JP2019036264A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an input device in which a wiring can be drawn to the back surface side of a panel without reducing the detection sensitivity or degrading the design property.SOLUTION: The input device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a supporting base material; a sensor part on the supporting base material, the sensor part having a plurality of electrode parts; a decorative part above the sensor part with a resin interposed therebetween, the decorative part having a decorative layer; a first conductive pattern along the decorative layer; and a conduction connection part between the sensor part and the decorative part. In the input device, the decorative part has an extension part extending to the outer side than to the edge of the supporting base material, and the first conductive pattern is drawn from the position of the conduction connection part to the extension part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device including a touch sensor that detects a position where a finger or the like approaches.

  A touch panel often used as an input device includes a touch sensor that detects a position where a finger or the like approaches a detection area (hereinafter, the approach includes contact). For example, a mutual capacitance type touch panel is provided with a drive-side electrode and an output-side electrode. A drive pulse is applied to the drive-side electrode, and a capacitance change due to the approach of a finger or the like is detected by the output-side electrode. doing.

  In such a touch panel, a flexible wiring board is connected to a peripheral portion of the panel or the like in order to obtain conduction with the detection electrode. Further, in order to prevent the flexible wiring board from being seen from the front side of the touch panel or to connect to a circuit on the back side of the panel, the flexible wiring board is also drawn out to the back side of the panel.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an input device having a sensor film including a conductive layer, a lead-out portion provided extending from the sensor film, and front and back panels. In this input device, the front panel and the back panel are integrally molded with the sensor film, and a support portion for supporting the drawer portion is formed on at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a touch panel manufacturing method in which a decorative film and a sensor film are integrally molded and in-mold molded. In this touch panel, the wiring lead-out portion is pulled out to the side surface of the substrate and pulled out to the back side through a through hole.

  Patent Documents 3 and 4 include a resin part, a touch sensor embedded in the resin part, a holding part embedded in the resin part, and an external connection connected to the touch sensor and partially fixed to the holding part. A component module comprising a unit is disclosed. In this component module, the lead-out portion of the external connection portion is led out in the thickness direction from the resin portion.

  Patent Document 5 uses a male mold for a film substrate on which a circuit pattern is formed, and a step of forming a circuit pattern on at least one of the front surface and the back surface on a film substrate having a front surface and a back surface. Forming the film base so as to follow the outer surface of the male mold, and using a mold that contacts the opposite side of the surface on which the male mold contacts the film base on which the circuit pattern is formed, A method of manufacturing a capacitance sensor is disclosed that includes a step of forming so as to follow a mold.

  Patent Document 6 discloses a touch panel sensor in which a decoration layer is applied and formed on the back surface of a panel by screen printing or the like, and then a sensor wiring layer is transferred and formed on the back surface and patterned by exposure and etching.

JP, 2006-106314, A JP 2014-056565 A JP 2014-035805 A JP 2014-035806 A JP 2014-170637 A JP 2006-031503 A

  In an input device that is a touch panel, in the configuration in which the flexible wiring substrate is sandwiched between the touch sensor and the decorative portion to obtain conduction of the electrodes, a step is generated depending on the thickness of the flexible wiring substrate. When the panel of the input device is integrally formed of resin, distortion is generated in the decorative portion due to this step, which causes the appearance to be affected. On the other hand, in order to make it easy to connect the lead wiring to the back side of the panel, it may be possible to place a touch sensor on the side close to the back side of the panel, but the touch sensor will be far from the panel surface, reducing the detection sensitivity. Invite.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can lead out wiring to the back side of a panel without deteriorating detection sensitivity and without impairing design.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention is provided on a support base, a support base, a sensor portion having a plurality of electrode portions, and a sensor portion via a resin. The decoration part which has a decoration layer, the 1st conductive pattern provided along the decoration layer, the conduction | electrical_connection provided between a sensor part and a decoration part, and conducts an electrode part and a 1st conductive pattern And an input device. In this input device, the decorative portion has an extending portion that extends outward from the edge of the supporting base material, and the first conductive pattern is drawn from the position of the conductive connection portion to the extending portion.

  According to such a structure, since the decoration part which has a decoration layer has the extension part extended outward rather than the edge of a support base material, it extends to an extension part along a decoration layer The first conductive pattern provided so as to be drawn out can be used as a lead-out wiring to the outside which is electrically connected to the electrode part of the sensor part. The first conductive pattern can be formed of a thin film, and even if the first conductive pattern as a lead-out wiring is sandwiched between the sensor unit and the decoration unit, the generation of a step can be suppressed. Since the sensor unit is disposed on the decorative unit side of the support base material, a decrease in detection sensitivity can be avoided.

  In the input device, the conductive connection portion may be an anisotropic conductive adhesive. Thereby, a sensor part and a decorating part are bonded together with resin, and an electrode and a 1st conductive pattern can be reliably connected with an anisotropic conductive adhesive by pressing.

  In the input device, the extending portion and the first conductive pattern may be provided in a shape bent toward the support base material side. Thereby, the 1st conductive pattern electrically connected with an electrode can be pulled out to a panel back surface side with an extension part. At this time, since the first conductive pattern is folded inward, disconnection due to bending is suppressed.

  In the input device, a flexible wiring board may be connected to the extending portion. Thereby, the 1st conductive pattern pulled out with the extension part and an external apparatus (circuit) can be managed with a flexible wiring board, and can be connected well.

  The input device further includes a ground electrode pattern provided along the decorative layer and a second conductive pattern provided along the decorative layer and electrically connected to the ground electrode pattern, wherein the second conductive pattern is a ground electrode. It may be pulled out from the connection position with the pattern to the extending portion. Here, the ground electrode pattern serves as an electromagnetic shield. Since this ground electrode pattern is provided on the decorative portion, it is not necessary to provide a separate shield layer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the input device which can pull out wiring to the panel back surface side, without causing the fall of a detection sensitivity.

It is an exploded perspective view which illustrates the input device concerning this embodiment. It is a model top view which illustrates the sensor part of the input device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic plan view which illustrates the decorating film of the input device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic cross section of a part of the input device according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic cross section which shows a reference example. It is a model top view which illustrates resin. It is a schematic cross section which illustrates the bending state of an extension part. It is a model perspective view which illustrates the bending state of an extension part. It is a disassembled perspective view which illustrates other embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the application example of an input device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the members once described is omitted as appropriate.

(Configuration of input device)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an input device according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating the sensor unit of the input device according to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1 according to this embodiment includes a support base material 15, a sensor unit 10 provided on the support base material 15, and a decoration that is superimposed on the sensor unit 10 in the first direction D <b> 1. A film (decorating part) 20. A surface cover 30 may be provided on the decorative film 20. The input device 1 is a touch panel, for example. The input device 1 is mounted on a display device 100 such as a liquid crystal. In the present embodiment, the front cover 30 side in the input device 1 is also referred to as the front side (front side), and the side opposite to the front cover 30 is also referred to as the back side (back side).

  The sensor unit 10 is, for example, a capacitive touch sensor, and performs position detection by a change in capacitance when a finger or the like approaches the detection area SA. The sensor unit 10 includes a first electrode 11 and a second electrode 12 that are disposed on a support base material 15 such as a molded resin and that are translucent electrode parts provided in the detection region SA of the support base material 15. . The 1st electrode 11 and the 2nd electrode 12 are formed on the base film 110 (refer FIG. 4) mentioned later.

  The base film 110 is a flexible film having translucency such as PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), COP (cycloolefin polymer), COC (cyclic olefin copolymer), or a hard translucent plate such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin. The sensor film is formed by forming a translucent electrode on the base film 110.

  The first electrode 11 extends in one direction along the surface of the base film 110 (for example, the X direction), and the second electrode 12 extends along the surface of the base film 110 and orthogonal to the one direction (for example, the Y direction). Extend to. The first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are insulated from each other. In the present embodiment, a plurality of first electrodes 11 are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the Y direction, and a plurality of second electrodes 12 are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the X direction.

  Although there are various electrode patterns constituting the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12, in the present embodiment, each of the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 has a plurality of island-shaped electrode portions. Each island-shaped electrode part has a shape close to, for example, a rhombus.

Since the 1st electrode 11 and the 2nd electrode 12 are provided in the position which overlaps with detection area SA, they have translucency so that the picture displayed with display 100 can be permeate | transmitted. For this reason, a light-transmitting conductive material (ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), SnO ₂ , ZnO, conductive nanomaterial, mesh-like metal material, etc.) is used for the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12. .

  A terminal portion 155 is provided in a peripheral area outside the detection area SA of the base film 110. The lead pattern 150 that is electrically connected to the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 extends to the peripheral area and is connected to the terminal portion 155. The terminal part 155 is connected to a first conductive pattern 251 described later.

  On the sensor unit 10 (the side on which the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are formed), a decorative film 20 is provided. The decorative film 20 includes a translucent base film 21 and a decorative layer 22 provided on the base film 21. The decorative layer 22 is provided in a peripheral area that is outside the detection area SA. By covering the peripheral area with the decorative layer 22, the drawing pattern 150 and the terminal portion 155 can be prevented from being visually recognized from the outside. Further, a part of the external design can be constituted by the decorative layer 22.

  The decorative film 20 is attached on the sensor unit 10 by a resin 50 (see FIG. 4) described later. The resin 50 is an adhesive layer, and preferably a translucent adhesive such as OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive). However, the lower side of the decorative layer 22 may not have translucency, and a colored resin 50 may be used. A surface cover 30 is provided on the decorative film 20. The surface cover 30 is a thin plate-like member having translucency by glass or plastic.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although the structure which laminated | stacked panel-like and film-like members, such as the support base material 15, the sensor part 10, the decorating film 20, and the surface cover 30, was illustrated in the 1st direction D1, a sensor The member in which the portion 10 and the decorative film 20 are bonded together is integrally molded with resin (IMD: In-mold Decoration, IML: In-Mold Laminating, TOM: Three dimension Overlay Method, etc.) You may shape | mold into the laminated structure (planar type | mold, curved type | mold etc.) which covered the sensor part 10 and the decoration film 20 with resin containing the surface cover 30. FIG.

  In such an input device 1, the first conductive pattern 251 is provided along the decorative layer 22 of the decorative film 20. The first conductive pattern 251 is a conductive pattern that is electrically connected to the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 of the sensor unit 10. The decorative film 20 is provided with an extending portion 25 that extends outward from the edge of the support base material 15, and the first conductive pattern 251 is positioned from the position of the decorative layer 22 to the position of the extending portion 25. Has been pulled out.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating the decorative film of the input device according to this embodiment.
The top view which looked at the decoration film 20 from the back surface (surface facing the sensor part 10) is shown by FIG. For convenience of explanation, only the reference numeral of the decorative layer 22 is shown in FIG. 3, but the decorative layer 22 is provided in the peripheral area outside the detection area SA.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the input device according to the present embodiment.

  The extension portion 25 is provided with a plurality of first conductive patterns 251 and a protective layer 253 that covers the first conductive patterns 251. A pad portion 251a is provided at one end of each of the plurality of first conductive patterns 251 and a pad portion 251b is provided at each other end. In the decorative film 20, a decorative layer 22 is provided on the side of the base film 21 that faces the sensor unit 10. The first conductive pattern 251 is provided on the sensor unit 10 side of the decorative layer 22.

  On the other hand, in the sensor unit 10, a lead pattern 150 that is electrically connected to the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is provided on the base film 110. By overlapping the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20, the first conductive pattern 251 of the decorative film 20 faces the drawing pattern 150 of the sensor unit 10. The terminal part 155 of the lead pattern 150 and the pad part 251a of the first conductive pattern 251 are connected by the conductive connection part 40. An anisotropic conductive adhesive or the like is used as the conductive connection portion 40.

  Such a connection forms a conduction path from the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 to the pad portion 251 b of the first conductive pattern 251 through the lead pattern 150 and the conduction connection portion 40. Since the 1st conductive pattern 251 is pulled out of the edge of the support base material 15 along the extension part 25 from the position of the conduction | electrical_connection connection part 40, the extension part 25 is connected with the exterior (circuit). Therefore, it can be used as a drawer member.

  Since the first conductive pattern 251 is formed on the decorative layer 22 by screen printing or the like, it can be formed into a very thin film. For example, the thickness of the first conductive pattern 251 is 4 μm. For this reason, even if the first conductive pattern 251 is sandwiched between the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20, a step due to the thickness of the first conductive pattern 251 hardly occurs.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a reference example.
In the input device 2 shown in the reference example, a flexible wiring board 80 is used for connection to the lead pattern 150. The flexible wiring board 80 is sandwiched between the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20. At a position sandwiching the flexible wiring board 80, the conductive pattern 82 of the flexible wiring board 80 and the lead pattern 150 of the sensor unit 10 are connected by the conductive connection part 40.

  The flexible wiring board 80 has a configuration in which a conductive pattern 82 and a cover film 83 that covers the conductive pattern 82 are provided on a flexible base material 81 such as polyimide. The thickness of the flexible substrate 81 is about 20 μm, and the total thickness of the flexible wiring board 80 is about 65 μm. When the flexible wiring board 80 having such a thickness is sandwiched between the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20, a step d is generated in the decorative film 20 due to the influence of the thickness. Such a step d causes distortion in the decorative film 20 and affects the appearance.

  On the other hand, in the input device 1 according to the present embodiment, since no base material having a thickness like the flexible wiring board 80 is sandwiched, no step is generated in the decorative film 20. Since the first conductive pattern 251 drawn to the extending portion 25 along the decorative layer 22 is used as the lead-out wiring member to the outside, almost no step is generated in the decorative film 20. In particular, even when the surface cover 30 or the like of the input device 1 is integrally formed with the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20, the decorative film 20 is not distorted due to a step and affects the design. Absent.

  And since a part (extension part 25) of the decoration film 20 can be utilized as a drawer | drawing-out wiring member, it is not necessary to use the flexible wiring board 80 as another component, and reduction of a number of parts can be aimed at.

  Moreover, since the sensor part 10 is arrange | positioned at the decorating film 20 side of the support base material 15, it suppresses the fall of a detection sensitivity compared with the case where the sensor part 10 is provided in the back surface side of the support base material 15 or a position near the back surface. can do.

  In the input device 1 according to the present embodiment, a ground electrode pattern 60 (see FIG. 3) may be provided along the decorative layer 22. The ground electrode pattern 60 is provided, for example, at a position overlapping the decorative layer 22 in the peripheral area of the detection area SA. The ground electrode pattern 60 has, for example, a mesh pattern. A second conductive pattern 252 is provided on the extending portion 25 of the decorative film 20, and is electrically connected to the second conductive pattern 252 and the ground electrode pattern 60.

  The second conductive pattern 252 is at ground potential. As a result, the ground electrode pattern 60 serves as an electromagnetic shield. Since the ground electrode pattern 60 is provided on the decorative film 20, it is not necessary to provide a separate shield layer.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the resin 50.
The resin 50 is provided between the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20 and serves as an adhesive layer for bonding the two together. The resin 50 has a sheet shape, and the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20 are bonded together by heating and pressurizing the resin 50. The resin 50 is provided with holes 50h in the sheet shape before being heated and pressurized. The hole 50h is provided in a rectangular shape, for example.

  When the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20 are bonded together with the resin 50, first, the sheet-like resin 50 is placed on the sensor unit 10. At this time, the terminal portion 155 of the lead pattern 150 is disposed inside the hole 50h. Next, for example, an anisotropic conductive adhesive that is the conductive connection portion 40 is applied to the terminal portion 155 in the hole 50h. Next, the decorative film 20 is placed on the resin 50 in this state. Thereby, the pad part 251a of the 1st conductive pattern 251 of the decorating film 20 and the terminal part 155 are connected by the conduction | electrical_connection connection part 40 in the hole 50h.

  In this state, when the sensor unit 10 and the decorative film 20 sandwiching the resin 50 are heated and pressurized, a laminated structure in which the two are bonded together with the resin 50 is configured. By providing the hole 50h in the resin 50, the terminal portion 155 and the pad portion 251a can be reliably connected to each other by the conductive connecting portion 40 without being blocked by the resin 50. Here, in the case where the resin 50 is formed over the entire formation region and non-formation region of the decorative film 22 in the decorative film 20, it is preferable to use a translucent resin as the resin 50. However, a colored light-shielding resin 50 may be used in the formation region of the decorative layer 22 in the decorative film 20. In this case, a translucent resin can be used for the non-formation region of the decorating layer 22 of the decorating film 20, and a colored resin can be used for the forming region of the decorating layer 22. Furthermore, when the decorative layer 22 is formed over the entire decorative film 20, either a translucent resin or a colored resin may be used as the resin 50.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the bent state of the extending portion.
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the bent state of the extending portion. 8 shows the display device 100 and the front cover 30 that are not shown in FIG.
The extended portion 25 and the first conductive pattern 251 that extend outward from the edge of the support base material 15 can be bent to the support base material 15 side. By this bending, the first conductive pattern 251 is bent inside the extending portion 25. Thereby, the extension part 25 is pulled out to the back side of the support base material 15 together with the first conductive pattern 251. When the first conductive pattern 251 is folded inward, disconnection due to bending is suppressed compared to the case of outward folding.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the surface cover 30 that extends together with the extending portion 25 may be bent. Further, a flexible wiring board 80 may be separately connected to the extending portion 25. As a result, the first conductive pattern 251 pulled out together with the extending portion 25 and an external device (circuit) (not shown) can be well connected by the flexible wiring board 80.

(Other embodiments)
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment.
In the input device 1 </ b> B shown in FIG. 9, a decorative layer 22 is provided on almost the entire surface of the decorative film 20. A button display unit 221 is provided in a part of the decoration layer 22. The button display part 221 may be a part in which the light transmittance of the decorative layer 22 is adjusted, a part in which the color or shape (pattern) is changed from the other part, or a transparent part in which the decorative layer 22 is not provided. It may be a light (eg, transparent) portion.

  At least one of the display device 100 and the light source 200 is provided on the opposite side of the sensor unit 10 from the decorative film 20. For example, the light source 200 is used when the button display unit 221 is a part where the light transmittance of the decorative layer 22 is adjusted or a part where the color or shape (pattern) is changed from the other part. That is, using the light source 200 as a backlight, the button display unit 221 is displayed differently from other parts. Further, when the button display unit 221 is a translucent part, the display device 100 is used. Thereby, the display image of the display device 100 can be displayed on the button display unit 221. The light source 200 may be used when the button display unit 221 is a translucent part. In this case, the light emitted from the light source 200 can be transmitted from the button display unit 221.

(Application example)
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application example of the input device.
FIG. 10 shows an example in which the input devices 1 and 1B of the present embodiment are applied to an instrument panel P and a floor console C of a moving body V such as an automobile.
The sensor unit 10 of the input devices 1 and 1B may be provided continuously from the instrument panel P to the floor console C, or is divided into a part of the instrument panel P and a part of the floor console C. Also good. In the case of being divided, the conduction of the sensor unit 10 divided by the extending portion 25 of the decorative film 20 may be obtained.

  For example, the instrument panel P includes a portion (non-formation region 22b) where the decorative layer 22 of the decorative film 20 is not provided, and the display device 100 is disposed here. A sensor unit 10 is provided on the display device 100 and functions as a touch panel. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the instrument panel P and the floor console C are provided with a button display unit 221 with a decorative layer 22, and the sensor unit 10 and the display device 100 or the light source are provided on the back side of the button display unit 221. 200 is provided. Thereby, displaying a desired design on the button display unit 221 of the decoration layer 22 is realized, and various operations can be performed by touching the button display unit 221.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the input device 1 that can draw out the wiring to the back surface side of the support base material 15 without degrading the detection sensitivity and without impairing the design is provided. It becomes possible.

  Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, those in which the person skilled in the art appropriately added, deleted, and changed the design of each of the above-described embodiments, and combinations of the features of each embodiment as appropriate, also have the gist of the present invention. As long as they are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the moving body V may be other than an automobile, and examples thereof include an aircraft, a ship, and a motorcycle. The input device can be used as an input unit of various devices such as a portable terminal, a personal computer, a household appliance, and a machine tool.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1B, 2 ... Input device 10 ... Sensor part 11 ... 1st electrode 12 ... 2nd electrode 15 ... Support base material 20 ... Decorating film 21 ... Base film 22 ... Decorating layer 22b ... Non-formation area | region 25 ... Extension Part 30 ... Surface cover 40 ... Conductive connection part 50 ... Resin 50h ... Hole 60 ... Ground electrode pattern 80 ... Flexible wiring board 81 ... Flexible substrate 82 ... Conductive pattern 83 ... Cover film 100 ... Display device 110 ... Base film 150 ... Drawing pattern 155 ... Terminal part 200 ... Light source 221 ... Button display part 251 ... First conductive pattern 251a, 251b ... Pad part 252 ... Second conductive pattern 253 ... Protective layer C ... Floor console D1 ... First direction P ... Instrument Panel SA ... detection area V ... moving body d ... step

Claims (5)

A support substrate;
A sensor unit provided on the support substrate and having a plurality of electrode units;
A decorative part provided on the sensor part via a resin and having a decorative layer;
A first conductive pattern provided along the decorative layer;
A conductive connecting portion that is provided between the sensor unit and the decorating unit, and conducts the electrode unit and the first conductive pattern;
With
The decorative portion has an extending portion that extends outward from the edge of the support base,
The input device in which the first conductive pattern is drawn from the position of the conductive connection portion to the extension portion.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive connection portion is an anisotropic conductive adhesive.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion and the first conductive pattern are provided in a shape bent toward the support base.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein a flexible wiring board is connected to the extension portion. A ground electrode pattern provided along the decorative layer;
A second conductive pattern provided along the decorative layer and electrically connected to the ground electrode pattern;
Further comprising
5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive pattern is drawn from a connection position with the ground electrode pattern to the extension portion. 6.