JP5169911B2 - Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a resistive film type touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof.

  A resistive film type touch panel has a first substrate on which a first resistive film is formed and a second substrate on which a second resistive film is formed with the first and second resistive films opposed to each other. The touch-side substrate is bent and deformed by touch from the outer surface side thereof, and the resistance film of the touch-side substrate comes into contact with the resistance film of the opposite-side substrate in the touch portion, whereby the first substrate is arranged. The contact position between the resistance film and the second resistance film is detected.

  In this resistive film type touch panel, when no touch input is performed, the gap between the pair of substrates is prevented so that the resistive film on the inner surface of the touch side substrate does not touch the inner surface of the opposite side substrate. Is defined by a plurality of spacers, or an insulating liquid is sealed in a gap between a pair of substrates (see Patent Document 1).

JP 61-45519

  However, in the conventional resistive film type touch panel, when the touched portion of the touch side substrate is bent and deformed to a depth corresponding to the gap between the pair of substrates, the resistance film on the inner surface of the touch side substrate is the opposite side substrate. The touch-side substrate has a large amount of deformation due to contact with the resistance film on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate.

  Therefore, in the display device with a touch panel in which the conventional resistive film type touch panel is disposed on the observation side of the display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, the emitted light from the display panel is greatly refracted in the bent part of the touch side substrate. , The display of that part looks distorted.

  The present invention provides a resistive film type touch panel capable of reducing the amount of bending deformation of the touch side substrate and reducing the refraction of transmitted light in the bent portion of the touch side substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. It is intended.

The invention described in claim 1
A first substrate on which a first resistive film is formed and a second substrate on which a second resistive film is formed are arranged with the first and second resistive films facing each other, and the first resistor A touch panel for detecting a contact position between the film and the second resistive film,
A plurality of contact protrusions provided to protrude at a predetermined height on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate;
A plurality of spacer protrusions provided on the first substrate so as to protrude higher than the contact protrusions at positions different from the contact protrusions;
The first resistance film is formed on the first substrate so as to cover the contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions,
The second resistance film is characterized in that a non-conductive portion is provided at a position where the spacer projection is in contact with the second substrate through the first resistance film.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel according to the first aspect, the contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions are arranged at a predetermined interval, and two adjacent spacer protrusions are provided. Two or more of the contact protrusions are disposed between the two.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel according to the second aspect, the spacer protrusion is disposed at each of four corners of a predetermined rectangular region, and the contact protrusion is at least in the rectangular region. They are arranged at the predetermined intervals.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel according to any one of the first to third aspects, the non-conductive portion has an area larger than an area of a tip end surface of the spacer projection. Features.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the touch panel according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the non-conducting portion is a hole provided in the second resistance film.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel according to the fourth aspect, each of the contact protrusions and each of the spacer protrusions is formed of a photosensitive resin, and the first resistance film and the second protrusion Each of the resistance films is formed of a transparent conductive film.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the spacer protrusions is formed to have a thickness corresponding to a height difference from the contact protrusion. It consists of a laminated film of a first layer and a second layer formed to the same thickness as the height of the contact projection.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are the first substrate and the second substrate. It is characterized in that an insulating liquid is sealed in a gap surrounded by a frame-shaped sealing material disposed therebetween and surrounded by the sealing material.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the touch panel according to claim 8, wherein each of the contact protrusions and each spacer protrusion is formed in a region surrounded by the sealing material. .

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the touch panel according to the eighth aspect, wherein the insulating liquid has a difference in refractive index of light between the first substrate and at least one of the second substrates of 0.1 or less. It is a liquid.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is an optically isotropic material at room temperature.

  The invention described in claim 12 is the touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is a liquid crystal exhibiting an isotropic phase at a temperature of 5 ° C. or higher.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is an organic or inorganic insulating liquid substance having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or higher.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the first resistor is provided at an edge of one of the first and second substrates. Drive circuit connection terminals for connecting both ends of the film in a predetermined direction and both ends of the second resistance film in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction to the drive circuit are provided. And

The invention according to claim 15 is:
The first substrate on which the first resistance film is formed and the second substrate on which the second resistance film is formed are arranged to face each other, and the first resistance film and the second resistance film are A method of manufacturing a touch panel for detecting a contact position,
Forming a plurality of contact protrusions and a plurality of spacer protrusions projecting higher than the contact protrusions on the first substrate;
Forming the first resistance film on the first substrate so as to cover the contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions;
Forming the second resistance film on the second substrate such that a predetermined position is a non-conductive portion with the first conductive film;
Bonding the first substrate and the second substrate so that the spacer projections correspond to the non-conductive portion;
It is characterized by having.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel manufacturing method according to the fifteenth aspect, the plurality of contact protrusions and the plurality of spacer protrusions may be coated with a photosensitive resin and applied to the coated photosensitive resin. It is characterized by forming sequentially by the exposure and development processes.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel manufacturing method according to the fifteenth aspect, the step of forming the plurality of contact protrusions and the plurality of spacer protrusions includes:
Applying a first photosensitive resin on the first substrate to a thickness corresponding to a difference in height between the contact protrusion and the spacer protrusion;
Exposing and developing the applied first photosensitive resin to form lower layer portions of the plurality of spacer protrusions;
Applying a second photosensitive resin on the first substrate so as to cover the lower layer portion to a thickness corresponding to the height of the contact protrusion;
A step of exposing and developing the second photosensitive resin to simultaneously form the plurality of contact projections and the plurality of spacer projections;
It is characterized by comprising.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel manufacturing method according to the fifteenth aspect, the plurality of contact protrusions and the plurality of spacer protrusions are coated with a positive photosensitive resin, and the applied positive type. It is characterized by being formed simultaneously by exposure to photosensitive resin and development processing.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel manufacturing method according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the exposure treatment to the applied positive photosensitive resin includes a plurality of light shieldings for forming the plurality of contact protrusions. And a light shielding part for forming the plurality of spacer protrusions, and the light shielding part for forming the spacer protrusions is formed wider than the light shielding part for forming the contact protrusions. And using an exposure mask.

  According to this invention, the amount of bending deformation of the touch side substrate can be made sufficiently smaller than the gap between the pair of substrates, and the refraction of the transmitted light in the bent portion of the touch side substrate can be reduced.

The side view of a display apparatus with a touch panel. The top view of the touch panel which shows 1st Example of this invention. The top view seen from the inner surface side of the touch side board | substrate of the touch panel of 1st Example. The top view seen from the inner surface side of the board | substrate opposite side of the touch panel of 1st Example. Sectional drawing of the touchscreen of 1st Example. The expanded sectional view of a part of touch panel of the 1st example. The expanded sectional view at the time of touch input of a part of touch panel of the 1st example. Sectional drawing of each process which shows the formation process of the protruding contact and columnar spacer in manufacture of the touch panel of 1st Example. The expanded sectional view of a part of touch panel of a comparative example. Sectional drawing of each process which shows the formation process of the protruding contact and columnar spacer in manufacture of the touch panel of a comparative example. The figure which shows a touch-panel drive circuit. The expanded sectional view of a part of touch panel which shows 2nd Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of each process which shows the formation process of the protruding contact and columnar spacer in manufacture of the touch panel of 2nd Example. The expanded sectional view of a part of touch panel which shows 3rd Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of each process which shows the formation process of the protruding contact and columnar spacer in manufacture of the touch panel of 3rd Example. The conceptual diagram of the exposure process of the photosensitive resin film for forming the protrusion-shaped contact and columnar spacer in manufacture of the touch panel of 3rd Example.

  First, the display device with a touch panel shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The display device includes a display panel 1 for displaying an image and a resistive film type touch panel 10 disposed on the observation side of the display panel 1. ing.

  The display panel 1 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel that displays an image by controlling transmission of light emitted from a backlight (not shown). The display panel 1 is arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap, and has a frame shape at the peripheral edge. A pair of transparent substrates 2 and 3 on the observation side and the opposite side bonded via the sealant 4 and inner surfaces facing each other of the pair of substrates 2 and 3, a plurality of pixels are arranged by regions facing each other. A transparent electrode (not shown) to be formed, a liquid crystal (not shown) sealed in a region surrounded by the sealing material 4 in a gap between the pair of substrates 2 and 3, and the pair of substrates 2 and 3 The polarizing plates 5 and 6 are respectively disposed on the outer surface of the polarizing plate.

  The liquid crystal display panel may be any of a TN type, STN type, non-twisted homogeneous type, vertical alignment type, bend alignment type, ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal display panel, and a pair of substrates. The first electrode for forming a plurality of pixels on the inner surface of any one of a pair of substrates is not limited to the one provided with electrodes for forming a plurality of pixels on the inner surface, and the liquid crystal layer than that. A second electrode having a plurality of elongate electrode portions formed so as to be insulated from the first electrode is provided on the side, and a transverse electric field (an electric field in a direction along the substrate surface) is generated between these electrodes to generate liquid crystal A lateral electric field control type that changes the orientation state of molecules may be used. Further, the display panel 1 is not limited to a liquid crystal display panel, and may be a light emitting display panel such as an organic EL (electroluminescence) display panel.

  The touch panel 10 is disposed on the observation side of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and is adhered to the outer surface of the observation side polarizing plate 5 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 with an adhesive layer 7 made of a transparent adhesive material or resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the touch panel 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first and a second pair of transparent substrates 11 and 12 arranged to face each other, and these substrates 11 and 12. A plurality of first substrates, for example, a plurality of projections provided at a plurality of positions on the inner surface facing the second substrate (hereinafter referred to as the opposite substrate) 12 of the touch-side substrate 11 so as to protrude to predetermined heights, respectively. The contact projections 13 and the plurality of contact projections 13 on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11 are provided at a predetermined height by projecting higher than the contact projections 13 at a plurality of positions. A plurality of spacer projections 14 and a portion covering the plurality of contact projections 13 and the plurality of spacer projections 14 on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 and covering the contact projections 13 and the spacer projections 14. Is the other part The first resistance film 15 formed in a protruding shape and the inner surface of the other substrate, that is, the opposite substrate 12 that faces the touch side substrate 11, are opposed to the first resistance film 15. And a second resistance film 16 provided with non-conductive portions 17 for the first resistance film 15 at portions corresponding to the plurality of spacer protrusions 14.

  The touch side substrate 11 of the pair of substrates 11 and 12 is made of a glass plate or a resin film formed in a rectangular shape, and the opposite side substrate 12 is substantially the same size as the touch side substrate 11. And is formed of a glass plate integrally formed with an overhanging portion 12a projecting outward from the touch-side substrate 11 at one edge thereof.

Although not shown in the figure, an SiO ₂ film is provided over the entire inner surface of each of the pair of substrates 11 and 12, and the plurality of the plural substrates are formed on the SiO ₂ film on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11. Contact protrusions 13 and spacer protrusions 14 and a first resistance film 15 are formed, and the second resistance film 16 is formed on the SiO ₂ film on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12.

  The plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are each formed of a transparent photosensitive resin, and the first and second resistance films 15 and 16 are each made of ITO or the like. It is formed of a transparent conductive film having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.20 μm.

  The contact projections 13 and the spacer projections 14 are arranged at a predetermined interval, and two or more contact projections 13 are arranged between two adjacent spacer projections 14 and 14. .

  In this embodiment, each of the spacer protrusions 14 is disposed at each of four corners of a predetermined rectangular region, and each of the contact protrusions 13 is disposed at least within the rectangular region at a predetermined interval. Yes.

  Then, a plurality of contact protrusions 13 provided on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11 and a portion of the first resistance film 15 covering the plurality of contact protrusions 13 from the outer surface side of the touch side substrate 11. A plurality of protruding contact points 18 are formed, which are in contact with the second resistance film 16 by bending deformation due to touch, and electrically connect the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 in the touch portion. The spacer projection 14 and the portion of the first resistance film 15 that covers the plurality of spacer projections 14 contact the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 in the non-conductive portion 17 of the second resistance film 16. A plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed in contact with each other to define a gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 to a value larger than the height of the plurality of protruding contact points 18.

  Further, the plurality of non-conductive portions 17 provided in the portion corresponding to the plurality of spacer projections 14 of the second resistance film 16 formed on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 are the tips of the spacer projections 14. The area is larger than the area of the surface. In this embodiment, the non-conductive portion 17 is formed of a hole formed by removing portions corresponding to the plurality of spacer projections 14 of the second resistance film 16. Hereinafter, the non-conductive portion 17 is referred to as a non-conductive hole.

  The pair of substrates 11 and 12 are provided on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 with the first and second resistance films 15 and 16 formed on the inner surfaces of the substrates 11 and 12 facing each other. Further, the tips of the plurality of columnar spacers 19 are brought into contact with the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 in the plurality of non-conductive holes 17 formed in the second resistance film 16 on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12, and the touch In the state where the tips of the plurality of protruding contacts 18 provided on the inner surface of the side substrate 11 are opposed to the second resistance film 16 with a gap, respectively, between the peripheral portions of the substrates 11 and 12. The gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 is joined by a frame-like sealant 26 that seals the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 over the entire circumference, and the gap surrounded by the sealant 26 between the pair of substrates 11 and 12. Insulating liquid 0 is sealed.

  In the touch panel 10 of this embodiment, a rectangular area inside a seal portion by the frame-shaped seal material 26 is used as a touch area 31 for performing touch input, and the first and second resistors The films 15 and 16 are each formed in a rectangular shape that is larger than the touch area 31 and smaller than the outer shape of the seal portion.

  The plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed in a predetermined area corresponding to the arrangement of the spacer protrusions 14 in an area surrounded by the frame-shaped sealing material 26, that is, an area corresponding to the touch area 31. Each of the plurality of protruding contacts 18 corresponds to the arrangement of the contact protrusions 13 in the area corresponding to the touch area 31. Two or more adjacent columnar spacers 14 and 14 are arranged.

  In this embodiment, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 are arranged in a predetermined pitch in two directions orthogonal to each other, for example, in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the touch area 31, and each contact row in the two directions. Each of the plurality of columnar spacers 19 is arranged in an array pattern in which a plurality of contactless parts are provided by omitting one protruding contact 18 for every predetermined number of protruding contacts 18. It is arranged at the non-contact part. In FIG. 3, the columnar spacers 19 are blacked out so that the protruding contacts 18 and the columnar spacers 19 can be easily distinguished.

  Each of the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 is formed by applying the transparent photosensitive resin to a predetermined thickness, and exposing and developing the resin film. When the exposed resin film is developed, the closer the resin film is to the surface of the film, the longer the developer is used, so that the plurality of contact projections 13 and the plurality of spacer projections 14 Each is formed in a shape with a diameter decreasing from the base to the tip.

  5 to 7, the heights of the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are greatly exaggerated, but the inclination angles of the peripheral surfaces of the contact protrusions 13 and the spacer protrusions 14 ( The angle with respect to the surface of the touch-side substrate 11 is actually 40 ° to 50 °. Therefore, the first resistance film 15 covers the entirety of the plurality of contact projections 13 and the plurality of spacer projections 14. The plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 can be formed by forming a film with a uniform thickness.

  Specifically, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 have a circular cross-sectional shape parallel to the surface of the touch-side substrate 11, a base having a diameter of 15 μm or 30 μm, and a height of 2.0 μm. The columnar spacer 19 has a circular cross-sectional shape parallel to the surface of the substrate 11 and a tapered columnar shape having a base diameter of 30 μm, a height of 2.5 μm, 3.0 μm, or 4.0 μm. Yes.

  The plurality of protruding contacts 18 are arranged at a pitch P1 of 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, or 0.2 mm, respectively, in the two directions (the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the touch area 31). The plurality of columnar spacers 19 provided respectively in the plurality of non-contact portions from which the protruding contacts 18 are omitted are arranged in the two directions at a pitch P2 of 2 mm or 4 mm, respectively.

  In FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 to 7, for convenience, one columnar spacer 19 is arranged for every five protruding contacts 18. However, the pitch P <b> 1 of the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar contacts are arranged. When the pitch P2 of the spacers 19 is P1 = 0.05 mm and P2 = 2 mm, one columnar spacer 19 is arranged for every 38 projecting contacts 18, and when P1 = 0.2 mm and P2 = 4 mm A columnar spacer 19 is disposed for every 18 protruding contact points 18.

  Further, in the protruding portion 12a of the opposite substrate 12, one direction of the first resistive film 15 provided on the touch side substrate 11, for example, the left and right direction of the touch area 31 (hereinafter referred to as the X-axis direction). ) And both ends of the second resistance film 16 provided on the opposite substrate 12 in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, that is, in the vertical direction of the touch area 31 (hereinafter referred to as the Y-axis direction). Are connected to the touch panel drive circuit 33 shown in FIG. 11, for example, four drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b are provided.

  Further, on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 provided with the drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b, edges of both ends in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 provided on the touch side substrate 11 are provided. A plurality of first electrodes 20a and 20b that face each other, and a plurality of second electrodes formed at edges of both ends in the Y-axis direction of the second resistance film 16 provided on the opposite substrate 12 respectively. Electrode 21a, 21b, and the plurality of first electrodes 20a, 20b and the plurality of second electrodes 21a, 21b, four drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a provided on the overhanging portion 12a, A plurality of wirings 24a, 24b, 25a, and 25b that are respectively connected to 23b are provided.

  In this embodiment, the first resistance film 15 provided on the touch-side substrate 11 has side portions at both ends in the X-axis direction positioned at seal portions by the frame-shaped sealing material 26, respectively. The second resistance film 16 provided on the opposite substrate 12 is formed in a shape in which side portions at both ends in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the inner side are positioned inward of the seal portion. The side portions at both ends in the direction are positioned inward of the seal portion, and the side portions at both ends in the Y-axis direction are formed in the vicinity of the seal portion or corresponding to the seal portion, respectively.

  In addition, a plurality of first electrodes 20 a and 20 b that are opposed to the sides of both ends in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 are provided on the seal portion, and the second resistance film 16 A plurality of second electrodes 21 a and 21 b formed on both sides of the both ends in the Y-axis direction are stacked on the second resistance film 16.

  In the touch panel 10 of this embodiment, the first electrodes 20a and 20b are provided so as to be opposed to the side of one end and the side of the other end of the first resistance film 15, respectively. The second electrodes 21a and 21b are provided one by one so as to face the side of one end and the side of the other end of the second resistance film 16 respectively. The two first electrodes 20a and 20b are formed in a continuous band shape so as to be opposed to substantially the entire length of the sides of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction, respectively, and the two second electrodes The electrodes 21a and 21b are formed in a continuous belt shape over substantially the entire length of the sides of the second resistance film 16 at both ends in the Y-axis direction.

  The two first electrodes 20a, 20b and the two second electrodes 21a, 21b are a plurality (four in this embodiment) of wirings 24a, 24b, 25a wired at portions corresponding to the seal portion. , 25b are connected to four drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b provided on the overhanging portion 12a, respectively.

  The first electrodes 20a, 20b and the second electrodes 21a, 21b, the drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b, and the wirings 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b are connected to the opposite substrate 12. A first layer made of molybdenum, a second layer made of an aluminum-based alloy, and a third film made of molybdenum are stacked on or on the second resistance film 16, and the three layers are stacked. The film is formed by patterning.

  The sides of the first resistance film 15 at both ends in the X-axis direction and the two first electrodes 20a and 20b are connected to each other by a conductive member at the seal portion. In this embodiment, the sealing portion includes the frame-shaped sealing material 26, the side portions at both ends in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15, and the two first electrodes in the sealing material 26. It consists of a plurality of spherical conductive particles 27 having a diameter corresponding to the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12, dispersed as a conductive member for connecting 20a and 20b.

  The sealing material 26 has a side portion corresponding to an edge portion on the opposite side to the side where the protruding portion 12a of the opposite substrate 12 is formed on the inner surface of one of the pair of substrates 11 and 12. It is printed in a shape that is partially removed and provided with a liquid injection port 28, and the pair of substrates 11, 12 is provided on the inner surface (on the first resistance film 15) of the touch side substrate 11. Each of the plurality of columnar spacers 19 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 in the plurality of non-conductive holes 17 of the second resistance film 16 provided on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12. The gaps 11 and 12 are defined by the plurality of columnar spacers 19, and in this state, the sealing material 26 is cured to be joined via the sealing material 26.

  And the side part of the both ends of the X-axis direction of the 1st resistance film 15 provided in the said touch side board | substrate 11, and the side part of the both ends of the X-axis direction of the said 1st resistance film 15 in the said opposite side board | substrate 12 The two first electrodes 20a and 20b provided to face each other are connected to the pair of substrates 11 and 12 via the sealing material 26, thereby dispersing the spherical particles dispersed in the sealing material 26. Of the conductive particles 27, the plurality of conductive particles 27 sandwiched between the first resistive film 15 and the first electrodes 20a and 20b are electrically connected.

  Further, the insulating liquid 30 sealed in the gap surrounded by the sealant 26 between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 is evacuated into the liquid inlet 28 in the sealed chamber. Is immersed in a bath of the insulating liquid 30 and the inside of the chamber is returned to the atmospheric pressure in this state, so that the insulating liquid 30 is reduced by the pressure difference between the chamber and the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12. The liquid filling port 28 is filled by pouring into the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12, and the liquid filling port 28 is sealed with a sealing resin 29 after filling with the insulating liquid 30.

  The insulating liquid 30 is a transparent liquid having a difference in light refractive index between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 of 0.1 or less. That is, when each of the pair of substrates 11 and 12 is a glass plate, the refractive index of the substrates 11 and 12 is about 1.5, and the insulating liquid 30 is about 1.4 to 1.5. Has a refractive index in the range. The insulating liquid 30 preferably has a refractive index closer to the refractive index of the pair of substrates 11 and 12, that is, a refractive index of about 1.5.

  In this embodiment, the insulating liquid 30 is an optically isotropic material at room temperature, for example, a liquid crystal exhibiting an isotropic phase at a temperature of 5 ° C. or higher (nematic liquid crystal having an NI point of less than 5 ° C.). Is enclosed in a gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12. Specifically, a liquid crystal material having two or three cyclohexane or benzene rings and alkyl groups at both ends thereof and having substantially no dielectric anisotropy is used as the liquid crystal having such characteristics. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the touch panel 10 is touch-input from the outer surface side of the touch-side substrate 11 by a fingertip 32 or the like. When touch input is performed, the touch-side substrate 11 is moved from the outer surface side. A protruding contact of a touch portion (a bending deformation portion of the touch side substrate 11) among the plurality of protruding contacts 18 respectively deformed by touching toward the inner surface direction and provided at a plurality of positions on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11. 18 is in contact with the second resistance film 16 on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12, and the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 are electrically connected in the touch portion.

  In the touch panel 10, a plurality of protruding contacts 18 on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 are provided at a plurality of positions on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 at predetermined heights, respectively. And a portion of the first resistance film 15 provided on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 so as to cover the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 and covering the contact protrusions 13. Therefore, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 protrude from the film surface of the portion between the plurality of protruding contacts 18 of the first resistance film 15, and therefore from the outer surface side of the touch side substrate 11. Due to the bending deformation due to the touch, the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 are locally connected to each other through the protruding contact 18 in the touch portion.

  Therefore, the amount of bending deformation of the touch-side substrate 11 required to locally connect the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 in the touch portion is determined as the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12. Can be made sufficiently smaller.

  That is, in this embodiment, as described above, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 are formed at a height of 2.0, and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 are any of 2.5 μm, 3.0 μm, and 4.0 μm. The gap Δd (see FIG. 6) between the tips of the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the second resistance film 16 on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 is 0.5 μm. , 1.0 μm, or 2.0 μm.

  Then, the first resistive film 15 and the second resistive film 16 are formed so that the protruding contact 18 is connected to the second resistive film 18 by the bending deformation of the touch-side substrate 11 due to the touch from the outer surface side of the touch-side substrate 11. Since conduction is made by contacting the resistance film 16, the amount of bending deformation of the touch-side substrate 11 necessary for conducting the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 is the protruding contact 18. Any one of 2.0 μm, 1.0 μm, and 0.5 μm corresponding to the gap Δd between the tip of the second resistor film 16 and the second resistive film 16 is extremely small.

  Therefore, according to the touch panel 10, it is possible to reduce the refraction of the transmitted light in the bent and deformed portion of the touch side substrate 11. Therefore, the display device with a touch panel shown in FIG. Can be observed in the bent part of the touch side substrate 11 with almost no distortion.

  In addition, the touch panel 10 has a small amount of bending deformation of the touch-side substrate 11 necessary to locally connect the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 15 in the touch portion, and therefore, touch input can be performed. It can be performed with a slight pressing force, and thus a light touch feeling can be obtained.

  Further, since the touch panel 10 encloses the insulating liquid 30 in the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12, the light substrates 11 and 12 that pass through the touch panel 10 and the layer of the insulating liquid 30 Thus, reflection and refraction at the apparent interface, that is, the interface where the resistance films 15 and 16 are interposed, can be reduced. Therefore, the display image of the display panel 1 can be observed with sufficient brightness.

  That is, since the resistance films 15 and 16 made of a TIO film or the like are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 11 and 12, light transmitted through the touch panel 10 is transmitted to the touch side substrate 11 and the first resistance film. And the interface between the opposite substrate 12 and the second resistive film 16 and the interface between the first and second resistive films 15 and 16 and the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12. Or refracted at these interfaces.

  However, since the touch panel 10 encloses the insulating liquid 30 in the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12, the first and second touch panels 10 are compared with the case where the gap is an air layer having a refractive index of 1. The difference in refractive index between the second resistance films 15 and 16 and the gap between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 is small. Note that the refractive index of the resistive films 15 and 16 made of ITO film or the like is about 1.8, and the refractive index of the insulating liquid 30 is in the range of about 1.4 to 1.5 as described above. The difference in refractive index between the resistance films 15 and 16 and the insulating liquid 30 is in the range of about 0.4 to 0.3.

  Therefore, the touch panel 10 has light reflection and refraction at the apparent interface between the substrate 11.12 and the layer of the insulating liquid 30 as compared with the case where the gap is an air layer having a refractive index of 1. And few.

  The insulating liquid 30 is preferably a liquid having a refractive index difference of 0.1 or less between the pair of substrates 11 and 12, and by sealing the liquid having such a refractive index, the insulating liquid 30 is insulated from the substrates 11 and 12. The light refraction at the apparent interface with the liquid 30 layer can be reduced more effectively.

  That is, each of the pair of substrates 11 and 12 has a refractive index of about 1.5, the insulating liquid 30 has a refractive index of about 1.4 to 1.5, and the resistive films 15 and 16 have a refractive index of about 1.5. 1.8, the light incident on the touch panel 10 from one direction, for example, the outer surface of the opposite substrate 12, is normal to the touch panel 10 at the interface between the opposite substrate 12 and the second resistance film 16. Refracted in the direction in which the angle with respect to the direction increases, refracts in the direction in which the angle with respect to the normal direction decreases, at the interface between the second resistance film 16 and the layer of the insulating liquid 30, and further, the insulating liquid 30 is refracted in a direction in which the angle with respect to the normal direction is increased at the interface between the first resistance film 15 and the first resistance film 15, and the normal direction is generated at the interface between the first resistance film 15 and the touch-side substrate 11. Refracts in a direction that reduces the angle to

  However, since the first and second resistance films 15 and 16 are extremely thin films having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.20 μm, respectively, the substrate 12 and the insulating liquid opposite to the second resistance film 16 are provided. The difference between the light incident position at one of the two interfaces with the 30 layer and the emission position at the other interface, and the two interfaces between the first resistive film 15 and the insulating liquid 30 layer and the touch-side substrate 11. Any deviation between the incident position of the light on one side and the outgoing position on the other interface can be ignored.

  Therefore, the deviation between the light incident position and the light emitting position on the touch panel 10 substantially corresponds to the difference in refractive index between the pair of substrates 11 and 12 and the insulating liquid 30, and the difference in refractive index is 0. If it is 1 or less, refraction at the apparent interface between the substrates 11 and 12 and the layer of the insulating liquid 30 can be effectively reduced.

  The insulating liquid 30 is desirably an optically isotropic material at room temperature, for example, a liquid crystal exhibiting an isotropic phase at a temperature of 5 ° C. or higher. By sealing the liquid crystal, the substrates 11 and 12 at room temperature are used. And reflection or refraction at the apparent interface between the insulating liquid 30 and the layer of the insulating liquid 30 can be reduced.

  The insulating liquid 30 may be an organic or inorganic insulating liquid material having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or higher, specifically butanol, in addition to the optically isotropic material at room temperature such as the liquid crystal. , Toluene, xylene, isobutyl alcohol, isopepentyl alcohol, isobutyl acetate, butyl acetate, tetrachloroethylene, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone, ethylene glycol monoether, ethylene glycol monoether acetate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol Organic liquid materials such as monomethyl ether and turpentine oil, or inorganic liquid materials such as silicon oil can be used.

  The touch-side substrate 11 is not limited to a glass plate but may be a resin film. In this case, the touch-side substrate 11 and the opposite-side substrate 12 have different refractive indices, but at least one of the pair of substrates 11 and 12 If the difference in refractive index of light from the insulating liquid 30 is 0.1 or less, the light refraction at the apparent interface between the substrates 11 and 12 and the layer of the insulating liquid 30 is made sufficiently small. be able to.

  Further, the touch panel 10 is provided with a plurality of contact protrusions 13 and a plurality of spacer protrusions 14 formed of a transparent photosensitive resin on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11. By forming the first resistance film 15 so as to cover the projections 14, the plurality of contact projections 13 and the portions of the first resistance film 15 covering the plurality of contact projections 13 form a plurality of projections. The contact 18 is formed, and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed by the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 and the portion of the first resistance film 15 covering the plurality of spacer protrusions 14. As in the case where a flat resistive film is formed on the inner surface of the substrate 11 and a plurality of contacts are formed on the conductive metal, the transmitted light is not blocked by these contacts. It, a display image of the display panel 1 can be observed without causing black spots at a portion corresponding to said plurality of projecting contact 18 and the columnar spacers 19.

  In the touch panel 10, a plurality of columnar spacers 19 on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 are formed by the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 and a portion of the first resistance film 15 that covers the spacer protrusions 14. However, each of the portions of the second resistance film 16 formed on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 corresponding to the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 has an area larger than the area of the tip of the columnar spacer 19. Since the non-conductive holes 17 are provided, and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 are in contact with the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 in the non-conductive holes 17 of the second resistance film 16, respectively, The second resistance films 15 and 16 are not short-circuited by the plurality of columnar spacers 19.

  The touch panel 10 includes a plurality of protrusion contacts 18 and a plurality of columnar spacers 19 on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11, and a plurality of contact protrusions 13 and a plurality of spacer protrusions 14 on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11. Since the first resistance film 15 is provided so as to cover them, the semiconductor device can be manufactured in a simple process order.

  That is, the touch panel 10 is formed with the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11, and the first resistance film 15 is formed thereon. The plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed, and the second resistance film 16 is formed on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12. A non-conductive hole 17 is formed, and the first and second electrodes 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b, the plurality of drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b, and the plurality of wirings 24a, 24b, After the formation of 25a and 25b, the touch-side substrate 11 and the opposite substrate 12 are replaced with the plurality of columnar spacers 19 in the plurality of non-conducting holes 17 of the second resistance film 16. On the inside In addition, the insulating liquid 30 is sealed in a gap surrounded by the sealing material 26 between the substrates 11 and 12 by bonding through the sealing material 26 in which the conductive particles 27 are dispersed. To manufacture.

  In the method for manufacturing the touch panel 10, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 include the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11. The first resistance film 15 is formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 by applying a photosensitive resin and exposing and developing the resin film.

  In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are sequentially formed by repeatedly applying the photosensitive resin and exposing and developing the resin film.

  A process of forming the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In this embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 8A, the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11 is formed. , A transparent photosensitive resin (a positive photosensitive resin whose exposed portion is removed by development processing or a negative photosensitive resin whose non-exposed portion is removed by developing processing) may be spin coated. The first photosensitive resin film 113 is formed by coating to a thickness corresponding to the height of the contact protrusion 13.

  Next, the first photosensitive resin film 113 is subjected to an exposure process using an exposure mask (not shown) having a pattern corresponding to the planar shape and arrangement pitch of the plurality of contact protrusions 13, and then developed. As shown in FIG. 8B, a plurality of contact protrusions 13 formed of the remaining portion of the photosensitive resin film 113 are formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11, the plurality of contact projections 13 are covered, and a transparent photosensitive resin is applied to the plurality of spacer projections 14 by spin coating. A second photosensitive resin film 114 is formed by coating to a thickness corresponding to the height.

  Next, the second photosensitive resin film 114 is subjected to an exposure process using an exposure mask (not shown) having a pattern corresponding to the planar shape and arrangement pitch of the plurality of spacer protrusions 14, and then developed. As shown in FIG. 8D, a plurality of spacer projections 14 formed of the remaining portions of the second photosensitive resin film 114 are formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8E, the first resistance film 15 made of ITO or the like is formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 so as to cover the plurality of contact projections 13 and the plurality of spacer projections 14. A plurality of protruding contacts 18 and a plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed by film formation using a plasma CVD apparatus.

  As described above, in the manufacturing method of this embodiment, first, a photosensitive resin is applied to the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 by spin coating, the resin film is exposed, and then developed (hereinafter referred to as a wet process). The plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are formed, and then the first resistance film is formed by a film forming process (hereinafter referred to as a dry process) using a plasma CVD apparatus. Therefore, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 can be formed in the order of wet process → wet process → dry process.

  On the other hand, the touch panel 110 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a plurality of contact protrusions 13 on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11, and the first resistance film 15 is provided so as to cover these contact protrusions 13. The plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the portion of the first resistance film 15 covering the contact protrusions 13 form a plurality of protruding contacts 18, and an insulating property is formed on the first resistance film 15. The columnar spacer 19a is provided, and in the touch panel 110 of this comparative example, the non-conductive hole 17 in the touch panel 10 of the above embodiment is not formed in the second resistance film 16 provided on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12. The plurality of columnar spacers 19 a are in contact with the second resistance film 16. In addition, the other structure of the touch panel 110 of this comparative example is the same as the touch panel 10 of the said Example.

  In the manufacture of the touch panel 110 of this comparative example, first, as shown in FIG. 10A, a first photosensitive resin film 113 is formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 by spin coating. Then, after the first photosensitive resin film 113 is exposed and developed to form a plurality of contact protrusions 13 as shown in FIG. 10B, the first resistance film as shown in FIG. 10C. 15 is formed by a plasma CVD apparatus to form a plurality of projecting contacts 18, and then, as shown in FIG. 10D, a photosensitive resin is applied by spin coating to form a second photosensitive resin film 119 a. And exposing and developing the second photosensitive resin film 119a to form a plurality of columnar spacers 19a as shown in FIG.

  Thus, in the manufacture of the touch panel 110 of the comparative example, the process of forming the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 is in the order of wet process → dry process → wet process. 11 has to go back and forth from the wet process to the dry process and from the dry process back to the wet process.

  On the other hand, according to the manufacturing method of the touch panel 10 of the above embodiment, the process of forming the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 is in the order of wet process → wet process → dry process. The touch panel 10 can be manufactured in a simple process order.

  In the method of manufacturing the touch panel 10 of the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of protruding contacts 18 are formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11, and then a plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are formed. However, conversely, a plurality of spacer projections 14 may be formed first, and then a plurality of protruding contacts 18 may be formed.

  In the touch panel 10, the touch-side substrate 11 is bent and deformed toward the inner surface by a touch from the outer surface side, and the protruding contact 18 of the touch portion of the plurality of protruding contacts 18 is formed on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12. Since the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 are brought into contact with each other in the touch portion in contact with the second resistance film 16, the touch panel driving circuit 33 shown in FIG. When a constant voltage is applied alternately between both ends of the film 15 in the X-axis direction and both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction, and a voltage is applied to the first resistance film 15 By measuring the voltage value at one end of the second resistance film 16 and the voltage value at one end of the first resistance film 15 when a voltage is applied to the second resistance film 16, these voltages are measured. Based on the value, the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction of the touch point It is possible to detect the coordinates.

  The touch panel drive circuit 33 applies a constant voltage alternately between both ends of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and between both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. When the voltage application circuit 34 and the first resistance film 15 are electrically connected to the second resistance film 16 via the protruding contact 18 of the bent portion of the touch-side substrate 11, the voltage application circuit 34 A voltage measuring system 42 for measuring a voltage generated between a predetermined point of the first resistive film 15 and one end in the X-axis direction of the first resistive film 15 or one end in the Y-axis direction of the second resistive film 16, and the voltage Coordinate detection means 47 for detecting the coordinates of the touch point based on the measurement value of the measurement system 42 is provided.

  The voltage application circuit 34 includes a constant voltage power source 35, a first resistor connected to one end of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and one end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. One pole of the constant voltage power supply 35 is connected to one end in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and one end in the Y-axis direction of the second resistance film 16 via the film connection wirings 36 and 37 (see FIG. The first connection changeover switch 38 for selectively supplying a negative voltage), the other end of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction, and the other end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. And the other end in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and the other end in the Y-axis direction of the second resistance film 16 via the second resistance film connection wirings 39 and 40 respectively connected to And a second connection changeover switch 41 for selectively supplying the voltage of the other pole (+ pole in the figure) of the constant voltage power source 35. To have. Although the constant voltage power source 35 shown in FIG. 11 is a DC power source, the constant voltage power source 35 may be a power source that supplies an alternating voltage.

  Further, the voltage measurement system 42 includes a third resistance film connection wiring 43 connected to one end of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and one end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. , 44, a third connection for selectively supplying the voltage measuring means 46 with a voltage at one end of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and one end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. The switch 45 and voltage measuring means 46 interposed between one pole (negative pole in the figure) of the constant voltage power supply 35 and the third connection selector switch 45 are configured.

  The voltage application circuit 34 connects the first and second connection changeover switches 38 and 41 to the first resistive film 15 at a preset period, for example, 0.1 second period, by a control means (not shown). The both ends of the X-axis direction are switched to the side where the constant voltage power supply 35 is connected (state shown in FIG. 11) and the both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction are connected to the constant voltage power supply 35. A constant voltage of the constant voltage power supply 35 is alternately applied between both ends of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and between both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction.

  The coordinate detection means 47 is controlled by the control means (not shown) and is based on the measurement value of the voltage measurement means 46 when the voltage is applied across the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15. The voltage measurement means 46 measures the coordinates of the touch point in the X-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the X-coordinate) and applies the voltage across the Y-axis direction of the second resistive film 16. Based on the value, the coordinate of the touch point in the Y-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as Y coordinate) is detected.

  The detection of the X and Y coordinates of the touch point based on the measurement value of the voltage measuring means 46 is performed by the following calculation.

The voltage value of the constant voltage power supply 35 is V ₀ , the X coordinate value of one end of the first resistance film 15 in the X axis direction is 0, and the X coordinate value of the other end of the first resistance film 15 in the X axis direction. , 1 is the X coordinate of the touch point, r _{x is} the resistance value between both ends of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction, and R is the internal resistance value of the voltage measuring means 46. The measured voltage value V (x) of the voltage measuring means 46 when the voltage V ₀ is applied between both ends of the resistive film 15 in the X-axis direction is:
Since r _x << R,
V (x) = V ₀ (1-x)
Can be expressed as

Further, the Y coordinate value of one end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y axis direction is 0, the Y coordinate value of the other end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y axis direction is 1, and the Y coordinate value of the touch point is y, where the resistance value between both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction is r _y , the voltage V ₀ when the voltage V ₀ is applied between both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. The measured voltage value V (y) of the voltage measuring means 46 is
Since r _y << R,
V (y) = V ₀ (1-y)
Can be expressed as

Therefore, the X coordinate x and Y coordinate y of the touch point are
x = 1−V (x) / V ₀
y = 1−V (y) / V ₀
It can ask for.

  Further, the touch panel 10 includes two first electrodes 20a and 20b formed in a continuous band shape so as to be opposed to substantially the entire length of both sides in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15, respectively. And two second electrodes 21a and 21b formed in a band shape continuous over substantially the entire length of the side portions are provided on the side portions at both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. One electrode 20a, 20b and second electrode 21a, 21b are connected to drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b provided on the overhanging portion 12a of the opposite substrate 12 by wires 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b, respectively. Because of the connection, the voltage applied alternately by the touch panel drive circuit 33 between both ends of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and between both ends of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. The above Evenly act on substantially the entire area of the first resistive film 15 and the second resistive film 16, the X-coordinate x and Y-coordinate y of the touch point can be detected with high accuracy.

  Therefore, the display device with a touch panel shown in FIG. 1 displays a plurality of key patterns on the display panel 1 and performs a keyboard-like touch input for selectively touching portions corresponding to the plurality of key patterns on the touch panel 10. In addition, for example, by displaying an image on the display panel 1 and touching an arbitrary point on the touch panel 10, an enlarged image centered on the touch point can be displayed on the display panel 1, or on the touch panel 10. The display image on the display panel 1 can be scrolled by moving the touch point in an arbitrary direction.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first electrodes 20a and 20b and the second electrodes 21a and 21b are formed in a continuous band shape, but the first electrodes 20a and 20b and the second electrodes are formed. 21a and 21b correspond to the substantially total length of the side portions at both ends in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and the substantially total length of the side portions at both ends in the Y-axis direction of the second resistance film 16, respectively. It may be provided intermittently at a predetermined pitch, and in this case also, alternately between both ends in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and between both ends in the Y-axis direction of the second resistance film 16. Can be applied to the entire area of the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16 evenly, and the X coordinate x and Y coordinate y of the touch point can be detected with high accuracy.

  In this way, the first electrodes 20a and 20b and the second electrodes 21a and 21b are formed so as to have substantially the entire length of the side portions at both ends in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and the second resistance film 16. In the case where the first resistance film 15 is provided intermittently so as to correspond to substantially the entire length of the side portions at both ends in the Y-axis direction, the plurality of first electrodes facing the side portion at one end in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 A plurality of first electrodes facing the other end of the first resistance film 15 in the X-axis direction and a plurality of first electrodes facing the one end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction. The second electrodes of the second resistance film 16 and the plurality of second electrodes facing the other end of the second resistance film 16 in the Y-axis direction are connected in common, and the projecting portion of the opposite substrate 12 A plurality of drive circuit connection terminals 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b provided on 12a have a plurality of wirings 24a, 24b, and 2 a, it may be connected via 25b.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the edge of the other end in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and the plurality of first electrodes 20a and 20b provided to face these ends are provided. Although electrically connected by spherical conductive particles 27 dispersed in the sealing material 26, the side of the other end in the X-axis direction of the first resistance film 15 and the plurality of first electrodes 20a and 20b may be electrically connected via the conductive member by providing a columnar conductive member corresponding to the sealing portion by the sealing material 26 on one of them. .

  Next, a touch panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 12 will be described. In this embodiment, parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description of the same parts is omitted.

  The touch panel 10a of this embodiment is similar to the touch panel 10 of the first embodiment in that the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 have a height corresponding to the height difference between the contact protrusion 13 and the spacer protrusion 14. And a second layer 14b formed at the same height as the contact protrusion 13 by the same photosensitive resin as the contact protrusion 13 and a laminated film. Other configurations are the same as those of the touch panel 10 of the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the height corresponding to the difference in height between the contact projection 13 and the spacer projection 14 of the first and second layers 14a, 14b of the plurality of spacer projections 14. The first layer 14 a is formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11, and the second layer 14 b having the same height as the contact protrusion 13 is formed thereon.

  In the manufacture of the touch panel 10a, the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 with photosensitive resin on the height of the contact protrusions 13 and the spacer protrusions 14. The resin film is exposed and developed to form one of the lower and upper layers of the plurality of spacer protrusions 14, and the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11. The photosensitive resin is applied to a thickness corresponding to the height of the contact protrusions 13, and the resin film is exposed and developed to form the lower portions of the contact protrusions 13 and the spacer protrusions 14. And the step of forming the other layer at the top at the same time.

  In this embodiment, the first layer 13a having a height corresponding to the difference in height between the first and second layers 14a and 14b of the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 and the spacer protrusion 14 is touched. Since the second layer 13b formed on the inner surface of the side substrate 11 and having the same height as the contact protrusions 13 is laminated thereon, the first and second layers 14a and 14b are the first layer The layer 14a and the second layer 14b are formed in this order.

  A process of forming the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 in manufacturing the touch panel 10a will be described with reference to FIG. 13. In this embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. A transparent photosensitive resin is applied on the inner surface of the substrate 11 to a thickness corresponding to the height difference between the contact protrusion 13 and the spacer protrusion 14 by spin coating to form a first photosensitive resin film 114a. Form.

  Next, the first photosensitive resin film 114a is subjected to an exposure process using an exposure mask (not shown) having a pattern corresponding to the planar shape and arrangement pitch below the plurality of spacer protrusions 14, and then developed. Then, as shown in FIG. 13B, the first layer 14a of the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 formed of the remaining portion of the photosensitive resin film 114a is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13C, on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11, the first layer 14a of the plurality of spacer projections 14 is covered, and a transparent photosensitive resin is applied by spin coating. The second photosensitive resin film 113a is formed by coating to a thickness corresponding to the height of the contact protrusion 13.

  Next, the second photosensitive resin film 113a is exposed using an exposure mask (not shown) having a pattern corresponding to the planar shape and arrangement pitch of the upper portions of the plurality of spacer protrusions 14, and then developed. Then, as shown in FIG. 13D, a plurality of spacer projections 14 formed of the remaining portion of the second photosensitive resin film 113a and a second layer 14b of the plurality of spacer projections 14 are formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13E, the first resistance film 15 made of ITO or the like is formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 so as to cover the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14. A plurality of protruding contacts 18 and a plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed by film formation using a plasma CVD apparatus.

  As described above, in the manufacturing method of this embodiment, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 in the order of wet process → wet process → dry process. Therefore, the touch panel 10a can be manufactured in a simple process order.

  In the touch panel 10a of the second embodiment, the first layer 14a which is the lower layer of the first and second layers 14a and 14b of the plurality of spacer projections 14 is connected to the contact projections 13. The second layer 14b, which is the upper layer, is formed at the same height as that of the contact protrusion 13, but is formed at a height corresponding to the difference in height from the spacer protrusion 14. On the contrary, The first layer 14a, which is the lower layer, is formed at the same height as the contact protrusion 13, and the second layer 14b, which is the upper layer, is formed by the difference in height between the contact protrusion 13 and the spacer protrusion 14. In this case, first, the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the first layers 14 a of the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are simultaneously formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11. After that, the second layer 1 of the plurality of spacer projections 14 To form a b.

  Next, a touch panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 14 will be described. In this embodiment, parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description of the same parts is omitted.

  The touch panel 10b of this embodiment is the touch panel 10 of the first embodiment, in which the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are formed in a larger planar shape than the spacer protrusions 14 of the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the touch panel 10 of the first embodiment.

  In the manufacture of the touch panel 10b of this embodiment, the plurality of contact projections 13 and the plurality of spacer projections 14 are simultaneously formed by a single wet process (application of a photosensitive resin and exposure and development of the resin film). To do.

  A process of forming the plurality of protruding contacts 18 and the plurality of columnar spacers 19 in manufacturing the touch panel 10b will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. First, as shown in FIG. A positive-type transparent photosensitive resin (positive-type photosensitive resin whose exposed portion is removed by development processing) is applied to the inner surface of the substrate to a thickness corresponding to the height of the spacer protrusion 14 by positive coating. A type photosensitive resin film 115 is formed.

  Next, the positive photosensitive resin film 115 is exposed using an exposure mask 120 (see FIG. 16) having a pattern corresponding to the planar shape and arrangement pitch of the plurality of contact projections 13 and the plurality of spacer projections 14. After the processing, a development process is performed to simultaneously form a plurality of contact projections 13 and a plurality of spacer projections 14 formed of the remaining portion of the photosensitive resin film 115 as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the exposure process of the photosensitive resin film 115 is performed in a light shielding part 121 for forming a plurality of contact projections 13 and a light shielding part for forming a plurality of spacer projections 14 as shown in FIG. 122, and a light shielding portion 122 for forming the plurality of spacer projections 14 is formed wider than a light shielding portion 121 for forming the plurality of contact projections 13. Do it.

  As described above, in the positive photosensitive resin film 115, the light shielding portion 122 for forming the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 is formed wider than the light shielding portion 121 for forming the plurality of contact protrusions 13. When exposure processing is performed using the exposure mask 120, the light irradiated from above the exposure mask 120 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 16 is diffracted by the edges of the light shielding portions 121 and 122 of the exposure mask 120. Accordingly, the non-exposed portion corresponding to the light-shielding portions 121 and 122 of the positive photosensitive resin film 115 also enters from the periphery thereof, and the portion corresponding to the narrow light-shielding portion 121 among these non-exposed portions, That is, the portions that become the plurality of contact protrusions 13 are exposed also from above.

  Note that portions of the positive photosensitive resin film 115 that become the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are shielded by the wide light shielding portion 122 of the exposure mask 120, and therefore the peripheral portion of this portion is exposed from above. However, the central part is not exposed.

  Therefore, when an exposure process is performed using the exposure mask 120 and a development process is performed, a plurality of contact protrusions 13 having a height smaller than the thickness of the positive photosensitive resin film 115 and the positive photosensitive resin film 115 are formed. A plurality of spacer protrusions 14 having the same height as the thickness are formed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15C, the first resistance film 15 made of ITO or the like is formed on the inner surface of the touch-side substrate 11 so as to cover the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14. A plurality of protruding contacts 18 and a plurality of columnar spacers 19 are formed by film formation using a plasma CVD apparatus.

  Thus, in the manufacturing method of this embodiment, since the plurality of contact protrusions 13 and the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 are simultaneously formed by one wet process, the touch panel 10b is formed in a simpler process order. Can be manufactured.

  In the touch panels 10, 10 a, and 10 b of the first to third embodiments, portions corresponding to the plurality of spacer protrusions 14 of the second resistance film 16 provided on the inner surface of the opposite substrate 12 are provided. As the nonconductive portion 17 for the first resistance film 15 provided on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11, a hole having an area larger than the area of the tip of the columnar spacer 19 is provided. 17 is not limited to the hole, but may be formed, for example, by providing an insulating film having an area larger than the area of the tip of the columnar spacer 19 on the second resistance film 16.

  In the touch panels 10, 10 a, and 10 b of the above embodiments, the drive circuit connection terminals 22 a, 22 b, 23 a, and 23 b are provided on the opposite substrate 12, but the drive circuit connection terminals are provided on the touch substrate 11. An overhang portion may be formed and provided on the overhang portion.

  In that case, the second resistive film 16 provided on the opposite substrate 12 is positioned at the sealing portion by the frame-shaped sealing material 26 at both sides in one direction, for example, the X-axis direction, A first resistance film 15 provided on the touch-side substrate 11 is formed in a shape perpendicular to one direction, for example, the side portions at both ends in the Y-axis direction are located inward of the seal portion. The side portions at both ends in the X-axis direction are respectively positioned inward of the seal portion, and the side portions at both ends in the Y-axis direction are formed in the shape corresponding to the vicinity of the seal portion or the seal portion, respectively. A plurality of first electrodes facing the edges of both ends in the X-axis direction of the second resistive film 16 provided on the opposite substrate 12 on the inner surface of the touch substrate 11, and the touch substrate 11 of the first resistive film 15 provided on the Y axis Provided with a plurality of second electrodes respectively formed at edges of both ends of the first and second wirings and a plurality of wirings respectively connecting the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes to the drive circuit connection terminals. Good.

  Further, in the touch panels 10, 10 a, and 10 b of the above embodiments, the touch side substrate 11 and the resistance film 15 formed on the touch side substrate 11 are used as the first substrate and the first resistance film, and the opposite side substrate 12 and The resistance film 16 formed on the opposite substrate 12 is used as the second substrate and the second resistance film. On the contrary, the opposite substrate 12 and the resistance film 14 formed on the opposite substrate 12 are used. A first substrate and a first resistance film are used, and the touch-side substrate 11 and the resistance film 13 formed on the touch substrate 11 are used as a second substrate and a second resistance film. A plurality of protruding contacts 18 and a plurality of columnar spacers 19 may be formed on the resistance film 14, and the non-conductive portion 17 may be provided on the inner surface of the touch side substrate 11.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display panel 10, 10a, 10b ... Touch panel, 11, 12 ... Board | substrate, 12a ... Overhang | projection part, 13 ... Contact protrusion, 14 ... Spacer protrusion, 15 ... 1st resistance film, 16 ... 2nd Resistive film, 17 ... non-conducting portion, 18 ... protruding contact, 19 ... columnar spacer, 20a, 20b ... first electrode, 21a, 21b ... second electrode, 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b ... driving circuit connection terminal 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b ... wiring, 26 ... sealing material, 27 ... conductive particles (conductive member), 28 ... liquid inlet, 29 ... sealing resin, 30 ... insulating liquid (liquid crystal), 31 ... Touch area 33 ... Touch panel drive circuit 113, 113a, 113b, 114, 115 ... Photosensitive resin film, 120 ... Exposure mask, 121, 122 ... Light shielding part.

Claims (19)

A first substrate on which a first resistive film is formed and a second substrate on which a second resistive film is formed are arranged with the first and second resistive films facing each other, and the first resistor A touch panel for detecting a contact position between the film and the second resistive film,
A plurality of contact protrusions provided to protrude at a predetermined height on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate;
A plurality of spacer protrusions provided on the first substrate so as to protrude higher than the contact protrusions at positions different from the contact protrusions;
The first resistance film is formed on the first substrate so as to cover the contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions,
The touch panel, wherein the second resistance film is provided with a non-conductive portion at a position where the spacer protrusion is in contact with the second substrate through the first resistance film.   The contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions are disposed at a predetermined interval, and two or more contact protrusions are disposed between two adjacent spacer protrusions. The touch panel according to claim 1.   3. The spacer projection is arranged at each of four corners of a predetermined square region, and the contact projections are arranged at the predetermined interval at least in the square region. Touch panel.   4. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the non-conducting portion has an area larger than an area of a tip end surface of the spacer projection. 5.   The touch panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein the non-conducting portion is a hole provided in the second resistance film.   The contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions are each formed of a photosensitive resin, and the first resistance film and the second resistance film are respectively formed of a transparent conductive film. The touch panel according to any one of 1 to 5.   Each of the spacer protrusions has a first layer formed with a thickness corresponding to a difference in height from the contact protrusions, and a second layer formed with the same thickness as the contact protrusions. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is a laminated film. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded by a frame-shaped sealing material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,
The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein an insulating liquid is sealed in a gap surrounded by the sealing material.   The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein each of the contact protrusions and each of the spacer protrusions is formed in a region surrounded by the sealing material.   The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is a liquid having a difference in refractive index of light between at least one of the first and second substrates of 0.1 or less.   The touch panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is an optically isotropic material at room temperature.   The touch panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is a liquid crystal exhibiting an isotropic phase at a temperature of 5 ° C. or higher.   The touch panel as set forth in claim 8, wherein the insulating liquid is an organic or inorganic insulating liquid material having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or higher.   At the edge of one of the first and second substrates, both ends of the first resistive film in a predetermined direction and orthogonal to the predetermined direction of the second resistive film 14. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising drive circuit connection terminals for connecting both ends in the direction to be driven to the drive circuit. The first substrate on which the first resistance film is formed and the second substrate on which the second resistance film is formed are arranged to face each other, and the first resistance film and the second resistance film are A method of manufacturing a touch panel for detecting a contact position,
Forming a plurality of contact protrusions and a plurality of spacer protrusions projecting higher than the contact protrusions on the first substrate;
Forming the first resistance film on the first substrate so as to cover the contact protrusions and the spacer protrusions;
Forming the second resistance film on the second substrate such that a predetermined position is a non-conductive portion with the first conductive film;
Bonding the first substrate and the second substrate so that the spacer projections correspond to the non-conductive portion;
A method for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising:   15. The touch panel according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of contact protrusions and the plurality of spacer protrusions are sequentially formed by application of a photosensitive resin, exposure to the applied photosensitive resin, and development processing. Production method. Forming the plurality of contact protrusions and the plurality of spacer protrusions;
Applying a first photosensitive resin on the first substrate to a thickness corresponding to a difference in height between the contact protrusion and the spacer protrusion;
Exposing and developing the applied first photosensitive resin to form lower layer portions of the plurality of spacer protrusions;
Applying a second photosensitive resin on the first substrate so as to cover the lower layer portion to a thickness corresponding to the height of the contact protrusion;
A step of exposing and developing the second photosensitive resin to simultaneously form the plurality of contact projections and the plurality of spacer projections;
The touch panel manufacturing method according to claim 15, comprising:   16. The plurality of contact protrusions and the plurality of spacer protrusions are formed simultaneously by applying a positive photosensitive resin, exposing the applied positive photosensitive resin, and developing processing. The manufacturing method of the touch panel as described.   The exposure treatment to the applied positive photosensitive resin includes a plurality of light shielding portions for forming the plurality of contact projections and a light shielding portion for forming the plurality of spacer projections, and 19. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 18, wherein the light shielding part for forming the spacer protrusion is performed using an exposure mask formed wider than the light shielding part for forming the contact protrusion. .

Images