JP4412383B2 - Input device, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

  In recent years, with the spread of small information electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and palmtop computers, liquid crystal devices having a touch panel as an input device on a liquid crystal panel have been widely used ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-43450 A

  By the way, when a liquid crystal device provided with a touch panel is used as a display unit of an electronic device, it is necessary to expose the touch panel to the surface of the casing. In such a structure, a step is formed between the housing and the operation surface of the touch panel (see FIG. 11), and an integrated design with the housing cannot be adopted, so that the degree of design freedom is increased. It will be lower.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and can improve the designability of an electronic device equipped with an input means, and preferably can improve reliability. An object is to provide an electro-optical device.

Input device of the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, an input panel, an accommodating member accommodating portion for accommodating the input panel are provided, one of the input panel that is disposed in the housing part and surface, have a, a flexible member that is bonded over the one surface of the housing member, wherein the input panel, while being housed in the housing portion is secured to the flexible member, The surface of the flexible member located at the boundary between the input panel and the housing member is a flat surface .
According to this configuration, by bonding the flexible member over the input panel and the housing member in a state of accommodating the input panel to the housing portion of the housing member, accommodating the input panel that caused impairing the conventional design The step at the boundary with the member can be eliminated. Thereby, the input device excellent in design property is realizable.
In addition, since the flexible member is arranged on the first main surface side of the input panel, when the input panel has a glass substrate, it prevents the fragments from scattering even if the glass is broken. become able to.
In addition, as the level difference is eliminated, it is possible to eliminate dust that accumulates in the level difference part or when water drops enter from the boundary between the input panel and the housing member, realizing a highly reliable input device. it can.

The second flexible member may be bonded to the opposite side of the flexible member and the input panel.
With such a configuration, since the movement of the input panel in the panel thickness direction is restricted by the second flexible member, the input panel is moved to the back side by the pressing force of the input device or fingers during input operation on the input panel. Can be prevented from being pushed in.

  The flexible member is preferably a film. If the flexible member is a thin film, it is possible to prevent an increase in operating pressure on the input panel, and a high transmittance can be obtained when a liquid crystal panel or the like is displayed through the input panel. High-quality display can be obtained. Further, by forming the second flexible member as a film, the entire input device can be prevented from becoming thick, and an input device that can constitute a thin electronic device can be obtained.

It is good also as a structure which further has the light shielding film arrange | positioned between the said accommodating member and the said flexible member, and has the opening part corresponding to the input part of the said input panel .
By forming the light-shielding film on the film in this way, it is possible to easily form blindfolds of unnecessary portions. In addition, the alignment of the light shielding film can be easily performed. In addition, the design can be improved.
The accommodation member and the input panel are substantially equal in thickness.

It is preferable that the film and the input panel are optically bonded.
With such a configuration, when displaying through the input panel, unnecessary reflection can be prevented from occurring at the interface of the air layer located between the input panel and the film, and the display quality is deteriorated. And a bright display can be obtained.

The flexible member may have an opening in a plane area of the input panel. By providing the opening in the film in this way, the operation surface of the input panel can be exposed, and a comfortable input operation can be performed by reducing the operation pressure. In the present invention, since a thin film is bonded to the input panel and the housing member, a large step is not formed in the film opening, and the operability can be improved without substantially impairing the design.

It is good also as a structure by which the adhesive agent is arrange | positioned between the said input panel and the inner wall face of the said accommodating part.
With such a configuration, since the housing member and the input panel are bonded, the input panel can be supported more stably, and the input panel can be more reliably prevented from being pushed in during an input operation.

The flexible member bonded to the first surface of the input panel may be a polarizing plate.
With such a configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which some optical elements of display means such as a liquid crystal panel arranged on the back side of the input panel are arranged on the front side of the input device.
Not only the polarizing plate but also other optical elements can be arranged on the front side of the input panel. For example, an optical element in which a polarizing plate and a retardation plate are laminated may be disposed, or an antireflection film or a light diffusion film may be disposed.

The receiving portion Ri openings der formed through said housing member, it is a preferred aspect of the opening is flat.
With such a configuration, processing for forming the accommodating portion is facilitated, and the input device can be manufactured at low cost. In the present invention, since the input panel arranged in the housing portion is supported by the flexible member bonded to the main surface of the housing member and the main surface of the input panel, the housing portion itself has a function of holding the input panel. There is no need. Moreover, the influence of the fluctuation of the dimensions (particularly the thickness) of the input panel can be eliminated.

Next, an electro-optical device of the present invention includes an input panel, an accommodating member accommodating portion for accommodating the input panel are provided, and one surface of the input panel that is disposed in the accommodating portion, Bei an input device, and a electro-optical panel disposed on the opposite side of the flexible member of the input device having a flexible member which is adhered over the one surface of said housing member The input panel is housed in the housing portion and fixed to the flexible member, and the surface of the flexible member located at the boundary between the input panel and the housing member is a flat surface. The electro-optical panel is fixed to the input device with a translucent adhesive .
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an electro-optical device capable of performing an input operation and displaying an image via the input panel, in which excellent design can be obtained by the input device according to the present invention.
As the electro-optical panel, various display devices such as a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, and an electrophoretic display panel can be used. Alternatively, a plasma display device or a field emission display device (Field Emission Display: FED) can be used.

It is preferable that the substrate constituting the electro-optical panel and the surface of the input device opposite to the flexible member are optically bonded.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the display light emitted from the electro-optical panel from being reflected by the substrate surface of the input panel constituting the input device, and a bright display can be obtained.

The electro-optical panel may be fixed to the housing member, and the input panel may be sandwiched between the flexible member.
Since the input panel is sandwiched between the electro-optical panel and the flexible member in this manner, the movement of the input panel in the panel thickness direction is restricted. Therefore, when the input operation is performed on the input panel, the input panel is moved to the electro-optical panel side. It can prevent being pushed in.
The translucent adhesive is an adhesive including an elastic body .

  The flexible member may be a polarizing plate. With such a configuration, since the polarizing plate disposed between the electro-optical panel and the input device is disposed outside the input panel, the space on the back side of the input panel can be saved, and a small electronic device can be saved. The electro-optical device can be easily mounted.

  An electronic apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes the input device or the electro-optical device described above. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an electronic device that is excellent in design.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, in each drawing referred to below, the film thickness, the ratio of dimensions, and the like of each component are appropriately changed for easy viewing.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an input device 40A according to a first configuration example of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the input device 40B according to the second configuration example. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the input device 40A shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the touch panel 4.

[First configuration example]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the input device 40 </ b> A according to the present embodiment is disposed in a housing portion 45 a that includes a substantially plate-like cover member 45 in a plan view and a rectangular opening formed in the cover member 45. Touch panel 4 as an analog resistive film type input panel, a main surface 45s (shown on the front side in FIG. 2) as a second main surface of cover member 45, and a first main surface of touch panel 4 And a film 30 as a flexible member adhered over the main surface 4s. A light shielding film 46 formed by, for example, printing is formed on the cover member 45 side of the film 30, and the light shielding film 46 has a rectangular opening 46 a in a plane area corresponding to the input portion 40 a of the touch panel 4. is doing. Therefore, the planar area other than the input part 40a of the touch panel 4 (the planar area from the outside of the input part 40a to the end of the back substrate 11b as the second substrate) is shielded by the light shielding film 46.

The thickness of the touch panel 4 and the thickness of the cover member 45 are substantially the same, and the thickness of the touch panel 4 is set to be within the thickness of the cover member 45. Accordingly, the touch panel 4 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 45a of the cover member 45, and the main surface 4s of the touch panel 4 and the main surface 45s of the cover member 45 are arranged in a substantially horizontal position in a side sectional view. An adhesive (not shown) is provided between the main surface 45 s of the cover member 45 and the film 30 (light shielding film 46), and between the main surface 4 s of the touch panel 4 and the surface of the film 30 on the touch panel 4 side. Are provided with an adhesive 41 for optically bonding the two, and the film 30 and the cover member 45, and the touch panel 4 and the film 30 are bonded to each other.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 1A, the surface of the film 30 that supports the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 is a flat surface without a step. That is, there is substantially no step between the main surface 4 s of the touch panel 4 and the main surface 45 s of the cover member 45.

The touch panel 4 includes a front substrate 8a as a first substrate and a rear substrate 8b as a second substrate that are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap, and the two front substrates 8a and 8b. It is bonded and integrated by a sealing material 9 provided annularly at the peripheral edge.
As shown in FIG. 3, the front-side substrate 8a of the touch panel 4 is a high-resistance film having a uniform planar shape made of a transparent conductive material on the inner surface (surface on the back-side substrate side) of the substrate body 11a that is a transparent base material. Alternatively, a planar electrode 12a as a first electrode is formed, and a pair of low resistance films 13 are formed at both ends in the Y direction of the planar electrode 12a (two opposite ends of the rectangular planar electrode 12a). Is formed. The low resistance film 13 formed on the front substrate 8a is conductively connected to the auxiliary electrode 18 formed on the rear substrate 8b via the conductive material 17, and further connected to the terminal portion 16 via the auxiliary electrode 18. Has been pulled out. The low resistance films 13 and 14 and the auxiliary electrode 18 constitute a wiring part of the touch panel 4 and are formed along the peripheral edge of the front substrate 8a or the back substrate 8b.

On the other hand, the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 has a uniform flat planar high resistance film made of a transparent conductive material or a second surface on the inner surface (front side substrate side surface) of the back side substrate 11b, which is a transparent base material. A planar electrode 12b as an electrode is formed, and a pair of low resistance films 14 are formed at both ends in the X direction of the planar electrode 12b (two opposite side ends of the rectangular planar electrode 12b). It is. A terminal portion 16 connected to the wiring drawn from the low resistance film 13 and the low resistance film 14 is formed at the side edge of the back substrate 8b.
As shown in FIG. 1, a flexible printed circuit board 16a is bonded to the terminal portion 16 via an ACP (Anisotropic Conductive Paste) or ACF (Anisotropic Conductive Film) to electrically connect the terminal portion 16 and an external control circuit. It comes to connect.
In the present embodiment, a planar area corresponding to the area where the planar electrode 12a is formed on the outer side surface of the front substrate 8a is input by instructing the position on the touch panel directly with the coordinate input surface (input instrument 3 or a finger). It is the said input part 40a) used as the operation surface which performs operation.

  A hard glass substrate is used for each of the substrate body 11a and the back substrate 11b constituting the front substrate 8a and the back substrate 8b. By using the front substrate 8a as a glass substrate, the problem of deterioration of the substrate and electrodes as in the case where a plastic substrate is used as the front substrate does not occur. On the other hand, since a hard glass substrate is inferior in flexibility to a plastic film substrate, there is a problem that input cannot be performed sufficiently if the load during input is small. Therefore, in this embodiment, the problem of operability is solved by reducing the thickness of the glass substrate to about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. On the other hand, as the back side substrate 11b constituting the back side substrate 8b, a substrate having the same thickness as a liquid crystal panel or the like is used. For example, in this example, the thickness of the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 is about 0.5 mm.

  The planar electrodes 12a and 12b are made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and have a substantially uniform sheet resistance throughout the entire surface. The low resistance films 13 and 14, the auxiliary electrode 18 and the terminal portion 16 include a metal thin film having high conductivity, such as Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Cr, or any one or more of these metals. It is made of an alloy.

In this embodiment, since glass substrates are used as the substrate bodies of the front substrate 8a and the back substrate 8b, unlike a conventional touch panel using a plastic film substrate, a high-temperature heat treatment or a strongly acidic etching solution is used. Etching treatment is possible. For this reason, in this embodiment, these conductive films (planar electrodes 12a and 12b, auxiliary electrode 18, terminal portion 16 and the like) for detecting coordinate information are all subjected to a vacuum process such as sputtering or vapor deposition. In addition, the low resistance films 13 and 14 and the auxiliary electrode 18 are thinned by an etching process to form a narrow frame wiring portion. For example, when APC (AgPdCu alloy, specific resistance is about 4 × 10 ⁻⁶ Ωcm) is used for the wiring portion, a conventional routing wiring made of silver paste with a thickness of 20 μm and a line width of 1 mm has a thickness of 0 for APC. .2 μm and line width of 0.1 mm. In addition, the specific resistance (Ωcm) of copper, aluminum, and chromium is about 6 × 10 ⁻⁶ , 6 × 10 ⁻⁶ , and 5 × 10 ⁻⁵ , respectively. It is possible to make it thinner by 1 to 2 digits compared to.

A buffer member 15 made of a resin material or the like is arranged on the planar electrode 12b of the back substrate 8b. The buffer member 15 is preferably made of an elastic material such as silicone or urethane (for example, one having an elastic modulus in the range of 1 × 10 ⁴ N / m ² to 1 × 10 ⁸ N / m ² ). It can form on the planar electrode 12b using a printing method. This buffer structure also functions as a spacer for controlling the gap between the front substrate 8a and the back substrate 8b.

  As the film 30 adhered on the touch panel 4, a film material made of a transparent resin material such as polyethylene such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyester, or polypropylene can be used. In the input device 40A, the input device 3 and fingers are slid on the surface of the film 30 during coordinate input operation on the touch panel 4, and display means such as a liquid crystal panel is arranged on the back side of the touch panel 4 (on the opposite side to the film 30). It can also be used as a display device. Therefore, it is preferable that the film 30 can prevent wear due to operation and scratches on the surfaces of the cover member 45 and the touch panel 4 and can obtain good transmittance.

  As an adhesive (pressure-sensitive adhesive) provided between the film 30 and the touch panel 4, various pressure-sensitive adhesives such as acrylic, rubber-based, and silicone-based can be used. In this embodiment, since the film 30 and the touch panel 4 are optically bonded, it is preferable to use a silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesive.

  The light shielding film 46 formed on the side surface of the cover member 45 of the film 30 is a colored film formed by applying a black material or a white material by printing, for example. In the case of the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel functions as a blindfold of the area where the sealing material 9 of the touch panel 4 is formed and the part where the terminal portion 16 is formed, and on the back side of the touch panel 4 (the side opposite to the film 30). When a display means such as is provided, it also functions as a peripheral part for display. The light shielding film 46 may be of any color as long as it has light shielding properties, and may have a pattern.

  The film 30 can be designed not only with the light shielding film 46 but also with any color and pattern. Such a design can be formed on any surface of the film 30, but is preferably formed on the cover member 45 side from the viewpoint of protecting the printed matter.

  The cover member 45 is composed of a plastic plate or a metal plate, and can be used without any problem as long as it is a base material having a predetermined strength. The cover member 45 can be used not only as a support for the touch panel 4 but also as a member constituting an operation panel of an electronic device, for example. In this case, the cover member 45 can be used as an operation unit with a built-in touch panel. When the input device 40A is used as an operation unit of an electronic device, the cover member 45 may be provided with an operation button or a through hole for a switch, and such processing can be easily performed by die cutting or cutting. Can do. Furthermore, since printing can be performed on the film 30, character information such as descriptions of buttons and switches can be printed.

  In the input device 40 </ b> A of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the touch panel 4 is disposed in the housing portion 45 a formed in the cover member 45, and the film 30 extends over the main surface 4 s of the touch panel 4 and the main surface 45 s of the cover member 45. Is provided, the step between the input operation surface of the touch panel 4 and the outer surface of the cover member 45 is eliminated. Thereby, it is an input device that improves the degree of freedom of design as compared with the prior art and obtains excellent design.

  In addition, when there is a step between the touch panel and the housing as in the past, there is a problem that dust accumulates in the step, or water droplets can easily enter the housing from the gap of the step portion when water drops adhere to it. However, in this embodiment, since the entire surface including the cover member 45 is covered with the film 30, dust does not accumulate and the aesthetic appearance is not deteriorated, and water droplets do not enter and cause a failure. It becomes an excellent input device.

  In addition, since the film 30 is attached to the front side substrate 8a of the touch panel 4 made of a thin glass substrate having a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm through the adhesive 41, the front surface is caused by dropping or collision of foreign matter. Even when the side substrate 8a is broken, it is possible to prevent glass fragments from being scattered by the film 30, and an input device with excellent safety can be realized. In particular, in this embodiment, since the film 30 is bonded so as to cover the entire surface including the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45, the film 30 is extremely difficult to peel off, and also in this respect, it is excellent in safety. .

  Furthermore, in the input device 40 </ b> A of the present embodiment, the touch panel 4 is disposed in a housing part 45 a provided through the cover member 45. That is, the cover member 45 does not limit the movement of the touch panel 4 in the substrate thickness direction. Therefore, even if manufacturing variation occurs in the thickness of the touch panel 4, the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 can be bonded to the film 30 so that the surface of the film 30 becomes flat.

Here, the input operation of the touch panel 4 will be described.
In the touch panel 4, an input control circuit (not shown) is connected to the terminal portion 16, and the input control circuit allows the low resistance films 14 and 14 located at both ends in the X direction of the back side substrate 8 b at a certain time. A predetermined voltage is applied between the low resistance films 13 and 13 located at both ends in the Y direction of the front substrate 8a, and voltage measuring means (voltage measuring circuit or voltage measuring element, (Not shown) are electrically connected. At this time, a uniform voltage drop in which the voltage changes linearly along the X direction is generated on the planar electrode 12b of the back substrate 8b, and the parts having the same position coordinate axis in the X direction have substantially the same potential. A voltage distribution such that At this time, when a portion having the coordinate input surface of the front substrate 8a is pressed by the tip of the input device 3, the planar electrode 12a of the front substrate 8a and the planar electrode 12b of the rear substrate 8b come into contact with each other. Through the planar electrode 12a of the side substrate 8a, the voltage of the planar electrode 12b at a position corresponding to the portion pressed by the input device 3 is measured by the input control circuit. Since the measured voltage value correlates with the position coordinate in the X direction of the pressed part, the input control circuit can detect the position in the X direction of the part pressed by the input device 3.

On the other hand, at some other time, a predetermined voltage is applied between the low resistance films 13 and 13 located at both ends of the front substrate 8a in the Y direction by the input control circuit, and both ends of the rear substrate 8b in the Y direction are applied. The voltage measuring means is connected between the low resistance films 14 and 14 located in the section. At this time, a uniform voltage drop occurs along the Y direction on the planar electrode 12a of the front substrate 8a, and a voltage distribution in which the voltage changes linearly is formed. The input control circuit detects the voltage of the planar electrode 12a of the front substrate 8a at the position corresponding to the portion pressed by the input instrument 3 through the planar electrode 12b of the rear substrate 8b, thereby detecting the above-mentioned X. As in the case of the position related to the direction, the position in the Y direction of the pressed part can be detected.
The input control circuit detects the position coordinate value in the X direction and the position coordinate axis in the Y direction of the part pressed by the input device 3 by repeating the switching of the two connection states with respect to the input control circuit within a short time. be able to.

  In addition, since the touch panel 4 of the present embodiment has a structure in which two glass substrates are bonded and integrated with a sealing material, the touch panel 4 can be basically manufactured by the same method as that for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel. For this reason, if a substrate body used for manufacturing the touch panel 4 has a thickness substantially the same as that of the two substrates of the liquid crystal panel, the touch panel 4 manufacturing line can be shared with the liquid crystal panel manufacturing line. Become. However, since the front side substrate 8a needs to be thinned and provided with flexibility for coordinate input operation, after bonding two substrates having a thickness of about 0.5 mm, An etching process may be performed to reduce the thickness to about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. When a thin substrate is used from the beginning of the manufacturing process, it becomes difficult to handle the substrate, the substrate may be cracked during the manufacturing process, and the substrate is weak against mechanical shock. As described above, it is possible to effectively prevent such a problem in the manufacturing process by thinning only the substrate main body 11a on the front surface side after bonding through the sealant 9.

[Second configuration example]
On the other hand, in the input device 40B shown in FIG. 1B, in addition to the adhesive 41 between the touch panel 4 and the film 30, the touch panel 4 is interposed between the touch panel 4 and the inner wall portion of the housing portion 45a of the cover member 45. An adhesive 42 is filled in a frame shape surrounding the. Therefore, the touch panel 4 is fixed to both the film 30 and the cover member 45.

And according to the input device 40B in which the adhesive 42 is disposed between the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45, in addition to the same operational effects as those of the input device 40A described above, the following operations are performed. An effect is obtained.
That is, since the touch panel 4 is supported by the cover member 45 and the movement in any direction of the substrate surface direction and the substrate thickness direction is restricted, the touch panel 4 is pushed into the back side by the input operation of the touch panel 4 or dropped. The touch panel 4 does not move in the housing portion 45a due to an impact such as the above, and an input device having excellent operability and durability can be obtained.

[Third configuration example]
Next, FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an input device 40C which is a third configuration example of the input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a planar configuration of the input device 40C. 4A is a diagram corresponding to FIGS. 1A and 1B, and FIG. 4B is a diagram corresponding to FIG.

  The input device 40C of this example is different from the input device 40B of the second configuration example in that an opening 30a is formed in the film 30 formed across the cover member 45 and the touch panel 4. Therefore, in FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. 1, and the detailed description will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 30 a of the film 30 is formed in a rectangular shape along the edge of the opening 46 a of the light shielding film 46 formed so as to overlap the peripheral edge of the touch panel 4. An opening is provided corresponding to a planar area to be an input operation unit. Therefore, in the input device 40C, an input operation on the touch panel 4 is performed by sliding the input device 3 or fingers directly on the front substrate 8a.

  In the input device 40C of the present example having the above-described configuration, the input operation on the touch panel 4 is performed by directly pressing the front substrate 8a. Therefore, the first embodiment performs the input operation via the film 30. Compared with the input devices 40A and 40B, the operation pressure is lower, and the input operation can be performed comfortably.

  In this example, since the film 30 is partially removed to form the opening 30a, the region where the film 30 and the touch panel 4 are bonded via the adhesive 41 is the touch panel 4 (front side substrate 8a). ). Although the width of the peripheral region depends on the size of the touch panel 4, it is usually possible to ensure at least about several millimeters, so that the adhesive strength between the film 30 and the touch panel 4 can be ensured. However, since the bonding area is smaller and the bonding strength is lower than the input devices 40A and 40B shown in FIG. 1, in the input device 40C of this example, the touch panel 4 and the cover member are the same as the input device 40B. It is preferable to arrange the adhesive 42 in the gap with the cover 45 and bond the cover member 45 and the touch panel 4 together.

  In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the light shielding film 46 formed on the cover member 45 side of the film 30 is formed outside the opening 30 a of the film 30 to bond the film 30 and the touch panel 4. It is preferable that the light shielding film 46 be covered with the adhesive 41. By adopting such a configuration, the light shielding film 46 is not exposed in the opening 30a, so that it is possible to prevent peeling from the interface between the light shielding film 46 and the film 30, and to effectively protect the light shielding film 46. can do.

  Further, in the case of this example, since the front side substrate 8a of the touch panel 4 is exposed, if the substrate body 11a of the front side substrate 8a is a glass substrate, fragments are generated when the glass substrate is damaged due to an impact such as dropping. There is a risk of scattering. Therefore, when adopting the configuration as in this example, it is preferable to use a high-strength glass substrate or plastic substrate as the substrate body 11a of the front substrate 8a. Alternatively, a protective layer may be formed by applying a transparent resin on the surface of the substrate body 11a.

[Fourth configuration example]
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an input device 40D, which is a fourth configuration example of the input device according to the first embodiment, and corresponds to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the input device 40 </ b> D of this configuration example includes the input device 40 </ b> B according to the second configuration example as a basic configuration, and further, the front side polarization as a polarizing plate on the cover member 45 side of the film 30. A plate 6a is provided. The front-side polarizing plate 6a can be used as an optical element of display means such as a liquid crystal panel disposed on the back side (the side opposite to the film 30) of the touch panel 4.

  According to the input device 40D having the above configuration, since the front-side polarizing plate 6a and the film 30 are arranged on the front side of the touch panel 4, the operation pressure of the touch panel 4 is increased as compared with the case of only the film 30. However, the touch panel 4 is more reliably protected. Moreover, scattering of glass can be more effectively prevented even when the touch panel 4 provided with the glass substrate is broken.

  In this example, the front side polarizing plate 6 a is disposed between the film 30 and the light shielding film 46, but the front side polarizing plate 6 a may be disposed between the light shielding film 46 and the cover member 45. Or you may arrange | position the front side polarizing plate 6a in the accommodating part 45a with the touch panel 4. FIG. Furthermore, when the front side polarizing plate 6a has sufficient durability, the front side polarizing plate 6a is used as a flexible member bonded to the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 without providing the film 30. May be.

  Further, not only the polarizing plate but also other optical elements can be arranged between the film 30 and the cover member 45. For example, an optical element (circular polarizing plate) in which a front side polarizing plate 6a and a λ / 4 phase difference plate or a front side polarizing plate 6a, a λ / 4 phase difference plate, and a λ / 2 phase difference plate are laminated is arranged. Also good. Furthermore, you may arrange | position an anti-reflective film and a light-diffusion film.

[Fifth configuration example]
FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an input device 40E which is a fifth configuration example of the input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6A corresponds to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the input device 40E of this configuration example includes the input device 40B according to the second configuration example as a basic configuration, and further, the back side of the touch panel 4 (the side opposite to the film 30). A film 31 as a second flexible member is adhered so as to cover the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45.
Note that the flexible printed circuit board 16 a that pulls out the terminals from the touch panel 4 is drawn to the outside through a slit-like opening provided in the film 31.

  As the film 31, similarly to the film 30, a film material made of a transparent resin material such as polyethylene such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyester, or polypropylene can be used. By bonding the film, it is possible to prevent the entire thickness of the input device 40E from increasing.

  The film 31 is preferably bonded to both the back-side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45, and the film 31 and the touch panel 4 are preferably optically bonded. However, if at least the film 31 and the cover member 45 are bonded, the movement of the touch panel 4 in the substrate thickness direction is regulated by the film 31 and the film 30, so the film 31 and the touch panel 4 are not bonded. Furthermore, there may be a gap between the film 31 and the touch panel 4.

  According to the input device 40E having the above-described configuration, the film 31 is arranged on the back side of the touch panel 4 and the touch panel 4 is sandwiched between the films 30 and 31. It is possible to prevent the touch panel 4 from being pushed in by the pressing force of 3 or fingers.

  In addition to the transparent film described above, the film 31 may be a polarizing plate or a retardation plate. Furthermore, not only a single optical element, but also an optical element (circular polarizing plate) in which a polarizing plate and a λ / 4 retardation plate or a polarizing plate, a λ / 4 retardation plate and a λ / 2 retardation plate are laminated. You may arrange. Furthermore, you may arrange | position a light-diffusion film.

[Sixth configuration example]
FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view of an input device 40F that is a sixth configuration example of the input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6B corresponds to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the input device 40F of this configuration example includes the input device 40E according to the fifth configuration example as a basic configuration, and further, the back side of the touch panel 4 (the side opposite to the film 30). The opening 31a is formed in the film 31 as the second flexible member adhered to the film. The opening 31a is formed with a planar region that substantially coincides with the opening 46a of the light shielding film 46 in plan view.

According to the input device 40F having the above-described configuration, the film 31 is disposed on the back side of the touch panel 4 and the touch panel 4 is sandwiched between the films 30 and 31. It is possible to prevent the touch panel 4 from being pushed in by the pressing force of 3 or fingers.
Further, since the opening 31 a is formed, for example, when a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel is arranged on the back side of the touch panel 4, the film 31 is not disposed in an area where the display is transmitted through the touch panel 4. Since it becomes a structure, the light loss and refraction | bending by the film 31, the reflection in an interface, etc. do not arise, and a bright and high quality display can be obtained.

  In the case of this embodiment, since the opening 31 a is formed in the film 31, the film 31 has a structure that supports the peripheral edge of the touch panel 4. Therefore, it is preferable that the film 31 and the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 are bonded so that the touch panel 4 is stably supported by the film 31.

In addition, the above embodiment illustrates the structure of the input device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: Various changes can be added to the structure of each component.
For example, the touch panel 4 may be configured to include a buffer structure in which a liquid material for refractive index adjustment is enclosed in a space surrounded by the front substrate 8a, the rear substrate 8b, and the seal material 9. As the liquid material sealed between the front side substrate 8a and the back side substrate 8b, it is preferable to use silicone oil or the like whose refractive index difference from glass is smaller than that of air.
When such a liquid material is encapsulated, when display means such as a liquid crystal panel is disposed on the back side of the touch panel, the light emitted from the display means is reflected at the interface between the back side substrate 8b and the space or the space. Since reflection at the interface with the front substrate 8a can be prevented, a bright display that is transmitted through the touch panel 4 can be realized.
Further, by encapsulating the liquid material between the substrates, this functions as a kind of cushion, and when an impact is applied to the front side substrate 8a, it can be mitigated. That is, in this embodiment, since the coordinate input surface of the front substrate 8a is thinner than the plate thickness of other portions, it is weaker to mechanical shock than a normal one. It is possible to supplement the impact resistance by reinforcing the portion by providing the. Considering the above buffer function, the viscosity of the liquid material, for example, in the range of 2mm ² / s~5000mm ² / s.

  Further, for example, a capacitive touch panel can be used instead of the resistive touch panel 4. In the case of the capacitive touch panel, since the thickness is sufficient for almost one glass substrate, the housing portion 45a of the cover member 45 or the cover member 45 itself can be thinned. Thinning can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the touch panel 4 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 45 a formed through the cover member 45 has been described. However, the structure of the accommodating portion 45 a can be variously changed depending on the shape and thickness of the touch panel 4. Is possible. For example, the cover member 45 may be provided with a locking member such as a protrusion protruding into the housing portion 45a, and the movement of the touch panel 4 in the substrate thickness direction may be regulated by the locking member.
Further, in the case where the display unit or the like is not provided on the back side of the touch panel 4, the housing portion 45 a may be a recess formed on one surface side of the cover member 45. If the touch panel 4 is arranged in the housing portion 45a formed of such a recess, the position of the touch panel 4 can be regulated very easily, and the flatness of the surface of the film 30 to be bonded across the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 can be ensured. It becomes easy.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an electro-optical device according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a first configuration example of a touch panel integrated liquid crystal device which is an example of the electro-optical device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device of the second configuration example. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device of the third configuration example.
In this embodiment, the input device 40B according to the second configuration example of the first embodiment or the input device 40D according to the fourth configuration example is described as an input device provided in the liquid crystal device. Instead of the devices 40B and 40D, input devices 40A, 40C, 40E, and 40F of other configuration examples may be used.

[First configuration example]
The liquid crystal device 100A according to the first configuration example shown in FIG. 7A includes the liquid crystal panel 2 as an electro-optical panel which is a display unit, and the previous implementation disposed on the front side (the upper side in the drawing; the observation side). And the input device 40B in the form.
As described above, the input device 40 </ b> B covers the touch panel 4 as an analog resistive film type input panel, the cover member 45 including the housing portion 45 a for housing the touch panel 4, and the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45. Thus, the film 30 adhered to the main surface 45s of the cover member 45 and the main surface 4s of the touch panel 4 is provided.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 includes an adhesive 50 including a light-transmitting elastic body (for example, a light-transmitting elastic body such as silicon gel, acrylic gel, urethane gel, and urethane rubber having a refractive index difference from glass smaller than that of air). Thus, the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 is optically bonded. By configuring the adhesive 50 with an elastic body, the elastic body absorbs the pressing force when an input operation is performed on the touch panel 4, so that display unevenness due to distortion of the substrate of the liquid crystal panel 2 due to the input operation can be suppressed. In order for the elastic body to absorb the pressing force, the thickness is preferably 50 μm to 500 μm.

  In addition, the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 and the front side substrate 24a of the liquid crystal panel 2 are optically bonded with an adhesive 50 including a translucent elastic body, so that the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal are bonded. A gap (air layer) is not formed between the panel 2 and the front substrate 24a. Since the adhesive 50 has a smaller refractive index difference from glass than air, for example, among the ambient light incident from the front substrate 11a side of the touch panel 4, the interface between the surface of the back substrate 11b of the touch panel 4 and the air layer. It is possible to suppress the generation of light reflected at the interface between the air layer and the surface of the front-side substrate 22a of the liquid crystal panel 2, and a clear display with little reflection is possible. In order to obtain such an effect, it is necessary to make the refractive index of the elastic body contained in the adhesive 50 close to the refractive index of the glass substrate or the plastic substrate that constitutes the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2. It is preferable that it is 1.4-1.9.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 includes a front side substrate 22a as a third substrate and a back side substrate 22b as a fourth substrate facing each other with a liquid crystal layer 32 as an electro-optical material interposed therebetween, and a peripheral portion of these two substrates. Are bonded and integrated by a sealing material 23 provided in an annular shape. The front substrate 22a arranged on the observation side has a liquid crystal control layer having a front electrode 26a made of a transparent conductive material, an alignment film (not shown), etc. on the surface of the substrate body 24a which is a transparent substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. With the formed configuration. The back side substrate 22b arranged on the side opposite to the observation side (the side opposite to the front side substrate 22a across the liquid crystal layer 32) is made of a transparent conductive material on the surface on the liquid crystal layer side of the substrate body 24b which is a transparent substrate. And a liquid crystal alignment control layer having an alignment film (not shown) and the like.

  Between the front side substrate 22a and the back side substrate 22b, granular spacers 29 for maintaining a constant distance as a cell gap between the front side substrate 22a and the back side substrate 22b are arranged in a distributed manner. The liquid crystal panel 2 may be either a passive matrix type or an active matrix type, and the liquid crystal alignment form may be various known forms such as a TN type, a VAN type, an STN type, a ferroelectric type, and an antiferroelectric type. Can be adopted. In addition, it is possible to perform color display by arranging a color filter on any substrate. Further, a reflective liquid crystal display device may be configured by forming a reflective film on the back side substrate 22b, and a translucent reflective liquid crystal is formed by forming a transparent portion such as an opening or a slit in the reflective film. A display device can also be configured.

  The front substrate 22a is provided with an overhanging portion 24c that protrudes to the outer peripheral side of the back substrate 22b. This overhanging portion 24c is used as a mounting terminal forming region. A wiring pattern (not shown) is formed on the overhanging portion 24c. The front side electrode 26a of the front side substrate 22a and the back side electrode 26b of the back side substrate 22b are connected via a wiring pattern and a conductive material (not shown). It is electrically connected to the wiring pattern of the overhang portion 24c. A liquid crystal driving IC 36 as an electronic component for electrically driving the liquid crystal panel 2 is COG mounted on the wiring pattern of the overhanging portion 24c. As the mounting form of the liquid crystal driving IC 36, other forms such as FPC mounting can be adopted in addition to the COG mounting.

  In the present embodiment, the overhanging portion 24c of the liquid crystal panel 2 is planarly overlapped with a region where the terminal portion 16 of the touch panel 4 is formed (a region where the back side substrate 8b projects beyond the front side substrate 8a). A touch panel 4 and a liquid crystal panel 2 are arranged. By arranging in this way, the frame area of the liquid crystal panel 2 is also hidden by the light shielding film 46. Moreover, since the area | region with which the back side board | substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 and the front side board | substrate 22a of the liquid crystal panel 2 overlap can be taken largest, the adhesive reliability of the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2 can be improved. In addition, since the region where the connection terminal to the external circuit is formed is disposed close to the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2, the connection to the external circuit can be easily performed.

  Although omitted in the drawings, polarizing plates are provided on the outer surface side of the front substrate 22a and the outer surface side of the rear substrate 22b of the liquid crystal panel 2, respectively. One of the pair of polarizing plates may be formed on the liquid crystal layer 32 side of the substrate body 24a or the substrate body 24b. In addition, an illuminating device as a backlight is disposed outside the rear substrate 22b.

According to the liquid crystal device 100A of the present example having the above-described configuration, the input device 40B of the previous embodiment and the liquid crystal panel 2 bonded to the touch panel 4 of the input device 40B are provided so that the touch panel 4 is transmitted. Display is possible.
In addition, by disposing the liquid crystal panel 2 on the back side of the touch panel 4, movement of the touch panel 4 in the substrate thickness direction is restricted by the liquid crystal panel 2 or a casing that supports the liquid crystal panel 2. The touch panel 4 can be prevented from being pushed in by the pressing force.
And in the liquid crystal device of this embodiment, since the display surface side is a flat surface by the film 30, and since arbitrary printing can be performed on the film 30, the degree of freedom in design is high and excellent design properties are achieved. The resulting liquid crystal device is obtained.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, since the film 30 is disposed on the front side of the touch panel 4, the touch panel 4 using a glass substrate as the front side substrate 8a can be used safely. A touch panel using a glass substrate for both the two substrate main bodies 11a and the back substrate 11b is one in which the substrate main body 11a is a plastic substrate, or both the substrate main body 11a and the back substrate 11b are plastic substrates. Compared with the prior art, a brighter and higher-quality display can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 2 protrudes from the cover member 45. However, if the cover member 45 has a sufficient thickness, the liquid crystal panel 2 is accommodated in the cover member 45 together with the touch panel 4. You may accommodate in the part 45a. With such a configuration, an adhesive can be disposed between the cover member 45 and the liquid crystal panel 2 so that they can be bonded together, so that both the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2 are stably supported by the cover member 45. can do. Further, in the case where a backlight is provided on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 2 (the side opposite to the touch panel 4), such a backlight can also be accommodated in the accommodating portion 45a.

  By the way, in the configuration in which the touch panel 4 is installed on the front side of the liquid crystal panel 2 as in the present embodiment, when the input operation is performed by pressing the surface of the touch panel 4 with a finger or the input device 3, the display on the liquid crystal panel 2 is performed. Distortion may occur. This is because a local deformation occurs in the touch panel 4 due to the pressing force at the time of input, and this deformation causes a slight but slight deflection on the front side substrate 22a of the liquid crystal panel 2 provided on the back side of the touch panel 4. It depends. That is, since the gap of the liquid crystal panel 2 is about 1 μm to 10 μm, even if the front-side substrate 22a is slightly bent, this bending causes the gap of the liquid crystal panel 2 to fluctuate locally at a large ratio. As a result, distortion such as interference fringes occurs in the display.

  Such a problem can be solved by sufficiently reducing the thickness of the back side substrate 22b of the liquid crystal panel 2. For example, when the thickness of the back side substrate 22b is reduced to about 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm so that the substrate is easily bent, the front side substrate 22a of the liquid crystal panel 2 may be bent as described above. Following this, the back side substrate 22b is also bent, and the gap hardly fluctuates. However, if the substrate is thinned in this way, it becomes difficult to handle the substrate, and the substrate may be cracked during the manufacturing process. Moreover, since it becomes weak with respect to a mechanical impact, when using for a portable use, the problem of damage by dropping etc. also arises. Thus, in terms of handling and impact resistance of the substrate, the thicker the substrate, the better. In terms of display quality, the thinner the substrate, the better.

  Therefore, in order to satisfy both of these requirements, a liquid crystal panel 2A having a configuration as shown in FIG. 7B can be employed. In such a liquid crystal panel 2A, a thick glass substrate is used for the front substrate 22a to improve handling properties and the like, while a recess H as a thin plate region is formed in a portion corresponding to the display region of the rear substrate 22b. Thus, the plate is thinned to follow the deformation of the front side substrate 22a at the time of input. Specifically, for example, the thickness of the front side substrate 22a and the back side substrate 22b (the portion where no recess is formed) is set to about 0.5 mm, and the thickness of the recess forming region of the back side substrate 22b is set to 0.1 mm. About 0.4 mm.

  Moreover, when the recessed part H is formed in the back side board | substrate 22b of the liquid crystal panel 2 as mentioned above, it is preferable to set it as the structure which accommodated the back side polarizing plate 6b as a polarizing plate in the recessed part H like illustration. Moreover, when there exists an optical film used with polarizing plates, such as a phase difference plate, it is good to accommodate in the recessed part H with a polarizing plate. With such a configuration, the liquid crystal device 100A can be thinned by the thickness of an optical film such as a polarizing plate.

[Second configuration example]
Next, a second configuration example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal device 100B of the second configuration example includes the input device 40B of the previous embodiment and the liquid crystal panel 2B. The liquid crystal panel 2B is common in the basic configuration to the liquid crystal panel 2A according to the first configuration example, and only the panel size is different. Specifically, the liquid crystal panel 2 </ b> B is a substrate in which the front side substrate 22 a has a larger planar area than the housing portion 45 a of the cover member 45.

  The liquid crystal panel 2B is bonded to the back side substrate 8b of the touch panel 4 via the adhesive 50, and is also bonded to the back surface 45b of the cover member 45. As a method for bonding the cover member 45 and the liquid crystal panel 2, in addition to a method in which an adhesive is separately applied between the cover member 45 and the liquid crystal panel 2 and bonded, the adhesive 50 is extended to the cover member 45. Then, a method of bonding the cover member 45 and the liquid crystal panel 2 with the adhesive 50 or an adhesive 42 bonding the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 is extended to the back surface 45b of the cover member 45 and bonded. The method can be adopted.

  In the liquid crystal device 100B of this example having the above configuration, the touch panel 4 is a film because the front side substrate 22a of the liquid crystal panel 2 disposed on the back side of the touch panel 4 is bonded to the back side 45b of the cover member 45. 30 is fixed in a space surrounded by the liquid crystal panel 2 and the cover member 45 and is stably held.

In the second configuration example shown in FIG. 8, the adhesive 50 that bonds the liquid crystal panel 2 and the touch panel 4 can be omitted.
In the second configuration example shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal panel 2, the touch panel 4, and the cover member 45 are bonded to each other via the adhesive 50, the adhesive 42, and the like. The touch panel 4 is supported. On the other hand, the configuration in which the respective parts are bonded with an adhesive as described above requires a large number of man-hours and a large amount of raw materials. Therefore, in this configuration example, by omitting the adhesive 50 that bonds the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2, the number of steps can be reduced and the liquid crystal device can be manufactured at a low cost.
Further, in such a configuration, a gap (air layer) is formed between the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2, so that the pressing force during the input operation of the touch panel 4 does not easily reach the liquid crystal panel 2. Thereby, the occurrence of display unevenness due to the distortion of the liquid crystal panel 2 can be prevented.

[Third configuration example]
Next, a third configuration example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid crystal device 100C according to the third configuration example illustrated in FIG. 9 is obtained by changing the arrangement of the polarizing plates in the liquid crystal device 100A according to the first configuration example.

As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid crystal device 100 </ b> C of this configuration example includes an input device 40 </ b> D and the liquid crystal panel 2.
The input device 40D includes the input device 40B according to the second configuration example of the first embodiment as a basic configuration, and further, a front-side polarizing plate 6a is disposed on the cover member 45 side of the film 30.
Further, on the opposite side of the liquid crystal panel 2 from the liquid crystal layer 32 of the back side substrate 22b of the liquid crystal panel 2, a back side polarizing plate 6b that is paired with the front side polarizing plate 6a is disposed.
That is, in the liquid crystal device 100 </ b> C of this configuration example, the polarizing plate disposed on the front side among the pair of polarizing plates provided on the front surface and the back surface of the liquid crystal panel is disposed outside the touch panel 4.

  According to the liquid crystal device 100 </ b> C having the above configuration, the front side polarizing plate 6 a and the film 30 are arranged on the front side of the touch panel 4 (the side opposite to the liquid crystal panel 2). Although the operating pressure of the touch panel 4 increases, the touch panel 4 is more reliably protected. Moreover, scattering of glass can be more effectively prevented even when the touch panel 4 provided with the glass substrate is broken.

  Moreover, since the front side polarizing plate 6a is arranged outside the touch panel 4, the total thickness of the touch panel 4 and the liquid crystal panel 2 arranged on the back side (the side opposite to the film 30) from the housing portion 45a of the cover member 45 is set. Can be thinned. Thereby, the space in the housing | casing in an electronic device provided with the liquid crystal device 100C can be saved, and size reduction of a housing | casing can be achieved.

  In this example, the front side polarizing plate 6 a is disposed between the film 30 and the light shielding film 46, but the front side polarizing plate 6 a may be disposed between the light shielding film 46 and the cover member 45. Or you may arrange | position the front side polarizing plate 6a in the accommodating part 45a with the touch panel 4. FIG. Furthermore, when the front side polarizing plate 6a has sufficient durability, the front side polarizing plate 6a is used as a flexible member bonded to the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 without providing the film 30. May be.

(Electronics)
Next, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10A is a schematic perspective view of a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant: portable information terminal) (hereinafter referred to as PDA) 200 provided with the liquid crystal device of the previous embodiment. FIG. 10B is a perspective configuration diagram of the liquid crystal device provided in the PDA 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the PDA 200 includes a function key 202 that configures an operation unit and a touch panel integrated display 203 in a housing 201. The touch panel integrated display 203 includes the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10B, the touch panel integrated display 203 includes a cover member 45 processed into a predetermined shape so as to constitute a display unit and an operation unit of the PDA 200. The touch panel 4 supported by the cover member 45 and the liquid crystal panel 2 disposed on the back side of the touch panel 4 are provided. A film 30 (not shown) is adhered to the surfaces of the touch panel 4 and the cover member 45 to protect the input operation surface of the touch panel 4 and the surface of the cover member 45.
The cover member 45 is provided with a plurality of through holes 45c, and the function keys 202 are inserted into these through holes 45c so as to be exposed on the surface side. In addition, identification information (characters or figures) printed on the back side (the cover member 45 side) of the film covering the cover member 45 is disposed in the vicinity of the through hole 45c.

  The PDA 200 of the present embodiment directly indicates the position on the touch panel 4 while looking at the identification information printed in the vicinity of the function key 202 and the screen display of the liquid crystal panel 2 arranged under the touch panel 4. It performs operations such as data entry.

Here, FIG. 11 shows a PDA having a conventional configuration shown for comparison. A PDA 1000 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a housing 1001, function keys 1002, and a touch panel 1004 arranged in an opening of the housing 1001. A liquid crystal panel (not shown) is disposed under the touch panel 1004.
As shown in the drawing, since the touch panel 1004 is conventionally supported by a frame portion 1003 formed on the housing 1001, a step portion 1003a is formed between the operation surface of the touch panel 1004 and the frame portion 1003. It was. Due to the stepped portion 1003a, the operation surface of the touch panel 1004 and the surrounding frame portion 1003 are clearly partitioned, and the design of the housing 1001 is limited.

  On the other hand, according to the PDA 200 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the liquid crystal device of the present invention described above is provided as the input device and display device, and therefore, between the touch panel 4 and the surrounding cover member 45. Therefore, it is possible to realize a PDA having a design with excellent design. In addition, the design of the entire housing including the touch panel 4 is possible, and an electronic device with excellent design can be realized. In addition, a bright display is possible, the operability is excellent, and the electronic device has high reliability.

  The liquid crystal device as the input device or the electro-optical device of the embodiment can be mounted not only on the PDA described above but also on various electronic devices. Examples of such electronic devices include mobile phones, electronic books, personal computers, digital still cameras, liquid crystal televisions, viewfinder type or monitor direct view type video tape recorders, car navigation devices, pagers, electronic notebooks, calculators, word processors, workstations. , Videophones, POS terminals, printing devices, etc. The input device can be suitably used as these input means, and the liquid crystal device can be suitably used as these image display means and input means.

The schematic sectional drawing of the input device which concerns on the 1st and 2nd structural example of an input device. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1. The exploded perspective view of a touch panel. The figure which shows the input device which concerns on a 3rd structural example. The figure which shows the input device which concerns on a 4th structural example. The figure which shows the input device which concerns on the 5th and 6th structural example. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal device according to a first configuration example of an electro-optical device. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal device according to a second configuration example of the electro-optical device. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal device according to a third configuration example of the electro-optical device. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. The perspective view which shows the conventional touch panel built-in type PDA.

Explanation of symbols

  2, 2A, 2B ... Liquid crystal panel as electro-optical panel, 3 ... Input device, 4 ... Touch panel as input panel, 6a ... Front side polarizing plate as polarizing plate, 6b ... Back side polarizing plate as polarizing plate, 4s ... Main surface as first main surface, 16... Terminal portion, 30... Film as flexible member, 31... Film as second flexible member, 30a, 31a, 46a. , 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E, 40F ... input device, 41, 42, 50 ... adhesive, 45 ... cover member, 45a ... housing portion, 45s ... main surface as second main surface, 46 ... light-shielding film , 100A, 100B, 100C ... Liquid crystal device as an electro-optical device, 200 ... PDA as an electronic device.

Claims (14)

An input panel;
An accommodating member provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating the input panel;
A flexible member bonded across one surface of the input panel disposed in the housing portion and one surface of the housing member;
Have
The input panel is housed in the housing portion and fixed to the flexible member,
The surface of the flexible member located at the boundary between the input panel and the housing member is a flat surface,
An input device, wherein an adhesive is filled between the input panel and an inner wall surface of the housing portion .   The input device according to claim 1, wherein a second flexible member is bonded to an opposite side between the flexible member and the input panel.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a film. A light-shielding film disposed between the housing member and the flexible member;
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding film has an opening corresponding to an input portion of the input panel.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the accommodating member and the input panel are substantially equal in thickness.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member has an opening in a plane area of the input panel. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member bonded to the one surface side of the input panel is a polarizing plate. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the housing portion is an opening formed through the housing member, and a side surface of the opening is a flat surface. An input panel, a housing member provided with a housing portion for housing the input panel, one surface of the input panel disposed in the housing portion, and one surface of the housing member are bonded. A flexible member,
An input device having
An electro-optical panel disposed on a side opposite to the flexible member of the input device;
With
The input panel, while being housed in the housing portion is secured to the flexible member, a surface flat surface of said flexible member located at the boundary between the housing member and the input panel, the An adhesive is filled between the input panel and the inner wall surface of the housing portion,
The electro-optical device, wherein the electro-optical panel is fixed to the input device with a translucent adhesive. The electro-optical device according to claim 9, wherein the electro-optical panel is fixed to the housing member, and the input panel is sandwiched between the flexible member. The electro-optical device according to claim 9 or 10 characterized in that said flexible member is a polarizing plate. The electro-optical device according to claim 9, wherein the translucent adhesive is an adhesive including an elastic body.   An electronic apparatus comprising the input device according to claim 1. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 9 .

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