JP2018173696A - Touch sensor apparatus with pressure-sensitive function and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch sensor apparatus with a pressure-sensitive function which has high operability.SOLUTION: A touch sensor apparatus with a pressure-sensitive function includes a first conductive substrate, a second conductive substrate disposed opposite to and spaced from the first conductive substrate, and a detection unit that is connected to the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate, detects a touch position in which a pointing medium touches the second conductive substrate by at least one of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate, by at lease one of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate, and detects pressing force by the pointing medium based on a change in electrostatic capacitance of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate caused by a changed distance between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure sensor-equipped touch sensor device and an information processing device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multi-functionalization of portable information processing devices represented by mobile phones has been promoted, and a configuration in which a display unit provided in a housing functions as a user interface has been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, it is possible to detect an indication position by an indication medium and to detect a pressing force applied to the indication position only by monitoring a change in capacitance. A capacitive position detection sensor is disclosed.

JP 2013-20370 A

  Incidentally, the position detection sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a detection circuit for detecting the indicated position and the pressing force of the front panel. However, the position detection sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot detect the pointing position and the pressing force without pressing the input operation surface with the pointing medium. In addition, it is difficult to perform an operation while maintaining the state where the input operation surface is pushed in, and it is easy to induce an operation mistake.

  Conventionally, in order to give the touch sensor device a pressure-sensitive function, it is necessary to provide a dedicated detection circuit that can detect that the input operation surface is pressed, in addition to the detection circuit that detects the touch position. The manufacturing cost was a factor. In addition, when the pressure-sensitive sensor electrode, the wiring, and the like are provided on the frame of the touch panel device, the area, width, height, and the like of the frame portion increase, and thus the touch sensor device cannot be reduced in size.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to achieve both a pressure-sensitive function and a touch position detection function with a simple configuration.

A touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to the present invention includes a first conductive substrate, a second conductive substrate disposed opposite to the first conductive substrate, a first conductive substrate, and a second conductive substrate. And the touch position where the pointing medium touches the second conductive substrate is detected by at least one of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate, and the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate are detected. And a detection unit that detects a pressing force by the pointing medium based on a change in capacitance of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate due to a change in the distance between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate.
In addition to the touch sensor device described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display device that displays an image corresponding to a change in touch position detected by the detection unit and pressing force.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect the touch position and the pressing force based on the change in capacitance of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. The first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate may be disposed on the entire surface of the touch sensor device, can follow the configuration of the conventional touch sensor device, and can simplify the configuration of the touch sensor device. . In addition, by arranging the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate on the entire surface of the touch sensor device, there is no need to provide a space for installing the pressure sensitive sensor device on the frame of the touch sensor device, and the touch sensor. The apparatus can be miniaturized.
Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic structural example of the touch sensor apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the touch sensor apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the operation | movement system of the touch sensor apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the touch sensor apparatus which provided the dot spacer between the lower electrode and upper electrode which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the touch sensor apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of a touch sensor apparatus provided with the polarization function part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the touchscreen apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
<Basic configuration of touch sensor device>
First, the configuration of the touch sensor device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a basic configuration example of the touch sensor device 10. A sectional view of the entire touch sensor device 10 is shown on the upper side of FIG. 1, and an enlarged view of the right end portion of the touch sensor device 10 is shown on the lower side of FIG. The touch sensor device 10 can detect the touch position of the input operation surface by a capacitance method, and further has a pressure-sensitive function for detecting that the input operation surface of the touch sensor device 10 is pressed. It is used as an example of a touch sensor device with a pressure sensitive function.

  A lower conductive substrate 11 (an example of a first conductive substrate) is disposed at the bottom of the touch sensor device 10 (lower side in the Z direction in the drawing), and the top of the touch sensor device 10 (in the Z direction in the drawing). A flexible upper conductive substrate 12 (an example of a second conductive substrate) is disposed on the upper side. The upper conductive substrate 12 is disposed opposite to the lower conductive substrate 11 apart from the lower conductive substrate 11. The lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 are both formed in a rectangular shape by a resin plate or a resin film such as glass or polycarbonate bottle. The input operation surface of the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed by directly touching a user's finger or an indicating medium such as an insulating (non-conductive) stylus pen.

  In order to operate a conventional capacitive touch panel device, a conductive stylus pen is required. Therefore, even when the touch panel device is provided with a pressure-sensitive function, the conductive stylus pen is required. On the other hand, in touch sensor device 10 according to the present embodiment, not only a conductive stylus pen but also an insulating (non-conductive) stylus pen can be used for a pressing operation. And also in the touch panel apparatus 30 (refer FIG. 7 mentioned later) provided with this touch sensor apparatus 10, it becomes possible to touch-operate using an insulating (nonelectroconductive) stylus pen.

  Hereinafter, it is assumed that the user's finger touches and pushes the upper conductive substrate 12 as an instruction medium. A top plate 33 shown in FIG. 7 to be described later may be provided on the upper conductive substrate 12 for the purpose of decoration, strength improvement, and durability improvement. In this case, the upper conductive substrate 12 is pushed in by applying a pressing force when the finger pushes the top plate 33 to the upper conductive substrate 12.

  A lower electrode 13 (an example of a first electrode) is disposed on the lower conductive substrate 11, and an upper electrode 14 (an example of a second electrode) is disposed below the upper conductive substrate 12. The lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are an X-coordinate touch electrode and a Y-coordinate touch electrode for detecting a touch position on the XY plane when a finger directly or indirectly touches the input operation surface of the upper conductive substrate 12. Used as For this reason, the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are disposed in the same manner as a general touch sensor electrode configured by a linear or diamond type touch sensor device. Note that the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 may be orthogonal to each other as long as they intersect each other, or may be configured to be not orthogonal. The lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are also used as pressure-sensitive sensor electrodes for detecting that a pressing force has been applied to the upper conductive substrate 12 when approaching each other.

  The lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are made of a transparent conductive film (for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)), a metal mesh, a metal nanowire (for example, Ag-NW (Nano Wire)), a carbon nanotube (C-NT: Carbon NanoTube). ) Or the like. The lower electrode 13 may be formed directly on the lower conductive substrate 11 or may be formed on a substrate other than the lower conductive substrate 11 and then bonded to the lower conductive substrate 11. . Similarly, the upper electrode 14 may be formed directly under the upper conductive substrate 12, or after being formed on a substrate other than the upper conductive substrate 12, the upper electrode 14 is bonded to the lower conductive substrate 12. Also good.

  Between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14, a spacer 15 (an example of an interval maintaining member) for maintaining the interval between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 is disposed. The position where the spacer 15 is disposed is an end portion of the touch sensor device 10. When the touch sensor device 10 is configured to be included in the touch panel device 30 (see FIG. 7), the spacer 15 is disposed on the frame of the touch panel device 30, and the touch panel device 30 is provided with the spacer 15. There is no need to provide a frame space. An adhesive or the like (not shown) is applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the spacer 15, and is bonded and fixed between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14. However, as shown in FIG. 5 to be described later, if the range in which the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are formed is smaller than the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12, the spacer 15 has the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate. The adhesive substrate 12 is bonded and fixed.

  A space layer 16 having the same height as the spacer 15 is provided between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14. The space layer 16 is provided so that when the upper conductive substrate 12 is pushed down, the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are deformed and easily approach each other. When the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are not deformed as shown in FIG. 2C to be described later, the spacer 15 is deformed so that the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are easily brought close to each other. Provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2D described later, the space layer 16 is provided even when any of the lower electrode 13, the upper electrode 14, and the spacer 15 is deformed. The space layer 16 need not be filled with anything, but is filled with a liquid that does not hinder the deformation of the upper electrode 14 when the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed, a transparent resin having flexibility, or the like. May be. In this case, a liquid or transparent resin filled in the space layer 16 is disposed on the entire surface of the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12, and is used as an example of a flexible interval maintaining member.

  The detection unit 1 is connected to a lower electrode 13 included in the lower conductive substrate 11 and an upper electrode 14 included in the upper conductive substrate 12. The detection unit 1 detects the touch position where the pointing medium touches the second conductive substrate by at least one of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate, and the first conductive substrate 11 and the second conductive substrate The pressing force by the indicating medium is detected based on the change in capacitance of the first conductive substrate 11 and the second conductive substrate 12 due to the change in the distance between the two conductive substrates 12. The electrostatic capacity method includes a projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) and a self-capacitance method. In the present specification, the projected capacitance method and the mutual capacitance method are used in the same meaning, and are described as a projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) in the following description. The detection unit 1 includes a projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) that detects a change in capacitance between the first conductive substrate 11 and the second conductive substrate 12, and the first conductive substrate 11 or the second conductive substrate 11. The self-capacitance method for detecting a change in capacitance of the conductive substrate 12 is switched in a short time. For this reason, the detection unit 1 can detect the touch position in the same manner as a conventional capacitive touch panel even when the input operation surface is hardly pressed. Moreover, the detection part 1 can also detect the several location pressed, when the several location is pressed. The detection unit 1 is configured by hardware or firmware. When detecting the change in capacitance, the detection unit 1 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the change in capacitance to the signal processing unit 2.

  The signal processing unit 2 performs predetermined processing based on the detection signal input from the detection unit 1. For example, the signal processing unit 2 may output a control signal to an electronic device (not shown) connected to the touch sensor device 10. Although the detection unit 1 and the signal processing unit 2 are also connected to the touch sensor device 10 in FIG. 2 and subsequent figures, the detection unit 1 and the signal processing unit 2 are illustrated in FIG. Is omitted.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example of the touch sensor device 10. There are several configurations of the touch sensor device 10 in which the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 approach when the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed.
FIG. 2A shows a state where the finger is not in contact with the input operation surface of the upper conductive substrate 12 and the upper conductive substrate 12 is not pressed.

2B to 2D show a state where the finger presses the upper conductive substrate 12.
If the upper conductive substrate 12 shown in FIG. 2B has flexibility and the spacer 15 has rigidity, only the portion where the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed with a finger is deformed downward by a distance d1. And since the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 of this part adjoin, and an electrostatic capacitance changes, the detection part 1 can detect the change of an electrostatic capacitance.

  In the touch sensor device 10A shown in FIG. 2C, the flexible upper conductive substrate 12 of the touch sensor device 10 is replaced with a rigid upper conductive substrate 12A, and the rigid spacer 15 is replaced with an elastic spacer 15A. It has been replaced with. In this case, since the upper conductive substrate 12A is not deformed when pressed, the spacer 15A, which is an elastic body, is compressed and deformed by the upper conductive substrate 12A. Since the upper conductive substrate 12A is pushed down by the distance d2 and the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 come close to each other and the capacitance changes, the detection unit 1 can detect the change in the capacitance.

  A touch sensor device 10B shown in FIG. 2D is obtained by replacing the rigid spacer 15 constituting the touch sensor device 10 with an elastic body 15A having elasticity. In this case, when pressed, the elastic spacer 15A is compressed and deformed, and further, the portion of the upper conductive substrate 12 pressed by the finger is deformed downward, whereby the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed. This part is pushed down by the distance d3. Since the electrostatic capacity changes due to the proximity of the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14, the detection unit 1 can detect a change in the electrostatic capacity.

<Operation method of touch sensor device>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation method of the touch sensor device. FIG. 3 (1) shows an example of operation of a conventional projected capacitance type (mutual capacitance type) touch sensor device, and FIG. 3 (2) shows an example of operation of a conventional self-capacitance type touch sensor device. . FIG. 3 (3) shows an operation example of the touch sensor device 10 of the present embodiment. However, in the conventional touch sensor device shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the Y coordinate touch electrode is usually not close to the X coordinate touch electrode. The Y coordinate touch electrode will be described as approaching.

  The projected capacitance type (mutual capacitance type) touch sensor device shown in FIG. 3A includes an X coordinate touch electrode and a Y coordinate touch electrode. A detection unit included in the projected capacitive touch sensor device detects that a plurality of locations are touched (multi-touch) based on outputs from the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode. On the other hand, the detection unit provided in the touch sensor device shown in FIG. 3B detects that one place is touched (single touch) by the self-capacitance method.

  Here, the electrostatic capacitance between two opposing X-coordinate touch electrodes and Y-coordinate touch electrodes can be calculated by the following equation (1).

C = ε ₀ ε _r S / d (1)
C: capacitance, ε ₀ : dielectric constant of vacuum, ε _r : relative permittivity between X coordinate touch electrode and Y coordinate touch electrode, S: opposed area of X coordinate touch electrode and Y coordinate touch electrode, d: X Distance between coordinate touch electrode and Y coordinate touch electrode

  Expression (1) indicates that the capacitance increases as the opposing area of the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode increases or as the distance between the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode decreases. In the conventional touch sensor device, it has been detected that the input operation surface is pressed and is pressed based on the capacitance that increases as the distance between the two electrodes decreases.

  In the projected-capacitance-type (mutual-capacitance-type) pressure-sensitive sensor device shown in FIG. 3 (1), if the input operation surface is not touched (non-touch) at times t0 to t1, the capacitance is the reference. Same as value. However, when the input operation surface is touched at time t1 to t2 with almost no pressing force, the capacitance decreases. This is because the charges of the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode are moved by the finger touched on the input operation surface. When the input operation surface is pushed in at time t2 to t3 and the pressing force becomes approximately 1N, the distance between the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode becomes short, and the capacitance increases. Further, when the input operation surface is pushed in at time t3 to t4 and the pressing force becomes approximately 5N, the distance between the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode is further shortened, and the capacitance is increased. When the finger is removed from the input operation surface at time t4, the input operation surface is not touched, and the capacitance returns to the reference value.

  In the self-capacitance type pressure-sensitive sensor device shown in FIG. 3B, the capacitance is the same as the reference value if the input operation surface is not touched (non-touch) at time t0 to t1. . However, when the input operation surface is touched at times t1 to t2, the capacitance increases. This is formed by a capacitive element formed by either an X-coordinate touch electrode or a Y-coordinate touch electrode constituting a self-capacitance type pressure-sensitive sensor device or a specific potential, and a user's finger and electrode. This is because the capacitance elements are parallel and the capacitance of each capacitance element is added when the finger touches the electrode. Then, when the input operation surface is pushed in at times t2 to t3, and the input operation surface is pushed further at times t3 to t4, the capacitance also increases. When the finger is removed from the input operation surface at time t4, the input operation surface is not touched, and the capacitance returns to the reference value.

  Here, in the pressure-sensitive sensor device of the projected capacitance type (mutual capacitance type), the capacitance at times t2 to t3 is the same as the reference value. For this reason, at time t2 to t3, it cannot be determined whether the input operation surface is not touched or the input operation surface is pressed. In addition, the projection capacitive type (mutual capacitive type) pressure sensitive sensor device has a substrate or the like sandwiched between the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode. It is a structure which cannot make it approach and detect a pressing force. Further, the self-capacitance type pressure-sensitive sensor device can detect only one touch position and does not support multi-touch.

  Therefore, the detection unit 1 of the touch sensor device 10 according to the present embodiment switches between the projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) and the self-capacitance method in a short time. At this time, when the finger touches the second conductive substrate 12 with no pressing force applied (time t1 to t2), the detection unit 1 sets a new reference value lower than the original reference value. This new reference value is the same as the value at which the capacitance has changed at times t1 to t2 by the projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) in FIG. 3A, and the finger touches the second conductive substrate 12. The settings are maintained while And the detection part 1 of the touch sensor apparatus 10 of this Embodiment detects pressing force based on the change of the electrostatic capacitance with respect to a new reference value.

For example, at the moment when the input operation surface is touched at time t1, the detection unit 1 of the touch sensor device 10 sets the capacitance value decreased by the projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) as a new reference value. The new reference value is less than the original reference value. Thereafter, the detection unit 1 detects the pressing force based on the capacitance increased from the new reference value. Further, the detection unit 1 detects the pressing force and the touch position by switching between the projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) and the self-capacitance method at high speed.
In the conventional projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) alone, as shown in FIG. 3 (1), when the touch pressing force is 1N (time t2 to t3), the capacitance matches the reference value. It was not possible to detect that a pressing force was applied.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3 (3), the detection unit 1 can detect a touch pressing force of 1N by the projection capacitance method (mutual capacitance method). In addition, the detection unit 1 can detect only one pressing force with the self-capacitance method shown in FIG. 3 (2), whereas in the present embodiment shown in FIG. By using the (mutual capacitance method) in combination, it is possible to detect the pressing force at a plurality of locations. And the detection part 1 of this Embodiment will erase | eliminate a new reference value, if a finger | toe leaves | separates from an input operation surface and it becomes impossible to detect a touch position. Thereby, when the finger touches the input operation surface again, a new reference value can be set.

<Other Modifications of Touch Sensor Device>
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the touch sensor device 10 </ b> C in which the dot spacer 15 </ b> B is provided between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14.

  As shown in the upper side of FIG. 4, the touch sensor device 10 </ b> C is configured by providing a plurality of dot spacers 15 </ b> B arranged at predetermined intervals on the entire surface of the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12. The dot spacer 15B is made of, for example, resin. The dot spacers 15B are provided corresponding to the locations where the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 intersect. However, the dot spacer 15B may be provided at a location other than the location where the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 intersect.

  4 shows a state in which the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed by a finger. In the touch sensor device 10 </ b> C, the dot spacer 15 </ b> B is disposed, so that the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed in one place, and the upper conductive substrate 12 is pressed even when the interval between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 is narrowed. In places other than the place, the distance between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 is maintained. And the space | interval between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 narrows only by the pressed location. Therefore, the detection unit 1 has a plurality of distances between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 that are shorter than the distance between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 maintained by the dot spacer 15B. It can be detected for each pressed portion that the portion has been pressed. As described above, in the touch sensor device 10C, by arranging the dot spacers 15B, the detection unit 1 can simultaneously detect that a plurality of places are pressed by the touch positions of the plurality of places.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modification of the touch sensor device.
As described above, since the space layer 16 remains between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 (see FIG. 1), the boundary surface between the upper electrode 14 and the space layer 16 and the boundary surface between the lower electrode 13 and the space layer 16 are present. No light reflection occurs. For this reason, the light transmittance in the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 is reduced. Accordingly, it is conceivable to provide an antireflection member for preventing reflection of light incident from the outside on at least one surface of the lower conductive substrate 11 and at least one surface of the upper conductive substrate 12.

  Therefore, the touch sensor device 10D shown in FIG. 5A has a configuration in which the lower antireflection member 17 is disposed on the lower electrode 13 and the upper antireflection member 18 is disposed below the upper electrode. For example, SVME (registered trademark) is used as the lower antireflection member 17 and the upper antireflection member 18. SVME (Super View Moth Eye) has a function of preventing light reflection by a fine structure (unevenness) formed on PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate). In FIG. 5A, SVME is disposed on the space layer 16 side of the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 (PET is not shown). The lower antireflection member 17 and the upper antireflection member 18 suppress light reflection in the space layer 16 between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14.

  In the touch sensor device 10E shown in FIG. 5B, the lower antireflection member 17 is disposed between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the lower electrode 13, and the upper antireflection member 18 is disposed between the upper conductive substrate 12 and the upper electrode. It is configured. Even in such a configuration, the lower antireflection member 17 and the upper antireflection member 18 suppress light reflection in the space layer 16 between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14.

  The touch sensor device 10 </ b> F illustrated in FIG. 5C has a configuration in which a lower antireflection member 19 is disposed on the lower electrode 13 and an upper antireflection member 20 is disposed below the upper electrode 14. The arrangement itself of the lower antireflection member 19 and the upper antireflection member 20 is the same as that in FIG. 5A, but in FIG. 5C, the materials for forming the antireflection members 19 and 20 are different.

  That is, in the example of FIG. 5C, for example, an AR (Anti Reflection) layer is used as the upper antireflection member 20 and the lower antireflection member 19. The AR layer is a thin film formed on PET, and the AR layer is arranged on the space layer 16 side of the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14. By using the upper antireflection member 20, the phase of light reflected by the upper antireflection member 20 and the phase of light transmitted through the upper antireflection member 20 and reflected by the lower antireflection member 19 are reversed. The light reflected by the upper antireflection member 20 can be suppressed.

  An antireflection film and an AR film may be combined, an antireflection film may be used on one side, and an AR film may be used on the other side. For example, the upper antireflection member 18 in which SVME is disposed under the upper electrode 14 may be disposed, and the lower antireflection member 19 in which the AR layer is formed on the lower electrode 13 may be disposed. Conversely, the upper antireflection member 20 in which the AR layer is formed may be disposed below the upper electrode 14, and the lower antireflection member 17 in which SVME is disposed on the lower electrode 13 may be disposed.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a touch sensor device 10G including a polarization function unit.
The touch sensor device 10 </ b> G includes a polarizing plate 21, an upper retardation plate 23, and a lower retardation plate 22 as an example of a polarization function unit with respect to the touch sensor device 10.
The polarizing plate 21 (an example of a polarizing unit) is disposed on the upper conductive substrate 12. The polarizing plate 21 allows light polarized in a specific direction (for example, linearly polarized light) to pass therethrough.
The lower retardation plate 22 (an example of a first retardation member) is disposed between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the lower electrode 13.
The upper retardation plate 23 (an example of a second retardation member) is disposed between the upper electrode 14 and the upper conductive substrate 12. For this reason, the lower phase difference plate 22 and the upper phase difference plate 23 are disposed so as to sandwich the space layer 16.

  The light that has passed through the polarizing plate 21 is linearly polarized light, and the linearly polarized light passes through the upper retardation plate 23 and the lower retardation plate 22, and becomes circularly polarized light. Then, the circularly polarized light is reflected by the lower conductive substrate 11 and returns to the lower retardation plate 22 and the upper retardation plate 23 in this order to become linearly polarized light. Since the polarization angle of the linearly polarized light is different from the polarization angle of the linearly polarized light that has passed through the polarizing plate 21 from the outside, it does not pass through the polarizing plate 21. For this reason, the reflection by the light which passed the polarizing plate 21 is suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, a configuration of a touch panel device including a touch sensor device will be described.

<Schematic configuration of touch panel device>
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the touch panel device 30.
7 shows an example of a touch panel device 30 (an example of an information processing device) viewed from above. The touch panel device 30 includes a housing 31 having a frame 32, and the touch sensor device 10 is accommodated in the housing 31. The lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 constituting the touch sensor device 10 are arranged on almost the entire surface in the housing 31. In FIG. 7, the positions of the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 in the housing 31 and the position of the frame 32 are indicated by broken lines. The end of the lower conductive substrate 11 is on the frame 32. In FIG. 7, the width of the frame 32 is shown wide to make it easy to identify the frame 32, but the width of the frame 32 actually provided in the touch panel device 30 may be narrow.

  A cross-sectional view of the touch panel device 30 and the touch sensor device 10 is shown below FIG. The touch panel device 30 includes the detection unit 1 and the signal processing unit 2 illustrated in FIG. The detection unit 1 detects that the touch sensor device 10 is pressed based on a change in capacitance between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 of the touch sensor device 10 included in the touch panel device 30. The detection unit 1 outputs a detection signal to the signal processing unit 2. The signal processing unit 2 performs predetermined processing based on the detection signal. For example, the signal processing unit 2 performs control to switch and display an image, an icon, and the like displayed on the display panel 35 (an example of a display device) based on the detection signal. The detection unit 1 and the signal processing unit 2 may be configured to be included in either the pressure sensitive sensor device 10 or the touch panel device 30.

  The top plate 33 protects the inside of the touch panel device 30. A transparent glass substrate, a film, or the like is used for the top plate 33. The surface of the top plate 33 serves as an input operation surface 34 on which a user touches his / her finger for touch input.

  For example, OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) that is a double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the upper surface of the upper conductive substrate 12. For this reason, the upper conductive substrate 12 and the top plate 33 are bonded together via OCA. Further, OCA is also attached to the lower surface of the lower conductive substrate 11. For this reason, the lower conductive substrate 11 and the display panel 35 are bonded together via OCA.

  The end of the lower conductive substrate 11 is disposed on the frame 32 of the housing 31. A region where the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 overlap in a plane is a coordinate detection region on the XY plane. And the display panel 35 is arrange | positioned so that a display area may overlap with a coordinate detection area. In the display area of the display panel 35, the touch position detected by the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 by the image display processing performed by the signal processing unit 2, and the change in capacitance between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14. An image such as a character, a figure, a video, or an icon corresponding to (change in pressing) is displayed. The user can press the top plate 33 and touch the coordinates on the top plate 33 by using, for example, a finger, a conductive stylus pen, or an insulating (non-conductive) stylus pen. It is possible to perform operations.

  By disposing the touch sensor device 10 on the frame 32 of the casing 31 in this way, no pressing force is transmitted to the display panel 35 even when the input operation surface 34 is depressed. For this reason, since current fluctuation does not occur in the display panel 35, the quality of the image displayed on the display panel 35 can be improved.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, when the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are arranged to face each other, a pressing force is applied to the input operation surface and the upper conductive substrate 12 is pushed down, the upper electrode 14 is pressed. Approaches the lower electrode 13 and the capacitance between the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 increases. Thus, since the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are used as pressure-sensitive sensor electrodes for detecting that the input operation surface is pressed, the detection unit 1 can detect the pressure on the input operation surface. . Moreover, since the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are also used as touch sensor electrodes for detecting the touch position on the input operation surface, the detection unit 1 can detect the touch position on the input operation surface. .

  In the present embodiment, the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 are formed over the entire input operation surface, and the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 are also formed over the entire input operation surface. For this reason, the detection unit 1 detects that the input operation surface is pressed from the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 without widening the frame 32 that has been conventionally prepared for providing the pressure-sensitive sensor device. it can. The configuration of the touch sensor device 10 according to the present embodiment is a simple configuration in which a gap is provided between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 as in the conventional resistive film type touch sensor device. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the touch sensor device 10 can be suppressed.

  Further, since an antireflection member is provided between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12, light between the lower conductive substrate 11 and the upper conductive substrate 12 or on the surface of the upper conductive substrate 12. Can be prevented.

  Further, the detection unit 1 can detect the pressing force and the touch position by switching between the projected capacitance method (mutual capacitance method) and the self-capacitance method at high speed. Therefore, for example, even when an input operation is performed using an insulating (non-conductive) stylus pen or the like that cannot be used with a conventional capacitive touch panel device, the detection unit 1 is The touch position can be accurately detected. Further, even if the user wears gloves on the hand, the user can perform a pressing operation and a touch operation without depending on the thickness of the glove fabric.

  Further, the X coordinate touch electrode and the Y coordinate touch electrode used in the conventional capacitive touch sensor device can be used as they are as the lower electrode 13 and the upper electrode 14 of the touch sensor device 10 and the touch panel device 30. . For this reason, the manufacturing process of the touch sensor device 10 and the touch panel device 30 does not need to be significantly changed, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other application examples and modifications can of course be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.
For example, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the apparatus and the system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner. In addition, a part of the configuration of the embodiment described here can be replaced with the configuration of the other embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Is possible. Moreover, it is also possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.
Further, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Detection part, 2 ... Signal processing part, 10 ... Touch sensor apparatus, 11 ... Lower electroconductive board | substrate, 12 ... Upper electroconductive board | substrate, 13 ... Lower electrode, 14 ... Upper electrode, 15 ... Spacer, 16 ... Spatial layer, 17 ... Lower antireflection member, 18 ... Upper antireflection member, 30 ... Touch panel device, 31 ... Housing, 32 ... Frame, 33 ... Top plate, 34 ... Input operation surface, 35 ... Display panel

Claims (13)

A first conductive substrate;
A second conductive substrate disposed oppositely from the first conductive substrate;
A touch position that is connected to the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate and the pointing medium touches the second conductive substrate is determined by at least one of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. Based on a change in capacitance of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate that is detected and a distance between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate changes. A touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function, comprising: a detection unit that detects a pressing force by the indication medium. The detector is
A projected capacitance method for detecting a change in capacitance between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate; and a change in the capacitance of the first conductive substrate or the second conductive substrate. Switch to self-capacitance method to detect
When the change in the capacitance with respect to the reference value of the projected capacitance method due to the indication medium touching the second conductive substrate in a state where the pressing force is not applied is detected by the self-capacitance method, While the pointing medium is touching the second conductive substrate, a value that changes the capacitance detected by the projection capacitance method is set as a new reference value, and the electrostatic capacitance with respect to the new reference value is set. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force is detected based on a change in capacitance. The first conductive substrate includes a first electrode,
The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive substrate includes a second electrode that intersects the first electrode. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 3, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are formed of any one of a transparent conductive film, a metal mesh, a metal nanowire, and a carbon nanotube. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 1, further comprising an interval maintaining member for maintaining an interval between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. The touch sensor with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 5, wherein the gap maintaining member is a spacer having rigidity or an elastic body that is disposed at ends of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. apparatus. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 5, wherein the gap maintaining member is a flexible resin member that is disposed on the entire surface of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. Furthermore, it comprises dot spacers arranged at predetermined intervals on the entire surface of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate,
In the detection unit, a plurality of distances between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate are shorter than a distance between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate maintained by the dot spacer. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 5, wherein the position is detected for each position. The antireflection member for preventing reflection of light incident from the outside is provided on at least one surface of the first conductive substrate and at least one surface of the second conductive substrate. A touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 1. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 9, wherein the antireflection member is any one of a fine structure, a thin film, and a polarization function unit. The touch sensor device with a pressure-sensitive function according to claim 1, further comprising a signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process based on a detection signal input from the detection unit. A pressure sensor touch sensor device and a display device,
The pressure sensor function touch sensor device is:
A first conductive substrate;
A second conductive substrate disposed oppositely from the first conductive substrate;
A touch position that is connected to the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate and the pointing medium touches the second conductive substrate is determined by at least one of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. Based on a change in capacitance of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate that is detected and a distance between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate changes. A detection unit for detecting a pressing force by the indicating medium,
The display device displays an image according to a change in the touch position detected by the detection unit and the pressing force. Furthermore, a signal processing unit that performs predetermined processing based on a detection signal input from the detection unit,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the signal processing unit controls the image displayed on the display device.

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