JP2016110238A - Touch panel display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact "touch panel display" with an optical touch panel.SOLUTION: Visible light emitted from a light source unit 14 having a visible light source and a light source of infrared light to a light guide plate 13, is converted to backlight which irradiates a shutter panel 12 from the rear, by means of the light guide plate 13. The backlight irradiating a central area of the shutter panel 12 passes forward, with the quantity of light according to an aperture of a MEMS shutter 121 of the area, to form an image. A traveling direction of the infrared light passing forward a left/lower area of the shutter panel 12 is changed horizontally by an outgoing X right/angle prism/outgoing Y right-angle prism, and made incident on an incident X right-angle prism/incident Y right/angle prism, so as to be directed backward. The infrared light passes a right/upper area of the shutter panel 12, and is detected by an infrared photodiode (PD) of an X light-receiving unit/Y light-receiving unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel display having both functions of a display and a touch panel.

  As a touch panel display having both functions of a display and a touch panel, a touch panel display in which the display and the optical touch panel are integrated is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Here, in such a touch panel display, the optical touch panel is an opposing side arranged side by side along one side of the two vertical sides of the display and one side of the two horizontal sides of the display. A plurality of light emitting elements emitting a light beam in the direction, a plurality of light receiving elements arranged side by side on the side opposite to each side where the light emitting elements are arranged, and a controller are provided. In addition, the light beam is not blocked by the touch of the user by using the light receiving element located at the position facing the light emitting element while emitting light beams by driving each light emitting element in order by the controller. It is detected whether or not a position facing the light emitting element that has emitted light has been reached.

JP 2007-65767

The optical touch panel described above has an advantage that the touch coordinates can be detected satisfactorily even when touched by a gloved user, as compared with a capacitive touch panel.
However, it is necessary to arrange a number of light emitting elements and light receiving elements side by side according to the resolution for detecting the coordinates along one of the two vertical sides and the horizontal side of the display, which reduces the size of the touch panel display. It was a hindrance.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a touch panel display having the function of an optical touch panel.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a touch panel display that displays an image and detects touch coordinates that are coordinates of a position touched by a user, and a plurality of shutters that can control the amount of light passing in the front-rear direction. An array of shutter panels;
A light guide plate that converts incident light into light that illuminates the shutter panel from behind, a light source unit that emits visible light and invisible light to the inside of the light guide plate, and a first side surface of the light guide plate. A light receiving unit that detects the reception of invisible light at each position on the axis along the first side surface, and an end region on the second side surface that is the side surface facing the first side surface of the shutter panel. An emission side optical unit provided in front of a certain detection light emission region is provided. Here, the exit side optical unit travels the path of invisible light that has passed through the shutter in the detection light exit area, through the front of the front surface of the shutter panel, toward the first side surface of the shutter panel. In this case, the light receiving unit detects the reception of invisible light having passed through the front of the shutter panel, the path being changed by the emission side optical unit.

  Here, in such a touch panel display, the touch panel display is further provided with an incident side optical unit provided in front of a detection light incident region which is an end region on the first side surface side of the shutter panel. The light receiving unit is disposed behind the detection light incident area, and the path of the invisible light passing through the front of the shutter panel is changed to the rear in the incident side optical unit. In the light receiving unit, the path is converted by the incident side optical unit, and the light receiving unit detects the invisible light that has passed through the shutter in the detection light incident area of the shutter panel. Also good.

  Further, in the above touch panel display, the light source unit is a primary color of display on the touch panel display arranged along a third side surface of the light guide plate that is a side surface different from the first side surface and the second side surface. A plurality of pairs of LEDs and invisible light LEDs may be arranged side by side along the third side surface, and the light receiving unit may be a plurality of units arranged along the first side surface of the light guide plate. A photodiode that detects reception of invisible light may be provided.

  Further, in the above touch panel display, a part of the detection light emission region of the shutter panel is set as a target region, and the target region is changed in a direction along the second side surface, and at least the light source unit is connected to the light source unit. Invisible light that illuminates the target area from behind via the light guide plate is emitted, and light that illuminates the target area from behind is passed through the shutter panel, and invisible light that has passed through the target area in the light receiving unit It is preferable to include a controller that detects the presence or absence of light reception and detects the touch coordinates based on a detection pattern of whether or not the light reception unit receives light invisible.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to the vertical and horizontal directions of an image displayed on a touch panel display that displays an image and detects touch coordinates that are coordinates of a position touched by a user. The direction in which the touch panel display presents an image is the front, the reverse direction of the front is the rear direction, one of the left and right directions of the touch panel is the first direction, the other is the second direction, and the touch panel One of the upward and downward directions is the third direction and the other is the fourth direction, and the amount of light passing in the front-rear direction arranged in the left-right direction and the vertical direction on the touch panel display can be controlled. Of a shutter panel provided with a shutter and a side surface on the first direction side and a side surface on the third direction side disposed on the rear side of the shutter panel, A light guide plate that converts at least one of the light source light incident side surfaces into light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear side, and a light source light incident side surface of the light guide plate along the light source light incident side surface. A light source unit that emits visible light and invisible light from the light source light incident side surface to the inside of the light guide plate, and a side surface on the second direction side of the light guide plate. A first light receiving unit that detects the reception of invisible light at each of the positions, and a side surface on the fourth direction side of the light guide plate, and detects the reception of invisible light at each position in the left-right direction. A second light-receiving unit, a first emission-side optical unit provided in front of a first-direction-side end region, which is an end region on the first-direction side of the shutter panel, and the third direction of the shutter panel It is a region of the end of the is provided with a second emitting side optical unit provided in front of the third direction end region. Here, the first emission side optical unit converts a path of invisible light that has passed through the first direction side end region of the shutter panel into a path toward the second direction, and the second emission side optical unit. Converts the path of the invisible light that has passed through the third direction side end region of the shutter panel into the path toward the fourth direction, and the path of the first light receiving unit is changed by the first emission side optical unit. The second light-receiving unit is changed in its path by the two emission-side optical units, and the front of the shutter panel is vertically moved. Detection of invisible light passing through is detected.

  Here, such a touch panel display further faces the first emission side optical unit in the left-right direction in front of the second direction side end region which is the end region on the second direction side of the shutter panel. A first incident-side optical unit that is provided in front of the fourth direction-side end region, which is an end region on the fourth direction side of the shutter panel, and the second emission-side optical unit in the vertical direction. A second incident-side optical unit provided so as to face the first light-receiving unit, the first light-receiving unit is disposed behind the end region on the second direction side of the shutter panel, and the second light-receiving unit is disposed The shutter panel may be arranged behind the end region on the fourth direction side. However, in this case, in the first incident side optical unit, the path is changed by the first emission side optical unit, and the path of the invisible light that has reached the first incident side optical unit is converted into a path toward the rear. In the second incident side optical unit, the path is changed by the second emission side optical unit, and the path of invisible light reaching the second incident side optical unit is converted to a path toward the rear, and the first In the light receiving unit, a path is changed by the first incident side optical unit, and detection of invisible light that has passed through the second direction side end region of the shutter panel is detected. In the second light receiving unit, The path is changed by the two incident side optical unit, and the reception of the invisible light that has passed through the fourth direction side end region of the shutter panel is detected. Unisuru.

  In the above touch panel display, a part of the shutter panel in the first direction side end region is set as a target region, and the target region is changed in the vertical direction, and the light source unit is at least in the first direction. Invisible light that illuminates the target area in the side end area from the rear through the light guide plate is emitted, and the shutter panel has a shutter in the first direction side end area that is in the first direction side end area. Whether light is allowed to pass through only the shutter in the target area, and whether or not invisible light is received at a position facing the target area in the first direction side end area in the left-right direction using the first light receiving unit. In addition, a part of the shutter panel in the third direction side end region is set as a target region, and the target region is changed in the left-right direction, and the light source unit is reduced. At least invisible light that illuminates the target region in the third direction side end region from the rear through the light guide plate is emitted, and the shutter panel in the third direction side end region is The light is allowed to pass only through the shutter in the target area in the three-direction side end area, and at the position facing the target area in the third direction-side end area in the vertical direction using the second light receiving unit. A controller that detects the presence of invisible light and performs a touch coordinate detection operation for detecting the touch coordinates based on the presence or absence of invisible light at each position detected using the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit; You may make it prepare.

  In this case, the touch panel display causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear without emitting invisible light to the light source unit, and to display an image to be displayed on the side in the first direction. A display operation for controlling the amount of light passing through each shutter in the display area of the shutter panel so as to be formed in a display area that is an area excluding at least the area and the end area on the third direction side, and the touch coordinates The detection operation may be alternately performed, and in the touch coordinate detection operation, light may not be passed through all the shutters in the display area of the shutter panel.

  Alternatively, in this case, the touch panel display causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear in the controller, and displays an image to be displayed in the first direction side end region and the third direction side end. The display operation for controlling the amount of light passing through each shutter in the display area of the shutter panel and the touch coordinate detection operation are performed in parallel so as to be formed in a display area that is at least an area excluding the area. You may comprise as follows.

  Here, regarding the touch panel display provided with the first incident side optical unit and the second incident side optical unit as described above, a part of the shutter panel in the first direction side end region is targeted. As the region, while changing the target region in the vertical direction, the light source unit emits invisible light that illuminates at least the target region in the first direction side end region from the rear through the light guide plate, and the shutter With respect to the shutter in the first direction side end region, the panel allows light to pass only through the shutter in the target region in the first direction side end region, and the shutter in the second direction side end region. Passes light only through a shutter in a region facing the target region in the side region in the first direction in the left-right direction, and uses the first light receiving unit. Detecting the presence or absence of receiving invisible light at a position facing the target region in the first direction side end region in the left-right direction, and setting a part of the shutter panel in the third direction side end region as the target region The light source unit emits invisible light that illuminates the target area at least in the third direction side end area from the rear side through the light guide plate while changing the target area in the left-right direction. For the shutter in the third direction side end region, light is allowed to pass only through the shutter in the target region in the third direction side end region, and for the shutter in the fourth direction side end region, Light is allowed to pass only through a shutter in a region facing the target region in the third direction side end region in the vertical direction, and the target region in the third direction side end region is transmitted to the second light receiving unit. Touch that detects whether or not invisible light is received at a position opposed in the vertical direction, and detects the touch coordinates based on whether or not invisible light is received at each position detected using the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit. A controller that performs a coordinate detection operation may be provided instead of the above-described controller.

  Further, when such a controller is provided, the touch panel display causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from behind without emitting invisible light to the light source unit, and to display an image to be displayed. The shutter panel of the shutter panel is formed so as to be formed in a display area excluding at least the first direction side end area, the second direction side end area, the third direction side end area, and the fourth direction side end area. The display operation for controlling the amount of light passing through each shutter in the display area and the touch coordinate detection operation are alternately performed, and in the touch coordinate detection operation, all the shutters in the display area of the shutter panel are applied. You may comprise so that light may not pass.

  Alternatively, when such a controller is provided, the touch panel display causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear in the controller, and to display an image to be displayed as the first direction side end region. Passing through each shutter in the display area of the shutter panel so as to be formed in a display area that is an area excluding at least the second direction side end area, the third direction side end area, and the fourth direction side end area. The display operation for controlling the amount of light to be performed and the touch coordinate detection operation may be performed in parallel.

  In the touch panel display described above, the light source unit includes a set of LEDs arranged in the light source light incident side surface, each of which is a primary color of display on the touch panel display, and an invisible light LED. A plurality of light source light incident side surfaces may be arranged side by side, and the first light receiving unit includes a photodiode that detects light reception of a plurality of invisible lights arranged in the vertical direction. The second light receiving unit may include a photodiode that detects the reception of a plurality of invisible lights arranged in the left-right direction.

Here, in the touch panel display described above, the shutter is preferably a MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) shutter.
In the above touch panel display, the invisible light is preferably infrared light or near infrared light.
According to the touch panel display of the present invention as described above, the invisible light source for touch coordinate detection can be provided integrally with the light source of the backlight for image display, and the light guide plate for backlight Can be used together for guiding invisible light for touch coordinate detection.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a light source for invisible light for touch coordinate detection is provided separately from a light source for a backlight for image display, or a guide dedicated to guiding invisible light for touch coordinate detection is used. The touch panel display can be downsized as compared with the case where an optical plate is used.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a touch panel display having the function of an optical touch panel can be reduced in size.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen display which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the light source unit and light receiving unit which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the optical path of the touchscreen display which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the TD controller which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the sequence of the image display and touch coordinate detection which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the touch coordinate detection operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the sequence of the image display which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a touch coordinate detection.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an electronic apparatus according to this embodiment.
As illustrated, the electronic device includes a touch panel display 1 having a touch panel and display functions, a TD controller 2 that drives the touch panel display 1, an operating system 3, and an application 4 that operates on the operating system 3.

  Here, the TD controller 2 controls display on the touch panel display 1 and detects coordinates on the touch panel touched by the user and outputs them as output coordinates.

  The operating system 3 includes a TD driver 31. The TD driver 31 controls display on the touch panel display 1 via the TD controller 2, and detects user input coordinates from output coordinates output from the TD controller 2. At that time, the touch panel display 1 is output to the operating system 3 or the application 4 that uses the input.

  However, the electronic device is configured using a computer having a CPU, a memory, and the like in terms of hardware, and the operating system 3 and the application 4 execute the predetermined computer program. It is realized by doing.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the structure of the touch panel display 1.
Now, assuming that the front, back, left, right, top and bottom of the touch panel display 1 are defined as shown in FIGS. 2a1, a2 and a3, FIG. 2a1 represents the front surface of the touch panel display 1, and FIG. 2a2 is the touch panel display 1 by the disconnection AA of FIG. 2a3 shows a cross section of the touch panel display 1 taken along the line BB in FIG. 2a1.

  As shown in the figure, the touch panel display 1 includes a housing 10, a transparent protective plate 11, a shutter panel 12, a light guide plate 13, a light source unit 14, an X light receiving unit 151, a Y light receiving unit 152, an emission side X right angle prism 161, and an emission. A side Y right angle prism 162, an incident side X right angle prism 171, and an incident side Y right angle prism 172.

  Here, the left-right direction of the touch panel display 1 corresponds to the X-axis direction of coordinates detected by the touch panel display, and the up-down direction of the touch panel display 1 corresponds to the Y-axis direction of coordinates detected by the touch panel display.

  2B, the shutter panel 12 is a panel in which a number of MEMS shutters 121 are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the front surface thereof is protected by the protection plate 11. Here, the MEMS shutter 121 is a micro electro-mechanical system shutter and is a mechanical shutter capable of electrically controlling the opening degree. And the area which light permeate | transmits in each area | region where the MEMS shutter 121 of the shutter panel 12 is arrange | positioned turns into an area according to the opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 arrange | positioned in the said area | region.

Here, the periphery of the shutter panel 12 is set in the detection area 123, and the inside of the periphery of the shutter panel 12 is set in the display area 124.
The shutter panel 12 is accommodated in the housing 10 so that the display area 124 is exposed forward.
Further, the output side X right-angle prism 161 is fixed to the housing 10 so as to be positioned in front of one of the left side portions of the detection region 123 of the shutter panel 12, and the right side portion of the detection region 123 of the shutter panel 12. The incident side X right-angle prism 171 is fixed to the housing 10 so as to be located in front of the housing 10.

  Further, the exit side Y right-angle prism 162 is fixed to the housing 10 so as to be positioned in front of the lower part of the detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12, and the upper part of the detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12 is The incident-side Y right-angle prism 172 is fixed to the housing 10 so as to be positioned in front.

  Next, the light guide plate 13 is housed in the housing 10 in a form laminated on the rear side of the shutter panel 12, and the light guide plate 13 is provided on the right side and the upper side of the detection region 123 on the rear surface of the shutter panel 12. It is fixed in the shape and arrangement that covers the part to be removed.

  As shown in FIG. 2 c, the light source unit 14 is disposed on the lower side of the light guide plate 13, the X light receiving unit 151 is disposed on the right side of the light guide plate 13, and on the upper side of the light guide plate 13. A Y light receiving unit 152 is arranged.

  Here, the X light receiving unit 151 is arranged so as to be located behind the right side portion of the detection region 123 of the shutter panel 12, and the Y light receiving unit 152 is a portion on the upper side of the detection region 123 of the shutter panel 12. It arrange | positions so that it may be located back.

  Accordingly, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the incident side X right-angle prism 171 and the right side portion of the detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12 and the X light receiving unit 151 are arranged so as to overlap, and the incident side Y right angle prism 172 and the detection area of the shutter panel 12 are overlapped. The upper portion of 123 and the Y light receiving unit 152 are arranged to overlap each other.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the light source unit 14 repeats the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) and the infrared (IR) four-wavelength LED in the left-right direction in this order. Each LED has a configuration arranged side by side, and each LED emits illumination light to the inside of the light guide plate 13 from the lower side of the light guide plate 13 upward.

  The X light receiving unit 151 has a configuration in which infrared photodiodes (PD) are arranged in the vertical direction, and each infrared photodiode (PD) detects infrared light incident from the front.

  Similarly, the Y light receiving unit 152 has a configuration in which infrared photodiodes (PD) are arranged in the left-right direction, and each infrared photodiode (PD) detects infrared light incident from the front.

The structure of the touch panel display 1 has been described above.
According to such a touch panel display 1, as shown in FIG. 4a, the light emitted from the light source unit 14 to the light guide plate 13 is converted by the light guide plate 13 into backlight light that illuminates the entire surface of the shutter panel 12 from behind. Is done.

  And the backlight light which irradiates each area | region in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 passes through the shutter panel 12 ahead according to the opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 of the said area | region, or is interrupted | blocked. Here, the amount of light passing through the shutter panel 12 is adjusted according to the opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 in the region. Then, the light that has passed through the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 passes through the protection plate 11 and is visually recognized by the user.

  On the other hand, the backlight light that irradiates the left detection area 123 and the lower detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12 corresponds to the opening of the MEMS shutter 121 in the left detection area 123 and the lower detection area 123. 12 is passed forward or blocked.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4 b, the light that has passed forward through the left detection area 123 and the lower detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12 passes through the protection plate 11, and exits the X-angle prism 161 and the exit Y The path is changed to a path passing through the front of the protection plate 11 by the right-angle prism 162. When there is no user's finger touching the shutter panel 12 in the middle, the incident-side X right-angle prism 171 and the incident-side Y right-angle prism 172 are incident. The light incident on the incident-side X right-angle prism 171 and the incident-side Y right-angle prism 172 is changed to a direction in which the path is directed backward, and is directed to the right detection area 123 and the upper detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12. Become. When the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection area 123 on the right side of the shutter panel 12 and the detection area 123 on the upper side is open, the path is changed in the direction toward the rear by the incident side X right angle prism 171 and the incident side Y right angle prism 172. The light passes through the detection region 123 on the right side of the protection plate 11 and the shutter panel 12 and the detection region 123 on the upper side, and infrared light out of the light that has passed through the detection region 123 on the right side and the detection region 123 on the upper side is X Detection is performed by infrared photodiodes (PD) of the light receiving unit 151 and the Y light receiving unit 152.

  That is, in more detail, the light that has passed forward through the detection region 123 on the left side of the shutter panel 12 and the protection plate 11 is changed in the direction of the rightward direction by the emission side X right-angle prism 161, When there is no user's finger or the like touching the shutter panel 12, the light enters the incident side X right-angle prism 171 and the path is changed in the backward direction, and the light is directed toward the detection region 123 on the right side of the shutter panel 12. When the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection region 123 on the right side of the shutter panel 12 is open, the light that is changed in the direction toward the rear by the incident side X right-angle prism 171 is reflected on the right side of the protection plate 11 and the shutter panel 12. Infrared light out of the passed light is detected by the infrared photodiode (PD) of the X light receiving unit 151. Similarly, the light that has passed through the detection region 123 on the lower side of the shutter panel 12 and the protection plate 11 forward is changed in the direction of the upward direction by the emission side Y right-angle prism 162, and the shutter is moved in the middle. When there is no user's finger or the like touching the panel 12, the light enters the incident-side Y right-angle prism 172, and the path is changed in the backward direction, so that the light travels toward the detection region 123 on the upper side of the shutter panel 12. When the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection area 123 on the upper side of the shutter panel 12 is open, the light that has been changed in the direction toward the rear by the incident-side Y right-angle prism 172 is reflected on the upper side of the protection plate 11 and the shutter panel 12. Infrared light out of the passed light is detected by the infrared photodiode (PD) of the Y light receiving unit 152.

  In the present embodiment, in order to change the light path as described above, right angle prisms such as the output side X right angle prism 161, the output side Y right angle prism 162, the incident side X right angle prism 171 and the incident side Y right angle prism 172 are used. However, in place of the right-angle prism, a mirror arranged to change the path of infrared light as described above, or other optical components may be used.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the TD controller 2.
As illustrated, the TD controller 2 includes a display interface 21, a touch panel interface 22, a display control unit 23, a light source control unit 24, and a touch coordinate calculation unit 25.

  The display interface 21 receives image data of an image to be displayed on the touch panel display 1 from the TD driver 31, and the display control unit 23 determines each MEMS shutter 121 in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 according to the received image data. While controlling the opening, the opening of each MEMS shutter 121 in the detection region 123 of the shutter panel 12 is controlled in a predetermined sequence.

The light source control unit 24 controls on / off of light emission of each LED of the light source unit 14 in a predetermined sequence.
Then, the touch coordinate calculation unit 25 acquires the presence / absence of detection of infrared light of each infrared photodiode (PD) of the X light receiving unit 151 and the Y light receiving unit 152, and the infrared of each acquired infrared photodiode (PD). The coordinates at which the user touches the shutter panel 12 are calculated based on whether or not light is detected, and the calculated coordinates are notified to the TD driver 31 via the touch panel interface 22.

Hereinafter, the display operation of the touch panel display 1 and the touch coordinate detection operation in such an electronic device will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a sequence of the display operation of the touch panel display 1 and the touch coordinate detection operation.

  As shown in the figure, this sequence includes a display period in which an image is displayed on the touch panel display 1 and a blanking period (return line period) in which the touch coordinate detection operation is performed without displaying an image on the touch panel display 1. Repeat alternately.

  During the display period, the light source control unit 24 turns off all infrared (IR) LEDs of the light source unit 14. In addition, during the display period, the light source control unit 24 performs red (R), red (R), red (R) LEDs, green (G) LEDs, and blue (B) LEDs in order of the light source unit 14. The control of sequentially turning on the green (G) and blue (B) LEDs in a short time is repeated. In addition, during the display period, the display control unit 23 synchronizes with the lighting of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs in accordance with the received image data in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12. The opening degree of each MEMS shutter 121 is controlled, and an image is displayed on the display area 124 of the touch panel display 1. During the display period, the opening degree of each MEMS shutter 121 in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 is controlled when each of the MEMS shutters 121 in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 is turned on when the red (R) LED is lit. The opening is controlled to an opening corresponding to the size of the red (R) component of the pixel displayed at the position of the MEMS shutter 121, and when the green (G) LED is lit, the display on the shutter panel 12 The opening degree of each MEMS shutter 121 in the region 124 is controlled to an opening degree corresponding to the size of the green (G) component of the pixel displayed at the position of the MEMS shutter 121, and the blue (B) LED is turned on. When the position of the MEMS shutter 121 in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 is large, the blue (B) component of the pixel displayed at the position of the MEMS shutter 121 is large. Performed by controlling the opening degree corresponding to the.

In addition, during the display period, the display control unit 23 sets the opening of each MEMS shutter 121 in the shutter panel detection area to 0, and blocks light from passing through the detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12.
Next, during the blanking period, the light source control unit 24 turns off all of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs of the light source unit 14 and turns off all of the light source units 14. Turn on the infrared (IR) LED.

  Further, during the blanking period, the display control unit 23 sets the opening of each MEMS shutter 121 in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12 to 0, and blocks light from passing through the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12. During the blanking period, the display control unit 23 controls the opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12.

The opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection area 123 of the shutter panel 12 is controlled as follows.
That is, a small detection light emission area is set in the left detection area 123, and the detection light incidence area is set in the right detection area 123 so that the detection light emission area and the detection light incidence area face each other in the left-right direction. And the process of opening the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area of the shutter panel 12 at the maximum opening, the vertical position of the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area is set to the uppermost position. It repeats while changing at predetermined intervals from the lowest position to the lowest position. Here, the detection light incident area is set to be somewhat wider in the vertical direction than the detection light emission area.

  In addition, a small detection light emission area is set in the lower detection area 123, and the detection light incidence area is set in the upper detection area 123 so that the detection light emission area and the detection light incidence area face each other in the vertical direction. The process of setting and opening the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area of the shutter panel 12 at the maximum opening degree, the left and right positions of the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area are set to the leftmost position. Repeat while changing from to the rightmost position. Here, the detection light incident area is set to be somewhat wider in the left-right direction than the detection light emission area.

Of the MEMS shutters 121 in the detection region 123, the opening degree of the MEMS shutters 121 other than the MEMS shutter 121 that opens at the maximum opening degree as described above is set to zero.
During the blanking period, the touch coordinate calculation unit 25 acquires the presence / absence of infrared light detection of each infrared photodiode (PD) located behind the detection light incident area.
When the touch coordinate calculation unit 25 acquires the presence / absence of detection of infrared light of all the infrared photodiodes (PD) of the X light receiving unit 151 and the Y light receiving unit 152 during the blanking period, each infrared photodiode is obtained. The coordinates at which the user touches the shutter panel 12 are calculated from the pattern of whether or not infrared light is detected in (PD), and the calculated coordinates are notified to the TD driver 31 via the touch panel interface 22.

Here, FIG. 7 shows an example of the touch coordinate detection operation performed during the blanking period.
As shown in FIGS. 7 a 1 and a 2, in the blanking period, with all the infrared (IR) LEDs of the light source unit 14 lit, the shutter panel 12 has a detection light emission region in the detection region 123 on the left side, Infrared photodiodes (PD) located behind the detection light incident region of the X light receiving unit 151 are allowed to pass infrared light only in the detection light incident region facing the detection light emitting region in the right detection region 123 in the left-right direction. The process of detecting the presence or absence of light reception in is repeated while changing the vertical positions of the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area from the uppermost position to the lowermost position at predetermined intervals.

  In each drawing of FIG. 7, a square filled with black represents a detection light emission region. Further, in each figure of FIG. 7, a circle filled with black represents an infrared photodiode (PD) behind the detection light incident area. In this example, the size / position of the detection light incident area is expressed as follows: It shows a case where two infrared photodiodes (PD) are set behind the detection light incident area.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7a3, when the user's finger touching the transparent protective plate 13 on the shutter panel 12 is located at a position where the position in the vertical direction overlaps the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area, The two infrared photodiodes (PD) of the X light receiving unit 151 located behind the detection light incident area do not detect light. Therefore, the Y coordinate (vertical coordinate) of the position touched by the user can be obtained from the vertical position of the infrared photodiode (PD) that has not detected this light.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7b1 and b2, in the blanking period, the detection light emission in the lower detection region 123 is emitted to the shutter panel 12 with all the infrared (IR) LEDs of the light source unit 14 turned on. Infrared photodiodes that allow infrared light to pass only through the detection light incident region of the Y light receiving unit 152 and the detection light incident region in the upper detection region 123 that vertically opposes the detection light emission region The process of detecting the presence or absence of light reception in (PD) is repeated while changing the left and right positions of the detection light emitting area and the detection light incident area from the leftmost position to the rightmost position at predetermined intervals.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7b3, when the user's finger touching the transparent protective plate 13 on the shutter panel 12 is located at a position where the position in the left-right direction overlaps the detection light emission area and the detection light incident area, The two infrared photodiodes (PD) of the Y light receiving unit 152 located behind the detection light incident area do not detect light. Therefore, the X coordinate (the horizontal coordinate) of the position touched by the user can be obtained from the horizontal position of the infrared photodiode (PD) that has not detected this light.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
In the above embodiment, the touch coordinate detection operation is performed during the blanking period. This is because the touch coordinate detection operation is performed in parallel with the image display during the display period in which the image is displayed on the touch panel display 1. You may make it perform.

That is, in this case, as shown in the sequence of FIG. 8, the display operation of the touch panel display 1 and the touch coordinate detection operation are performed.
That is, during the display period, the light source control unit 24 performs red (R), red (R), red (R) LEDs, green (G) LEDs, and blue (B) LEDs in order of the light source unit 14. The control of sequentially turning on the green (G) and blue (B) LEDs in a short time is repeated, and at the same time, the infrared (IR) LEDs of the light source unit 14 are turned on in order for a short time. .

  On the other hand, during the display period, the display control unit 23 synchronizes with the lighting of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs in accordance with the received image data in the display area 124 of the shutter panel 12. The opening degree of each MEMS shutter 121 is controlled, and an image is displayed on the display area 124 of the touch panel display 1. Further, in parallel with the display of the image, the display control unit 23 synchronizes with the lighting of the infrared (IR) LED, and adjusts the opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection region 123 of the shutter panel 12 as described above. Control is performed in the same manner as the control operation of the opening degree of the MEMS shutter 121 in the detection region 123 during the ranking period.

  Then, during the display period, the touch coordinate calculation unit 25 determines whether or not each infrared photodiode (PD) detects infrared light in the same manner as the operation for acquiring whether or not infrared light is detected during the above-described blanking period. The coordinates at which the user touches the shutter panel 12 are calculated from the pattern of presence / absence of infrared light detection of each infrared photodiode (PD), and the calculated coordinates are obtained via the touch panel interface 22 through the TD. The driver 31 is notified.

  In the sequence shown in FIG. 8, even if the touch coordinate detection operation is performed in parallel with the image display during the display period in which the image is displayed on the touch panel display 1, the infrared rays are invisible light. Does not affect the display. Further, since only the infrared light component of the infrared photodiode (PD) is detected, the display of the image on the touch panel display 1 does not affect the detection of the touch coordinates.

Further, in the above embodiment, touch coordinate detection is performed when it is possible to secure a certain degree of narrow directivity in the course changing direction of the infrared light whose course is changed by the exit side X right angle prism 161 and the exit side Y right angle prism 162. During the operation, all the MEMS shutters 121 in the right detection area 123 and the upper detection area 123 may be continuously opened at the maximum opening.
In the above embodiment, in the touch coordinate detection operation, all infrared (IR) LEDs of the light source unit 14 are turned on. However, this is set at each time point of the touch coordinate detection operation. Alternatively, only some infrared (IR) LEDs may be lit in such a manner that illumination from the rear of the detection light emitting area can be sufficiently performed.

  The light source unit 14 uses other invisible light LEDs such as near infrared instead of infrared (IR) LEDs. The X light receiving unit 151 and the Y light receiving unit 152 include infrared photodiodes (PD). Instead of this, another invisible photodiode such as a near-infrared photodiode may be provided.

The light source unit 14 may be provided on the left side of the light guide plate 13.
It should be noted that upper and lower and left and right, left and right, and upper and lower in the above embodiments may be interchanged.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the infrared / invisible light source for touch coordinate detection can be provided integrally with the light source of the backlight for image display, and for the backlight. The light guide plate 13 can be used for guiding infrared / invisible light for touch coordinate detection.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the infrared / invisible light source for touch coordinate detection is provided separately from the backlight source for image display, or the infrared / invisible light source for touch coordinate detection. The touch panel display 1 can be reduced in size compared with the case where a dedicated light guide plate is provided for light guiding.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of light emitting elements (LEDs) can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration in which the light emitting elements are arranged along one of the two vertical sides and the horizontal side of the display.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Touch panel display, 2 ... TD controller, 3 ... Operating system, 4 ... Application, 10 ... Housing, 11 ... Protection plate, 12 ... Shutter panel, 13 ... Light guide plate, 14 ... Light source unit, 21 ... Display interface, 22 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Touch panel interface, 23 ... Display control part, 24 ... Light source control part, 25 ... Touch coordinate calculation part, 31 ... TD driver, 121 ... MEMS shutter, 123 ... Detection area, 124 ... Display area, 151 ... X light-receiving unit, 152 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS Y light reception unit 161 ... Outgoing side X right angle prism, 162 ... Outgoing side Y right angle prism, 171 ... Incident side X right angle prism, 172 ... Incident side Y right angle prism

Claims (15)

A touch panel display that performs display of an image and detection of touch coordinates that are coordinates of a position touched by a user,
A shutter panel in which a plurality of shutters capable of controlling the amount of light passing in the front-rear direction are arranged;
A light guide plate that converts incident light into light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear side; and
A light source unit for emitting visible light and invisible light to the inside of the light guide plate;
A light receiving unit that is provided along the first side surface of the light guide plate and detects reception of invisible light at each position on the axis along the first side surface;
An emission-side optical unit provided in front of a detection light emission region that is a region of an end portion on a second side surface that is a side surface facing the first side surface of the shutter panel;
The exit-side optical unit converts a path of invisible light that has passed through the shutter in the detection light exit area into a path that passes through the front of the front surface of the shutter panel and travels toward the first side surface of the shutter panel. ,
The touch panel display is characterized in that the light receiving unit detects the reception of invisible light having passed through the front of the shutter panel, the path being changed by the emission side optical unit. The touch panel display according to claim 1,
An incident-side optical unit provided in front of a detection light incident area which is an area of the first side surface side of the shutter panel;
The light receiving unit is disposed behind the detection light incident area,
In the incident side optical unit, the path is changed by the output side optical unit, and the path of invisible light passing through the front of the shutter panel is converted into a path going backward,
The touch panel display, wherein the light receiving unit detects the reception of invisible light that has been changed in path by the incident side optical unit and has passed through a shutter in the detection light incident area of the shutter panel. The touch panel display according to claim 1 or 2,
The light source unit is arranged along a third side surface of the light guide plate, which is a side surface different from the first side surface and the second side surface. A plurality of sets, each of which is arranged side by side along the third side surface of the light guide plate,
The touch panel display, wherein the light receiving unit includes a photodiode that detects light reception of a plurality of invisible lights arranged along the first side surface of the light guide plate. The touch panel display according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
A part of the detection light emitting area of the shutter panel is set as a target area, and the target area is changed in the direction along the second side surface, and at least the target area is passed through the light guide plate to the light source unit. Invisible light that is illuminated from behind is emitted, light that illuminates the target area from behind is passed through the shutter panel, and the presence or absence of invisible light that has passed through the target area is detected in the light receiving unit, and the light reception is performed. A touch panel display, comprising: a controller that detects the touch coordinates based on a detection pattern of whether or not the unit receives invisible light. A touch panel display that performs display of an image and detection of touch coordinates that are coordinates of a position touched by a user,
The up / down / left / right direction of the image displayed by the touch panel display is the up / down / left / right direction of the touch panel, the direction in which the touch panel display presents an image is the front, the reverse direction of the front is the back direction,
One of the left and right directions of the touch panel is the first direction, the other is the second direction, one of the upper and lower directions of the touch panel is the third direction, and the other is the fourth direction.
The touch panel display
A shutter panel including a plurality of shutters arranged in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, each having a shutter capable of controlling the amount of light passing in the front-rear direction;
At least one of the side surface on the first direction side and the side surface on the third direction side disposed on the rear side of the shutter panel is used as a light source light incident side surface, and light incident from the light source light incident side surface is the shutter. A light guide plate that converts light into the light that illuminates the panel from the back,
A light source unit that is provided along the light source light incident side surface of the light guide plate and emits visible light and invisible light from the light source light incident side surface to the inside of the light guide plate;
A first light receiving unit that is provided along a side surface of the light guide plate on the second direction side and detects the reception of invisible light at each position in the vertical direction;
A second light receiving unit that is provided along a side surface of the light guide plate on the fourth direction side and detects reception of invisible light at each position in the left-right direction;
A first emission side optical unit provided in front of a first direction side end region which is an end region on the first direction side of the shutter panel;
A second emission side optical unit provided in front of a third direction side end region which is a region of the third direction side end of the shutter panel;
The first emission side optical unit converts a path of invisible light that has passed through the first direction side end region of the shutter panel into a path toward the second direction,
The second emission side optical unit converts a path of invisible light that has passed through the third direction side end region of the shutter panel into a path toward the fourth direction,
The first light receiving unit detects light reception of invisible light whose path is changed by the first emission side optical unit and passes in front of the shutter panel in the left-right direction;
The touch panel display, wherein the second light receiving unit detects the reception of invisible light passing through the front of the shutter panel in the up and down direction by changing the path by the second emission side optical unit. The touch panel display according to claim 5,
A first incident-side optical unit provided in front of a second direction-side end region that is an end region on the second direction side of the shutter panel so as to face the first emission-side optical unit in the left-right direction; ,
A second incident-side optical unit provided in front of a fourth direction-side end region that is an end region on the fourth direction side of the shutter panel so as to face the second emission-side optical unit in the vertical direction; Have
The first light receiving unit is disposed behind the second direction side end region of the shutter panel,
The second light receiving unit is disposed behind the end region on the fourth direction side of the shutter panel,
In the first incident side optical unit, the path is changed by the first emission side optical unit, and the path of the invisible light that has reached the first incident side optical unit is converted into a path toward the rear,
The second incident-side optical unit has its path changed by the second emission-side optical unit, and converts the path of invisible light that has reached the second incident-side optical unit into a path toward the rear,
The first light-receiving unit detects light reception of invisible light that has been changed in path by the first incident-side optical unit and has passed through the second direction side end region of the shutter panel;
The touch panel display, wherein a path of the second light receiving unit is changed by the second incident-side optical unit and invisible light that has passed through an end region on the fourth direction side of the shutter panel is detected. The touch panel display according to claim 5,
A part of the shutter panel in the first direction side end region is set as a target region, and the target region is changed at least in the first direction side end region while changing the target region in the vertical direction. Invisible light that is illuminated from behind is emitted through the light guide plate, and for the shutter in the first direction side end region to the shutter panel, to the shutter in the target region in the first direction side end region. And detecting the presence or absence of receiving invisible light at a position facing the target region in the first direction side end region in the left-right direction using only the first light receiving unit,
A part of the shutter panel in the third direction side end region is set as a target region, and the target region is changed at least in the third direction side end region while changing the target region in the left-right direction. Invisible light that is illuminated from behind is emitted through the light guide plate, and for the shutter in the third direction side end region to the shutter panel, the shutter in the target region in the third direction side end region is sent to the shutter panel. Detecting the presence or absence of reception of invisible light at a position facing the target region in the third direction side end region in the vertical direction using the second light receiving unit.
A touch panel display, comprising: a controller that performs a touch coordinate detection operation for detecting the touch coordinates based on whether or not invisible light is detected at each position detected using the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit. The touch panel display according to claim 6,
A part of the shutter panel in the first direction side end region is set as a target region, and the target region is changed at least in the first direction side end region while changing the target region in the vertical direction. Invisible light that is illuminated from behind is emitted through the light guide plate, and for the shutter in the first direction side end region to the shutter panel, to the shutter in the target region in the first direction side end region. For the shutter in the second direction side end region, the light is allowed to pass only through the shutter in the region facing the target region in the first direction side end region in the left-right direction. Detecting whether or not invisible light is received at a position facing the target region in the first direction side end region in the left-right direction using one light receiving unit;
A part of the shutter panel in the third direction side end region is set as a target region, and the target region is changed at least in the third direction side end region while changing the target region in the left-right direction. Invisible light that is illuminated from behind is emitted through the light guide plate, and for the shutter in the third direction side end region to the shutter panel, the shutter in the target region in the third direction side end region is sent to the shutter panel. For the shutter in the fourth direction side end region, the light is allowed to pass only through the shutter in the region facing the target region in the third direction side end region in the vertical direction. Two light receiving units to detect the presence or absence of receiving invisible light at a position facing the target region in the third direction side end region in the vertical direction;
A touch panel display, comprising: a controller that performs a touch coordinate detection operation for detecting the touch coordinates based on whether or not invisible light is detected at each position detected using the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit. The touch panel display according to claim 7,
The controller causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from behind without emitting invisible light, and displays an image to be displayed in the first direction side end region and the third direction side end region. The display operation for controlling the amount of light passing through each shutter in the display region of the shutter panel and the touch coordinate detection operation are alternately performed so as to be formed in a display region excluding at least In a touch coordinate detection operation, the touch panel display is characterized in that light is not allowed to pass through all the shutters in the display area of the shutter panel. The touch panel display according to claim 7,
The controller causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear, and displays an image to be displayed, which is an area excluding at least the first direction side end area and the third direction side end area. A touch panel display, wherein a display operation for controlling the amount of light passing through each shutter in the display area of the shutter panel so as to be formed in the area and the touch coordinate detection operation are performed in parallel. The touch panel display according to claim 8,
The controller causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from behind without emitting invisible light, and to display an image to be displayed in the first direction side end region and the second direction side end region. The amount of light passing through each shutter in the display area of the shutter panel is controlled so as to be formed in a display area which is an area excluding at least the third direction side end area and the fourth direction side end area. A touch panel display, wherein a display operation and the touch coordinate detection operation are alternately performed, and light is not allowed to pass through all the shutters in the display area of the shutter panel in the touch coordinate detection operation. The touch panel display according to claim 8,
The controller causes the light source unit to emit visible light that illuminates the shutter panel from the rear, and displays an image to be displayed in the first direction side end region, the second direction side end region, and the third direction side end region. And a display operation for controlling the amount of light passing through each shutter in the display area of the shutter panel so as to be formed in a display area excluding at least the fourth direction side end area, and the touch coordinate detection A touch panel display characterized by performing operations in parallel. A touch panel display according to claim 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12,
The light source unit has a plurality of sets of LEDs that are primary colors of display on a touch panel display and invisible light LEDs arranged along the side surface for light source light incidence, It is arranged along the side for light source light incidence,
The first light receiving unit has a photodiode for detecting light reception of a plurality of invisible lights arranged in the vertical direction,
The touch panel display, wherein the second light receiving unit includes a photodiode that detects light reception of a plurality of invisible lights arranged in the left-right direction. A touch panel display according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13.
The touch panel display, wherein the shutter is a MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) shutter. A touch panel display according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14.
The touch panel display characterized in that the invisible light is infrared light or near infrared light.