JP2015064678A - Touch sensor for mounting vehicle and touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve visibility of touch sensors.SOLUTION: A touch sensor 10 comprises: a plurality of x-coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13 that extends in a y-axis direction respectively, and is arranged with the extension direction aligned; and a plurality of y-coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8 and V1 to V8 that extends in an x-axis direction respectively, and is arranged with the extension direction aligned. An edge in the extension direction in each x-coordinate electrode pattern and each y-coordinate electrode pattern has a waveform in which a mountain and a valley alternatively continue. At a pair of edges in the extension direction in each x-coordinate electrode pattern, locations of the valleys are mutually deviated, and at a pair of edges in the extension direction in each y-coordinate electrode pattern, locations of the valleys are mutually deviated.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted touch sensor, and more particularly to a sensor that detects a change in capacitance of an electrode and a touch panel device using the sensor.

  Cars are equipped with accessory equipment such as power windows, turn signals, room lights, and audio devices. In many cases, the operation of the accessory device is performed by an operation panel provided on the console of the passenger compartment. Conventionally, push button type switches, rotary knob type rotary switches, rotary knob type volumes, and the like have been used for operation panels of accessory devices.

  In recent years, various improvements have been made to the operation panel in order to improve the comfort of the passenger compartment. For example, a switch that allows an accessory device to be operated simply by tracing the panel or touching it lightly is widely used. Patent Document 1 describes a switch in which a plurality of sensor electrodes are provided as such a switch, and an accessory device is operated based on a change in capacitance of each sensor electrode. In the switch described in Patent Document 1, a region where a passenger touches is provided on the instrument panel of the passenger compartment. On the back side of this region, a flexible substrate to which the sensor electrode is fixed is provided. Each sensor electrode is connected to the control controller of the accessory device via wiring provided on the flexible substrate.

  Patent Document 2 describes a touch sensor that detects a change in capacitance. In this touch sensor, a plurality of electrode patterns extending in the vertical direction are arranged in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of electrode patterns extending in the horizontal direction are arranged in the vertical direction. By detecting a plurality of electrode patterns extending in the vertical direction in which the capacitance has changed and a plurality of electrode patterns extending in the horizontal direction in which the capacitance has changed, such as a human body, a pen, a pointing rod, etc. The position touched by the detection target is detected.

JP 2009-43473 A JP 2010-211183 A

  For touch sensors using a plurality of electrode patterns extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of electrode patterns extending in the horizontal direction, each electrode pattern is formed of a transparent material, and each electrode pattern is formed on a transparent plate-like member. There is something arranged in. Such a transparent touch sensor is superimposed on the display and functions as a button together with a graphic displayed on the display. However, when a transparent touch sensor and a display are overlaid, the visibility may deteriorate, for example, moire occurs due to optical interference between the pixels arranged on the display and the electrode pattern.

  An object of this invention is to improve the visibility of a touch sensor.

  In the present invention, a plurality of first direction electrode patterns each extending in a first direction and arranged in the same direction, and each extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction are stretched. A plurality of second direction electrode patterns arranged in the same direction, and at least one of the plurality of first direction electrode patterns intersects with at least one of the plurality of second direction electrode patterns. The edges in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern and each second direction electrode pattern have a wave shape including peaks and valleys, and the pair of edges in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern is a trough The positions are shifted from each other in the extending direction, and the pair of edges in the extending direction in each second direction electrode pattern is characterized in that the valley positions are shifted from each other in the extending direction.

  In the vehicle-mounted touch sensor according to the present invention, preferably, each first direction electrode pattern connects a plurality of first electrodes arranged in the first direction and the adjacent first electrodes. A first connection path, and each first direction electrode pattern is formed between a pair of valleys that are shifted from each other in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern. The direction electrode pattern includes a plurality of second electrodes arranged in the second direction, and a second connection path that connects adjacent second electrodes, and each second direction electrode pattern includes a second The connection path is formed between a pair of valleys that are shifted from each other in the extending direction in each second direction electrode pattern, and the first connection path in at least one of the plurality of first direction electrode patterns is Among the plurality of second direction electrode patterns Intersect at least in one second connection path.

  The vehicle-mounted touch panel device according to the present invention preferably includes the vehicle-mounted touch sensor and a display, and the vehicle-mounted touch sensor is disposed so as to overlap the display surface of the display. The first direction electrode pattern and each second direction electrode pattern are formed of a material that transmits light, and the display displays pixels arranged in the first direction and the second direction.

  In one embodiment of the vehicle-mounted touch sensor according to the present invention, the pair of edges in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern has a periodic shape that is point-symmetric with respect to one of the pair of edges. The periodic shape is shifted in the extending direction with respect to the other periodic shape, and the pair of edges in the extending direction in each second direction electrode pattern has a point-symmetrical periodic shape, and one of the pair of edges The periodic shape is shifted in the stretching direction with respect to the other periodic shape.

  Moreover, in one embodiment of the vehicle-mounted touch sensor according to the present invention, the wave shape of the extending direction edge of each first direction electrode pattern and the wave shape of the extending direction edge of each second direction electrode pattern. Is a substantially triangular wave shape or a triangular wave shape.

  According to the present invention, the visibility of a touch sensor can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an x coordinate electrode pattern and a X layer plastic film. It is an enlarged view of an x coordinate electrode pattern. It is a figure which shows a virtual electrode pattern. It is a figure which shows a y coordinate electrode pattern and a Y layer plastic film. It is an enlarged view of a y coordinate electrode pattern. It is an enlarged view of a touch sensor. It is sectional drawing of a touch sensor. It is sectional drawing of the touch sensor using the plastic film of 1 layer.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a touch panel device according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a human body contacts or approaches the touch sensor 10, the touch panel device detects the contact position or the approach position of the human body by the detection unit 14, and the device control unit 16 controls the accessory device according to the detected position. The touch sensor 10 is provided with a plurality of electrode patterns, and a contact position or a contact position of the human body is detected based on a change in capacitance of the electrode pattern due to contact or approach of the human body.

  The touch sensor 10 includes an X layer plastic film 12, x coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13, a Y layer plastic film 13, y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8, and y coordinate electrode patterns V1 to V8. These are made of a transparent or translucent material and transmit light.

  The X layer plastic film 12 on which each x coordinate electrode pattern is arranged is overlaid on the Y layer plastic film 13 on which each y coordinate electrode pattern is arranged. Each x coordinate electrode pattern is formed by a plurality of x electrodes 18 arranged in the vertical direction, and is arranged on the X layer plastic film 12. Each y coordinate electrode pattern is formed by a plurality of y electrodes 30 arranged in the horizontal direction, and is arranged on the Y layer plastic film 13.

  The touch sensor 10 is overlaid on the display surface of a display such as an electronic device. The plurality of pixels displayed by the display are arranged in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. The image displayed on the display is seen through the touch sensor 10.

  FIG. 2 shows the x-coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13 and the X-layer plastic film 12. The X layer plastic film 12 is formed of a transparent or translucent plastic resin. Each x coordinate electrode pattern is formed of a transparent or translucent conductive material, and is fixed to the X layer plastic film 12 by a method such as sputtering, vapor deposition, or printing. Each x coordinate electrode pattern includes a plurality of x electrodes 18 arranged in series in the vertical direction and connected in series, and has a shape extending in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, each x coordinate electrode pattern includes nine x electrodes 18. The x coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction with the extending direction aligned in the vertical direction. The x coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13 are associated with x coordinate values x1 to x13, respectively.

  FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the x-coordinate electrode pattern X. The left edge 22 and the right edge 24 of the x-coordinate electrode pattern X have a substantially triangular wave shape in which peaks and valleys are alternately arranged. Here, the substantially triangular wave shape means a shape in which the peaks of the left and right edges of the triangular wave shape are missing. The peak of the mountain may be a section parallel to the y-axis or a rounded section. The left and right edges of the x-coordinate electrode pattern X may have a triangular wave shape with no apexes missing. The substantially triangular waveform drawn by the right edge 24 is obtained by rotating the substantially triangular waveform drawn by the left edge 22 by 180 °. That is, the substantially triangular waveform drawn by the right edge 24 and the substantially triangular waveform 22 drawn by the left edge 22 are point-symmetric with each other.

  The process of deriving the shape of the x coordinate electrode pattern X will be described. FIG. 4 shows a virtual electrode pattern Z. The virtual electrode pattern Z includes a plurality of rectangular electrodes 19 arranged in the vertical direction. These electrodes 19 are connected in series so that their diagonal lines are located on the same straight line. Adjacent electrodes 19 are connected at one vertex of each. The y coordinates of the left and right vertices of each electrode 19 are shifted by an offset distance d. Here, the x-coordinate electrode pattern shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by translating the right edge 28 of the virtual electrode pattern Z downward with respect to the left edge 26 by an offset distance d, that is, in the negative y-axis direction. The shape of X is derived. That is, the right and left edge valleys 23 facing each other in FIG. 4 are shifted from each other, whereby the x electrode connection path 20 that connects the two adjacent x electrodes 18 is formed. The x electrode connection path 20 is formed between a pair of valleys 23 that are located in the x coordinate electrode pattern X so as to be shifted from each other in the extending direction. The x coordinate electrode pattern X has a shape derived in this way.

  FIG. 5 shows the y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8, the y coordinate electrode patterns V1 to V8, and the Y layer plastic film 13. The Y layer plastic film 13 is formed of a transparent or translucent plastic resin. Each y coordinate electrode pattern is formed of a transparent or translucent conductive material, and is fixed to the Y layer plastic film 13 by a method such as sputtering, vapor deposition, or printing. Each y coordinate electrode pattern includes a plurality of y electrodes 30 arranged in the horizontal direction and connected in series, and has a shape extending in the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, each y coordinate electrode pattern includes seven y electrodes 30. The y-coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction with the extending direction aligned in the horizontal direction in the left half region. The y coordinate electrode patterns V <b> 1 to V <b> 8 are arranged in the right half region with the extending direction aligned in the horizontal direction and arranged in the vertical direction. The y coordinate electrode patterns V1 to V8 are adjacent to the y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8, respectively, but are not electrically connected. The y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8 are associated with y coordinate values y1 to y8, respectively. Similarly, y coordinate values y1 to y8 are associated with the y coordinate electrode patterns V1 to V8, respectively.

  The y coordinate electrode pattern has the same shape as that obtained by rotating the x coordinate electrode pattern shown in FIG. 3 by 90 ° clockwise or counterclockwise. The y coordinate electrode pattern may have a shape as shown in FIG. The y-coordinate electrode pattern YV shown in FIG. 6 rotates the x-coordinate electrode pattern X shown in FIG. 3 by 90 ° clockwise or counterclockwise, and further, between the upper edge 34 and the lower edge 36. The distance (corresponding to the distance between the left edge 22 and the right edge 24 in FIG. 3) is reduced by the reduction distance δ in the vertical direction. As a result, each y electrode 30 is smaller than the x electrode 18, and the y electrode connection path 32 connecting the two adjacent y electrodes 30 is narrower and longer than the x electrode connection path 20. With such a shape, a gap between each x coordinate electrode pattern and each y coordinate electrode pattern becomes large. However, the reduction distance δ may be zero.

  FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the touch sensor 10. In this figure, the y coordinate electrode pattern YV is drawn by a broken line. Each y coordinate electrode pattern YV is seen through the X layer plastic film 12 and the x coordinate electrode pattern X. Here, the structure in the case where the reduction distance δ shown in FIG. 6 is not 0 is depicted. The smaller the reduction distance δ, the narrower the gap between the x coordinate electrode pattern X and the y coordinate electrode pattern YV. Regarding the x coordinate electrode pattern X and the y coordinate electrode pattern YV that intersect each other, the y electrode connection path 32 included in the y coordinate electrode pattern YV intersects in the lower layer of the x electrode connection path 20 included in the x coordinate electrode pattern X. . Note that the vertical relationship of the overlap of the x coordinate electrode pattern X and the y coordinate electrode pattern YV may be reversed. Further, instead of reducing the distance between the upper and lower edges of the y coordinate electrode pattern YV, the distance between the left and right edges of the x coordinate electrode pattern X may be reduced.

  FIG. 8 shows a part of a cross section taken along line AB. The Y layer plastic film 13 is fixed to the display surface of the display 38. The X layer plastic film 12 to which the x coordinate electrode pattern X is fixed is overlaid on the Y layer plastic film 13 to which the y coordinate electrode pattern YV is fixed. The plurality of pixels displayed by the display 38 are arranged in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. The image displayed on the display 38 is seen through the touch sensor 10.

  As described above, the touch sensor 10 according to the present embodiment extends in the y-axis direction (first direction) and has a plurality of x-coordinate electrode patterns (first direction electrode patterns) arranged with the extending direction aligned. And a plurality of y coordinate electrode patterns that extend in the x-axis direction (second direction intersecting the first direction) and are arranged with the extending direction aligned. The edges in the extending direction of each x-coordinate electrode pattern and each y-coordinate electrode pattern have a wave shape including peaks and valleys. The pair of edges in the stretching direction in each x-coordinate electrode pattern has a valley position shifted from each other in the stretching direction, and the pair of edges in the stretching direction in each y-coordinate electrode pattern has a valley position shifted from each other in the stretching direction. Yes.

  Each x coordinate electrode pattern includes a plurality of x electrodes (first electrodes) arranged in the y-axis direction, and x electrode connection paths (first connection paths) that connect adjacent x electrodes. The x-electrode connection path included in each x-coordinate electrode pattern is formed between a pair of valleys that are shifted from each other in the extending direction in each x-coordinate electrode pattern. Similarly, each y coordinate electrode pattern includes a plurality of y electrodes (second electrodes) arranged in the x-axis direction and a y electrode connection path (second connection path) that connects adjacent y electrodes. . The y-electrode connection path provided in each y-coordinate electrode pattern is formed between a pair of valleys that are shifted from each other in the extending direction in each y-coordinate electrode pattern. And about the x coordinate electrode pattern and y coordinate electrode pattern which mutually cross | intersect, the x electrode connection path with which an x coordinate electrode pattern is provided, and the y electrode connection path with which a y coordinate electrode pattern is provided cross | intersect.

  By making the right and left edges of each x coordinate electrode pattern and the upper and lower edges of each y coordinate electrode pattern into a triangular wave shape, each edge is both a section parallel to the x axis and a section parallel to the y axis. It will not have. Thereby, optical interference between the pixels arranged in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction on the display and the edges of each x-coordinate electrode pattern and each y-coordinate electrode pattern is suppressed, and visibility is improved.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the configuration and operation of the touch panel device will be described. The lowermost x electrode 18 in each x coordinate electrode pattern is connected to the detection unit 14. The leftmost y electrode 30 of each of the y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8 is connected to the detection unit 14, and the rightmost y electrode 30 of each of the y coordinate electrode patterns V1 to V8 is connected to the detection unit 14. It is connected to the.

  When the user's finger approaches or contacts any one of the x coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13 or any one of the y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8 and V1 to V8, the x coordinate electrode pattern that the user's finger approaches or contacts and The capacitance of the y coordinate electrode pattern changes.

  The detection unit 14 includes, for example, an analog circuit that detects the capacitance in each x-coordinate electrode pattern and each y-coordinate electrode pattern, and a digital circuit that obtains the coordinate value of the electrode pattern whose capacitance has changed.

  The detection unit 14 detects a change in capacitance among the x coordinate electrode patterns X1 to X13, and further detects a change in capacitance among the y coordinate electrode patterns Y1 to Y8 and V1 to V8. To detect. Based on the detection result, the detection unit 14 specifies the x coordinate electrode pattern whose capacitance has changed, and specifies the y coordinate electrode pattern whose capacitance has changed. Then, the x coordinate value corresponding to the x coordinate electrode pattern whose capacitance has changed and the y coordinate value corresponding to the y coordinate electrode pattern whose capacitance has changed are output to the device control unit 16. The device control unit 16 controls the accessory device according to the coordinate value output from the detection unit 14.

  For example, when the accessory device is an air conditioner, the device control unit 16 controls the air blowing level, temperature, and the like according to the coordinate values output from the detection unit 14. When the accessory device is an audio device, the volume, sound quality, and the like are controlled according to the coordinate values output from the detection unit 14. Furthermore, the accessory device may be controlled in accordance with the movement of the user's finger on the touch sensor 10. For example, when the finger is moved to draw a circle on the touch sensor 10, the coordinate value output from the detection unit 14 to the device control unit 16 changes according to the movement of the finger. The device control unit 16 may adjust the temperature of the air conditioner and the volume of the audio device according to the rotation direction of the finger indicated by the change in the coordinate value.

  Here, the example in which the user's finger approaches or contacts the touch sensor 10 has been described. The touch sensor 10 may be operated by other detection objects such as a pen and an indicator bar.

  In the touch panel device according to the embodiment of the present invention, each edge of the x coordinate electrode pattern and the y coordinate electrode pattern included in the touch sensor 10 extends in a direction different from the arrangement direction of the pixels displayed on the display. This suppresses optical interference between the pixels arranged in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction on the display and each edge of the x-coordinate electrode pattern and the y-coordinate electrode pattern, thereby improving visibility.

  The touch sensor 10 has a two-layer structure including an X-layer plastic film 12 and a Y-layer plastic film 13. Each x-coordinate electrode pattern and each y-coordinate electrode pattern may be arranged on one layer of plastic film. In this case, each x-coordinate electrode pattern X and each y-coordinate electrode pattern YV shown in FIG. 7 are arranged on the same surface of one layer of plastic film.

  FIG. 9 shows a part of a cross section taken along the line AB in this case. The x coordinate electrode pattern X and each y coordinate electrode pattern YV are disposed on the same surface of the plastic film 40. The x electrode connection path 20 included in the x coordinate electrode pattern X has a jumper shape straddling the y electrode connection path 32 included in the y coordinate electrode pattern YV. This avoids contact between the x-coordinate electrode pattern X and the y-coordinate electrode pattern YV. Further, the reduction distance δ of the y coordinate electrode pattern YV is not zero. That is, the distance between the upper and lower edges of the y coordinate electrode pattern YV is smaller than the distance between the left and right edges of the x coordinate electrode pattern X. As a result, contact between the x-coordinate electrode pattern X and the y-coordinate electrode pattern YX is avoided. Note that an electrical insulating layer 33 may be provided between the connection path 20 and the connection path 32. In this case, the reduction distance δ can be set to 0 or a value close to 0, and the widths of the connection path 20 and the connection path 32 can be made substantially the same. The electrical insulating layer 33 may be air or an insulating material such as a plastic resin.

  In the above embodiment, the left and right edges of each x coordinate electrode pattern and the upper and lower edges of each y coordinate electrode pattern have a substantially triangular wave shape, but the shape of each edge is in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. It may be a periodic shape with few sections extending in parallel. The shape of each edge may be a wave shape including peaks and valleys, for example, a wave shape in which a straight section of a triangular wave shape is rounded, or a sine wave shape.

  10 touch sensor, 12 X layer plastic film, 13 Y layer plastic film, 40 plastic film, 18 x electrode, 20 x electrode connection path, 22, 26 left edge, 23 valley, 24, 28 right edge, 30 y electrode , 32 y electrode connection path, 33 electrical insulating layer, 34 upper edge, 36 lower edge, 38 display, X1-X13, X x coordinate electrode pattern, Y1-Y8, V1-V8, YV y coordinate electrode pattern.

Claims (3)

A plurality of first direction electrode patterns each extending in a first direction and arranged in the same direction.
A plurality of second direction electrode patterns each extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction and arranged in the same direction.
At least one of the plurality of first direction electrode patterns intersects with at least one of the plurality of second direction electrode patterns;
The edge in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern and each second direction electrode pattern has a wave shape including peaks and valleys,
The pair of edges in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern has a valley position shifted from each other in the extending direction, and the pair of edges in the extending direction in each second direction electrode pattern has a valley position in the extending direction from each other. A vehicle-mounted touch sensor characterized by being displaced. The touch sensor for mounting on a vehicle according to claim 1,
Each first direction electrode pattern is:
A plurality of first electrodes arranged in the first direction;
A first connection path connecting between the adjacent first electrodes,
The first connection path provided in each first direction electrode pattern is formed between a pair of troughs that are shifted from each other in the extending direction in each first direction electrode pattern,
Each second direction electrode pattern is
A plurality of second electrodes arranged in the second direction;
A second connection path connecting adjacent second electrodes, and
The second connection path provided in each second direction electrode pattern is formed between a pair of troughs that are located in the extension direction of each second direction electrode pattern,
A first connection path in at least one of the plurality of first direction electrode patterns intersects a second connection path in at least one of the plurality of second direction electrode patterns. In-vehicle touch sensor. A vehicle-mounted touch sensor according to claim 1 or 2,
In a vehicle-mounted touch panel device comprising a display,
The vehicle-mounted touch sensor is disposed so as to overlap the display surface of the display,
Each first direction electrode pattern and each second direction electrode pattern are formed of a material that transmits light,
The vehicle-mounted touch panel device, wherein the display displays pixels arranged in the first direction and the second direction.

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