a direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 3 of the lower conductive layer 4, and the ends of the upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 are Each of the substrates 1 and the lower substrate 2 extends to the front end of the outer periphery.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a substantially frame-like spacer made of acrylic, polyester, epoxy, non-woven fabric, etc., which is provided on the outer peripheral inner edge between the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2, and the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate by the adhesive spacer 7. 2 and the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap.

  Further, 8 is a film-like and light-transmitting cover substrate similar to the upper substrate 1, and a window frame portion 8A having a substantially frame shape in a dark color such as black is printed on the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the cover substrate 8 by printing or the like. The transparent portion 8B is provided at the center, and an adhesive layer 10 such as acrylic or polyester having a front end formed in a concavo-convex shape is provided on the lower surface. By this adhesive layer 10, the cover substrate 8 is A touch panel is configured by being attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1.

  In order to manufacture the touch panel as described above, first, the upper substrate 1 having the upper conductive layer 3 and the upper electrode 5 formed on the lower surface, and the lower substrate having the lower conductive layer 4 and the lower electrode 6 formed on the upper surface. 2 are overlapped via the spacer 7, the outer peripheral edges of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are heated and pressed, and the outer periphery of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is bonded together by the spacer 7.

  When the outer peripheral edges of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are heated and pressed, the front ends of the spacers 7 from which the end portions of the upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 are extended have left and right ends with a width of about 2 to 3 mm. Compared to the rear end, the width dimension is as wide as about 5 to 6 mm, so that the front end of the upper substrate 1 may be wavy.

  After that, a flexible wiring board (not shown) having a plurality of wiring patterns formed on the ends of the upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 extending to the front ends of the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 is anisotropically arranged. The connection is made with a conductive adhesive or the like, and finally the cover substrate 8 is attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 with the adhesive layer 10 to complete the touch panel. At this time, the front end of the adhesive layer 10 on the lower surface of the cover substrate 8 is uneven. Therefore, even when waviness occurs at the front end of the upper substrate 1, it is difficult for waviness to occur at the front end of the cover substrate 8.

  In other words, the front end of the cover substrate 8 is attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 partially at the upper and lower surfaces of the plurality of convex portions 10A instead of the entire surface by the front end of the uneven adhesive layer 10 on the lower surface. Therefore, even when undulation is generated at the front end of the upper substrate 1, noticeable undulation is not generated at the front end of the cover substrate 8.

  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, and is mounted | worn with an electronic device, and the edge part of a pair of upper electrode 5 and the lower electrode 6 is a flexible wiring board, It is electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a connector (not shown) or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the cover substrate 8 on the desired display is pressed with a finger or a pen while watching the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel through the light transmitting portion 8B of the cover substrate 8, the cover substrate 8 is pressed. Then, the upper substrate 1 bends and the upper conductive layer 3 at the pressed position comes into contact with the lower conductive layer 4.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the pair of upper electrode 5 and lower electrode 6, and the electronic circuit detects the pressed portion by the voltage ratio between both ends of the upper conductive layer 3 and both ends of the lower conductive layer 4 in the direction orthogonal thereto. Detection and switching of various functions of the device are performed.

  That is, when the upper surface of the transparent portion 8B of the cover substrate 8 on the desired menu is pressed in a state where, for example, a plurality of menus are displayed on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 The electronic circuit detects the operated position based on the voltage ratio, and a desired menu is selected from a plurality of menus.

  In the present invention, since the front end of the adhesive layer 10 on the lower surface of the cover substrate 8 attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is formed in an uneven shape, the outer peripheral inner edge is heated and pressurized and the upper substrate 1 is interposed via the spacer 7. Even when waviness occurs at the front end of the upper substrate 1 when the bottom substrate 2 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded together, it is difficult for waviness to occur at the front end of the cover substrate 8 attached to the upper surface.

  That is, the front end of the cover substrate 8 and the front end of the upper substrate 1 are not part of the entire surface of the adhesive layer 10 formed on the lower surface of the cover substrate 8, but are partially at the upper and lower surfaces of the plurality of convex portions 10 </ b> A at the front end. Since it is affixed, even if undulation has occurred at the front end of the upper substrate 1, it is configured so that no noticeable undulation will occur at the front end of the cover substrate 8.

  In this way, the front end of the adhesive layer 10 on the lower surface of the cover substrate 8 is formed in a concavo-convex shape to prevent undulation of the front end of the cover substrate 8, and the other portions are pasted with the adhesive layer 10 on the entire lower surface. 8 and the upper substrate 1, and the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 can be securely bonded to each other, so that even when the ambient temperature or humidity changes, they can be prevented from being peeled off or the adhesive force can be reduced, and a reliable operation can be performed. It is like that.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by forming the front end of the adhesive layer 10 on the lower surface of the cover substrate 8 attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 in a concavo-convex shape, even when waviness occurs at the front end of the upper substrate 1, The front end of the cover substrate 8 to be attached to the upper surface is partially attached to the front end of the cover substrate 8 at a few places rather than the entire surface by the front end of the uneven adhesive layer 10 on the lower surface. It is possible to obtain a touch panel that is easy to view, easy to see and capable of reliable operation.

  The touch panel according to the present invention has an advantageous effect of preventing the undulation of the front end of the cover substrate, being easy to see, and capable of obtaining a reliable operation, and is mainly useful for operating various electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper substrate 2 Lower substrate 3 Upper conductive layer 4 Lower conductive layer 5 Upper electrode 6 Lower electrode 7 Spacer 8 Cover substrate 8A Window frame part 8B Translucent part 10 Adhesive layer 10A Convex part

Claims (1)

The upper conductive layer formed on the lower surface and a pair of upper electrodes extending from both ends of the upper conductive layer to the front end, the lower conductive layer on the upper surface, and the upper conductive layer of the lower conductive layer are orthogonal to each other A lower substrate on which a pair of lower electrodes extending from both ends in the direction to the front end is formed, a substantially frame-like spacer provided on an outer peripheral inner edge of the lower surface of the upper substrate or the upper surface of the lower substrate, and an adhesive layer on the lower surface A touch panel comprising a cover substrate attached to an upper surface of an upper substrate and having a light-transmitting portion and a dark window frame portion formed on an outer peripheral edge portion, and the adhesive layer front end is formed in an uneven shape.

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