JP5302762B2 - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a five-line type touch panel which can input a plurality of points. <P>SOLUTION: The touch panel includes an upper electrode substrate having an upper conductive film formed on a first substrate, a lower electrode substrate having a lower conductive film formed on a second substrate and four electrodes respectively arranged on the end portions of four sides of the lower conductive film in order to generate potential distribution on the lower conductive film and is configured so that the upper conductive film faces the lower conductive film. The upper conductive film includes: the upper electrode substrate having the upper conductive film including a plurality of conductive areas divided into three or more areas in a horizontal direction; the lower electrode substrate formed on the second substrate and having the lower electrode film facing the upper electrode film; the electrodes formed on the end portions of four sides of the lower conductive film in order to generate potential distribution on the lower conductive film; and a coordinate detection circuit connected to respective conductive areas for, when any one of the conductive areas is brought into contact with the lower conductive film, detecting the coordinate position of the conductive area brought into contact with the lower conductive film. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel.

  The touch panel is an input device that can directly input to the display, and is used by being installed on the front surface of the display. This touch panel is widely used in various applications because it can be directly input based on information visually captured by a display.

  As such a touch panel, a resistance film method is widely known. The resistive film type touch panel is installed so that each transparent conductive film is opposed to each other in the upper electrode substrate and the lower electrode substrate on which the transparent conductive film is formed, and each of the upper electrode substrates is applied with a force. The transparent conductive films are in contact with each other, and the position where the force is applied can be detected.

  Resistive touch panels can be roughly classified into 4-wire type and 5-wire type. In the four-wire system, an X-axis electrode is provided on one of the upper electrode substrate and the lower electrode substrate, and a Y-axis electrode is provided on the other. On the other hand, in the 5-wire system, both the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode are provided on the lower electrode substrate, and the upper electrode substrate functions as a probe for detecting a voltage (for example, Patent Documents). 1, 2).

  Specifically, a 5-wire touch panel will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a 5-wire touch panel, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the 5-wire touch panel.

  The 5-wire touch panel 200 includes a film 210 having a transparent conductive film 230 formed on one surface serving as an upper electrode substrate and a glass 220 having a transparent conductive film 240 formed on one surface serving as a lower electrode substrate. The transparent conductive film 230 and the transparent conductive film 240 are disposed through the spacer 250 so as to face each other. The 5-wire touch panel 200 and a host computer (not shown) are electrically connected by a cable 260.

  In the 5-wire touch panel 200 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 3A, the electrodes 241, 242, 243, and 244 provided on the four sides of the end portion of the transparent conductive film 240 are used in the X-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 3B, the transparent conductive film 230 and the transparent conductive film 240 are contacted at the contact position A, by alternately applying a voltage in the Y-axis direction. In this method, the potential Va is detected, and the respective coordinate positions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are detected.

  By the way, in the 5-wire touch panel described above, it is possible to detect the contact position at one point, but it is not possible to detect the position when a plurality of points touch at the same time.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, when voltages are applied alternately in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the electrodes 241, 242, 243, and 244 provided on the four sides of the transparent conductive film 240, When the transparent conductive film 230 and the transparent conductive film 240 are in contact at two points of contact positions A and B, a coordinate position of one point not pressed at an intermediate point between the points A and B is detected. Since this is a position detection method based on potential detection as shown in FIG. 4B, even if contact is made at two points of contact position A and point B, detection is performed via the transparent conductive film 230. This is because it is determined that the contact position is one point because only one potential Vc is applied.

JP 2004-272722 A JP 2008-293129 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and can detect each contact position even when contacting at a plurality of contact positions at the same time, and can detect the position even when the contact position moves. An object of the present invention is to provide a possible touch panel.

A touch panel according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first substrate and a plurality of conductive regions formed on the first substrate and divided into three or more portions in the vertical direction and three or more portions in the horizontal direction. An upper electrode substrate having an upper conductive film, a spacer, a second substrate, and a lower conductive film formed on the second substrate and opposed to the upper conductive film, A lower electrode substrate disposed through the spacer, an electrode provided at an end of each of the four sides of the lower conductive film for generating a potential distribution in the lower conductive film, and each of the conductive regions And when any of the conductive regions comes into contact with the lower conductive film, the coordinate detection circuit detects a coordinate position of the conductive region in contact with the lower conductive film, and any one of the four sides of the upper electrode substrate Not in contact with others, other in plan view Conductive region conductive region surrounded by the have a lead portion consisting of an upper conductive layer extending in one side of the four sides, said the resistance value of the conductive region having a lead portion, the resistance of the conductive region not having lead portions A first resistor connected to the conductive region having the lead portion and a second resistor connected to the conductive region not having the lead portion to adjust the value, the first resistor And an output adjustment circuit for inputting the output from the second resistor to the coordinate detection circuit .

  The coordinate detection circuit may detect the coordinate position of the contacted conductive region by detecting the potential in each conductive region while sequentially selecting each of the conductive regions.

  Further, a multiplexer connected to each of the conductive regions, sequentially selecting each of the conductive regions and outputting a signal representing a potential in each conductive region, and an analog / digital converting the signal output from the multiplexer And a converter.

  The coordinate detection circuit is connected to each of the conductive regions, sequentially selects each of the conductive regions, and outputs a signal representing a potential in each conductive region; and a signal output from the multiplexer An analog / digital converter that performs digital conversion may be included.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a touch panel capable of detecting each contact position even when simultaneously contacting at a plurality of contact positions and capable of detecting the position even when the contact position moves. it can.

Perspective view of a conventional 5-wire touch panel Cross-sectional schematic diagram of a conventional 5-wire touch panel Explanatory drawing of the coordinate detection method in the conventional 5-wire type touch panel (1) Explanatory drawing of the coordinate detection method in the conventional 5-wire type touch panel (2) Structural diagram of upper electrode substrate of touch panel in embodiment Structural diagram of lower electrode substrate of touch panel in embodiment Sectional drawing of touch panel in embodiment Explanatory drawing of the touch panel in embodiment Explanatory drawing of the electroconductive area | region of the upper electrode board | substrate of the touchscreen in embodiment It is a figure which shows the drive circuit of the touchscreen of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the timing chart for driving the drive circuit of the touchscreen of this Embodiment.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.

  A touch panel according to an embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of the upper electrode substrate of the touch panel in the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of the lower electrode substrate of the touch panel in the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the touch panel in the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the touch panel in the present embodiment.

  The touch panel in the present embodiment is provided on one surface of a substantially rectangular upper electrode substrate 10 having a transparent conductive film 12 formed on one surface of a film 11 and a glass substrate 21 having substantially the same shape as the upper electrode substrate 10. It is comprised by the lower electrode substrate 20 in which the transparent conductive film 22 was formed.

  The upper electrode substrate 10 and the lower electrode substrate 20 are bonded with an adhesive or a double-sided tape through a spacer 31 or the like so that the transparent conductive film 12 in the upper electrode substrate 10 and the transparent conductive film 22 in the lower electrode substrate 20 face each other. It is joined.

  The transparent conductive film 12 in the upper electrode substrate 10 is divided into four parts in the longitudinal direction, which is the short direction, and eight parts in the transverse direction, which is the longitudinal direction, and the whole is divided into 32 parts. The division of each conductive region of the transparent conductive film 12 is performed by removing the transparent conductive film 12 between the regions to be conductive regions. Thereby, it can electrically insulate between the divided | segmented electrically conductive area | regions. Each divided transparent conductive film 12 is connected to each extraction electrode in the extraction electrode portion 13 provided at both ends in the short direction of the upper electrode substrate 10, and is wired around the upper electrode substrate 10. One end of the upper electrode substrate 10 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the flexible substrate 14. A terminal 15 is connected to the end of the flexible substrate 14.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower electrode substrate 20 is provided with rectangular annular electrodes 23 on the transparent conductive film 22 at the end portions of the four sides constituting the lower electrode substrate 20. The electrode 23 is composed of, for example, a resistance film made of Ag or Ag-C, and lead lines are connected to the four vertex portions LL, LR, UL, and UR to control the potential of each vertex portion. ing. This lead line is drawn from the periphery of the lower electrode substrate 20 and connected to the flexible substrate 27 at one end in the longitudinal direction of the lower electrode substrate 20 as shown in FIG. Is connected.

Both the terminal 15 of the flexible substrate 14 and the terminal 28 of the flexible substrate 27 are connected to a drive circuit, which will be described later, and further connected to a host computer (not shown). As the material constituting the transparent conductive film 12 and the transparent conductive film 22, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) , ZnO material Al or Ga or the like (zinc oxide) is added, Sb or the like SnO ₂ (tin oxide) The material etc. to which was added are mentioned.

  Examples of the film 11 include PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), and a transparent resin material in the visible region. Further, a resin substrate may be used instead of the glass substrate 21.

  In the touch panel in the present embodiment, the transparent conductive film 12 in the upper electrode substrate 10 and the transparent conductive film 22 in the lower electrode substrate 20 are in contact with each other by pressing the upper electrode substrate 10 with a finger or the like, and the voltage at the contact position is Is detected, a contact position between the upper electrode substrate 10 and the lower electrode substrate 20, that is, a position where the upper electrode substrate 10 is pressed by a finger or the like is specified. Specifically, in the upper electrode substrate 10, each of the divided transparent conductive films 12 is scanned by time division, and the conductive region including the contact position can be specified by the timing of contact.

  In addition, by controlling the voltage applied to the apex portions LL, LR, UL, and UR of the rectangular annular electrode 23 provided on the transparent conductive film 22 in the lower electrode substrate 20, the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are alternated. It is comprised so that a voltage may be applied to.

  Thus, by dividing the transparent conductive film 12 and forming the conductive region in the upper electrode substrate 10, even if there are a plurality of contact positions where the upper electrode substrate 10 and the lower electrode substrate 20 are in contact, the divided transparent Since the contact position can be specified for each conductive region of the conductive film 12, each contact position can be detected independently.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, there are five contact positions between the transparent conductive film 12 on the upper electrode substrate 10 and the transparent conductive film 22 on the lower electrode substrate 20, as indicated by arrows A, B, C, D, and E. Even in this case, each contact position can be detected independently because each region of the transparent conductive film 12 is different. Specifically, when the contact position between the upper electrode substrate 10 and the lower electrode substrate 20 is the position indicated by the arrow A, the contact is made in the conductive region 12a of the transparent conductive film 12, and the contact position is the position indicated by the arrow B. Is in contact with the conductive region 12b of the transparent conductive film 12, and when the contact position is the position indicated by arrow C, it is in contact with the conductive region 12c of the transparent conductive film 12, and the contact position is in arrow D. Is in contact with the conductive region 12d of the transparent conductive film 12, and when the contact position is the position indicated by arrow E, it is in contact with the conductive region 12e of the transparent conductive film 12. Since the twelve conductive regions 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, and 12e are different regions insulated from each other, each can be detected independently. Therefore, even if there are five contact positions between the upper electrode substrate 10 and the lower electrode substrate 20, each contact position can be specified.

  The configuration of the drive circuit for enabling the above-described control will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  As described above, even when there are a plurality of contact positions between the transparent conductive film 12 and the transparent conductive film 22, the contacted conductive region can be specified, and the potential distribution in the transparent conductive film 22 can be detected more accurately. The coordinate position can also be detected. Further, even when the contact position between the transparent conductive film 12 and the transparent conductive film 22 is moved, it can be recognized that the contact position has moved, and by detecting the potential distribution in the transparent conductive film 22, It is also possible to detect the position coordinates of the moved contact position.

  Next, the division of the conductive region of the transparent conductive film 12 in the upper electrode substrate 10 will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, the transparent conductive film 12 is divided into four in the longitudinal direction, which is the short direction, and eight in the lateral direction, which is the longitudinal direction, for a total of 32 divisions. Has been. These divided areas are divided into two upper stages and two lower stages. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper two stages are connected to the respective extraction electrodes in the extraction electrode section 13 at one end in the short direction (vertical direction) which is the upper end, and the lower two stages are At the other end in the short direction (vertical direction) serving as the lower end, each of the extraction electrodes in the extraction electrode portion 13 is connected. In the touch panel in this embodiment, each conductive region is formed in a rectangular shape or a square shape, and is mainly operated by a finger. Therefore, the long side of the largest conductive region among a plurality of conductive regions is used. Or it is preferable that the length of one side is 25 mm or less, More preferably, it is 20 mm or less. This is based on the thickness of the finger, and even when the fingertip and the fingertip contact at a plurality of contact positions, if the length of one side is shorter than the interval between the fingertip and the fingertip, each contact position is determined. This is because it can be detected independently. For this reason, the range of the length of one side of the conductive region can be determined based on the distance between the human fingertip and the fingertip, comfortable operability, and the like. In addition, if the area is too small, the area of the lead-out portion described later increases and functionally hinders. Therefore, when considering the above viewpoint, the short side or the length of one side in the smallest conductive area among the plurality of conductive areas is 5 mm. The above is preferable, and more preferably 7 mm or more.

  In addition, each conductive area | region in the transparent conductive film 12 is formed by removing the transparent conductive film 12 along the peripheral part of each conductive area | region. Thereby, it is possible to maintain insulation between adjacent conductive regions.

  As a method for removing the transparent conductive film 12, a region where the transparent conductive film 12 is removed is irradiated with laser light, and a portion of the transparent conductive film 12 irradiated with the laser light is removed by heat or ablation. A photoresist pattern is applied on the film 12, and a resist pattern is formed on a region to be a conductive region by exposure and development using an exposure apparatus, and a resist pattern is not formed by dry etching or wet edging. Examples thereof include a method for removing the transparent conductive film 12 in the region, and a method for removing the transparent conductive film 12 by printing an etching paste on the region from which the transparent conductive film 12 is removed. A method of removing the transparent conductive film 12 by laser beam irradiation is preferable.

  In addition, it is preferable that the width | variety of the transparent conductive film 12 removed in order to form an electroconductive area | region is 1 mm or less. In the touch panel, when the width of the conductive region to be formed becomes wide, the undetectable region increases, and the function as the touch panel cannot be sufficiently exhibited. Therefore, what is assumed to contact the touch panel is a finger or a pen, and the tip of the pen has a radius of about 0.8 mm. Therefore, if the width of the region where the transparent conductive film 12 is removed is 1 mm or less This is because it is considered that the function as a touch panel is not hindered. In the present embodiment, the width of the region where the transparent conductive film 12 is removed is about 100 μm in order to enhance the visibility of the touch panel and enhance the function.

  In the touch panel in the present embodiment, in the transparent conductive film 12 in the upper electrode substrate 10, a pattern obtained by inverting the pattern of the conductive region composed of the conductive region 121 and the conductive region 122 is also formed on the upper side, and arranged in the vertical direction. Eight patterns similar to the pattern of the four conductive regions are formed in the horizontal direction.

  FIG. 9B shows an enlarged view of a region surrounded by a broken line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, when one of the two divided portions on the lower side of the transparent conductive film 12 is a conductive region 121 and the other is a conductive region 122, the other conductive region 122 is an upper portion. One of the four sides along the longitudinal direction of the electrode substrate 10 is in contact with one side, and one of the conductive regions 121 is not in contact with one of the four sides of the upper electrode substrate 10 along the longitudinal direction. For this reason, a lead portion 121b extending from the region portion 121a of one conductive region 121 to the end of the side along the longitudinal direction of the upper electrode substrate 10 is formed, and further, a connection portion 121c in contact with the end of this side is formed. The lead portion 121b is formed between two conductive regions that are in contact with the side of the upper electrode substrate 10 along the longitudinal direction. That is, it is formed between the conductive region 122 and the conductive region in contact with the side adjacent to the conductive region 122. Therefore, it is originally formed in a region that becomes the conductive region 122. For this reason, in order to prevent erroneous recognition of the contact position, it is preferable to form the lead-out portion 121b as thin as possible.

  Accordingly, one conductive region 121 can be connected to the extraction electrode 131 at the connection portion 121c, and the other conductive region 122 is connected to the extraction electrode 132 in the vicinity of the end of the side of the upper electrode substrate 10 in the conductive region 122. Can be connected with.

  The connection part 121c of the conductive region 121 and the extraction electrode 131 are connected by forming a silver paste on the connection part 121c. Similarly, the conductive region 122 and the extraction electrode 132 are connected by forming a silver paste on the conductive region 122 at the end of the side of the upper electrode substrate 10. In addition, when a plurality of extraction electrodes 131 and 132 are gathered, the extraction electrode portion 13 shown in FIG. 5 is formed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel drive circuit according to the present embodiment.

  The touch panel drive circuit 100 according to the present embodiment includes an MCU (Memory Control Unit) 101, a potential control unit 102, a multiplexer 103, an output adjustment circuit 104, and a noise filter 105.

  The MCU 101 performs drive control of the potential control unit 102 and the multiplexer 103 and detects a coordinate at which the touch is performed by processing a signal indicating the coordinates of the position at which the touch is performed. The MCU 101 includes an analog / digital converter 101A as a processing unit that processes signals representing coordinates obtained from each region of the transparent conductive film 12 divided into 32 parts.

  The potential control unit 102 includes six transistors 102 </ b> A to 102 </ b> F, and controls the voltage applied to the vertexes LL, LR, UL, and UR of the rectangular annular electrode 23 provided on the transparent conductive film 22 in the lower electrode substrate 20. This is a circuit for alternately forming a potential distribution in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the lower electrode substrate 20.

  Transistors 102A, 102C, and 102E are P-type transistors, and transistors 102B, 102D, and 102F are N-type transistors. A power source (5 (V)) is connected to the emitter of the transistor 102A, and the emitter of the transistor 102B is grounded. Drive signals PSW1 and PSW2 input from the MCU 101 are input to the bases of the transistors 102A and 102B, respectively. The collectors of the transistors 102A and 102B are connected to each other, and the connection point is connected to the vertex LR.

  A power source (5 (V)) is connected to the emitter of the transistor 102C, and the emitter of the transistor 102D is grounded. Drive signals PSW3 and PSW4 input from the MCU 101 are input to the bases of the transistors 102C and 102D, respectively. The collectors of the transistors 102C and 102D are connected to each other, and the connection point is connected to the vertex portion UR.

  The emitter of the transistor 102E is connected to the power supply (5 (V)), the drive signal PSW5 input from the MCU 101 is input to the base, and the collector is connected to the apex UR.

  The emitter of the transistor 102F is grounded, the drive signal PSW6 input from the MCU 101 is input to the base, and the collector is connected to the apex LL.

  The potential control unit 102 alternately forms potential distributions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the lower electrode substrate 20 based on the drive signals PSW1 to PSW6 input from the MCU 101.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the multiplexer 103 is connected to each area of the transparent conductive film 12 divided into 4 rows × 8 columns and divided into 32. The multiplexer 103 scans one column at a time and outputs a signal representing the potential distribution of each region. To detect. This scanning is performed by region selection signals S0, S1, and S2 input from the MCU 101. The region selection signals S0 to S2 are signals for sequentially selecting eight regions arranged in the column direction in each row. By the region selection signals S0 to S2, the region in the column direction in each row is selected in order, and the region is selected simultaneously for four rows. Output signals AN0 to AN3 representing the potential distribution for each row are input to an analog / digital converter 101A built in the MCU 101, and XY coordinates are detected.

  The output adjustment circuit 104 is connected to each of signal lines for outputting the output signals AN0 to AN3 of each row of the multiplexer 103 to the MCU 101, and includes adjustment resistors 104a to 104d and switching elements 104A to 104D. The switching elements 104A to 104D are configured such that the PSW0 signal output from the MCU 101 is input to the base. The switching elements 104A to 104D are turned on before the touch is performed and the potential of the transparent conductive film 22 is set to the installation potential (0 (V )), And when a touch is made, it is turned off to hold the potential of the signal line at a floating potential. As shown in FIG. 9, the conductive films 12 are arranged in two rows on the inner side in the short side direction (16 pieces), and the conductive films 12 are arranged on the outer side in the short side direction (16 pieces). ) Since the resistance is larger than that of the conductive film 12, detection of a potential change in the MCU 101 is delayed when a touch is performed. In order to prevent this, in the adjustment resistors 104a to 104d, the resistance values of the adjustment resistors 104b and 104c connected to the two inner rows in the short direction are connected to the two outer rows in the short direction. It is adjusted so as to be smaller than the resistance values of the adjusting resistors 104a and 104d. This eliminates the difference in response when a touch is made between the inner two rows of the short direction and the outer two rows.

  The noise filter 105 is connected to each of signal lines that output the output signals AN0 to AN3 of each row of the multiplexer 103 to the MCU 101, and is arranged to remove noise included in the output signals AN0 to AN3. It is a filter circuit. The output signals AN0 to AN3 that have passed through the noise filter 105 are input to an analog / digital converter 101A built in the MCU 101.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a timing chart for driving the drive circuit of the touch panel of the present embodiment. Here, it is assumed that touch is performed at times t0 and t1.

  In a state before time t0, all of the drive signals PSW1 to PSW6 are held at the L level. As a result, LR: 5 (V), UL: 5 (V), UR: 5 (V), LL: floating potential (open).

  At this time, PSW0 is at the H level, the switching elements 104A to 104D of the output adjustment circuit 104 are turned on, and the output signals AN0 to AN3 are all 0 (V), indicating that no touch is performed. Represents.

  The region selection signals S0 to S2 output from the MCU 101 are driven as shown in FIG. 11 so that eight regions are sequentially selected for each row by the multiplexer 103, and the output signals AN0 to AN3 are input to the MCU 101. Has been. In the selection of the eight areas 0 to 7 in each row, the area (0) is selected in S0: L, S1: L, and S2: L, and the area (1) and S0 in S0: H, S1: 0, and S2: L. : L, S1: H, S2: L in region (2), S0: H, S1: H, S2: L in region (3), S0: L, S1: L, S2: H in region (4), S0: H, S1: L, S2: H in region (5), S0: L, S1: H, S2: H in region (6), S0: H, S1: H, S2: H in region (7) Are selected sequentially. This is done simultaneously for each of the four rows.

  It is assumed that a touch is performed on any of the 32 areas at time t0. Here, it is assumed that there is a touch in the 0th area of the row corresponding to the output signal AN0. The 0th area of the row corresponding to the output signal AN0 is, for example, an area at a corner closest to the upper left (UL) shown in FIG.

  When the output signal AN0 rises at time t0, PSW3 and PSW4 rise and PSW6 rises to detect the X coordinate, thereby generating a potential distribution in the X-axis direction in the transparent conductive film 22 in the lower electrode substrate 20. At this time, PSW7 is at the L level, and the switching elements 104A to 104D of the output adjustment circuit 104 are turned off.

  Furthermore, in order to detect the Y coordinate, PSW3 and PSW4 fall to the L level, and PSW1 and PSW2 rise.

  At time t0, the transparent conductive film 12 of the upper electrode substrate 10 is pressed and comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 22 of the lower electrode substrate 20, so that the transparent conductive film 12 of the upper electrode substrate 10 touches the X coordinate and Y coordinate. Is generated as an output signal AN0.

  The output signal AN0 is input to the MCU 101, and the X and Y coordinates touched by the analog / digital converter 101A in the MCU 101 are converted into digital signals and output.

  When the detection of the X and Y coordinates is completed, PSW1 and PSW2 return to the L level, and PSW6 also returns to the L level. Thus, preparation for detecting the output signal of the region (1) is completed. Such detection of the X and Y coordinates is the same when a touch is made in the same area at time t1, and is also the same when a touch is made in another area.

  Here, the 32 regions of the transparent conductive film 12 are insulated from each other as described above, and output signals are also sequentially selected and output by the multiplexer 103 for each region. For this reason, coordinate detection can be performed independently and independently in all 32 regions (0) to (7) of the output signals AN0 to AN3 corresponding to the 1st to 4th rows.

  According to the touch panel of the present embodiment, in the upper electrode substrate 10, each of the divided transparent conductive films 12 is scanned by time division, and the conductive region including the contact position is specified by the contact timing. Can do.

  Further, by dividing the transparent conductive film 12 in the upper electrode substrate 10 to form a conductive region, even if there are a plurality of contact positions where the upper electrode substrate 10 and the lower electrode substrate 20 are in contact, the divided transparent conductive film A contact position can be specified for every 12 conductive regions.

  For this reason, even when a plurality of places are touched, each contact position can be detected independently.

  As mentioned above, although the form which concerns on implementation of this invention was demonstrated, the said content does not limit the content of invention.

  The present invention can be applied to a 5-wire resistive touch panel, and is useful when the display of various information processing devices is configured with a 5-wire resistive touch panel. Examples of information processing devices in this case include a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable music player, a portable image player, a portable browser, a one-segment tuner, an electronic dictionary, a car navigation system, a computer, a POS terminal, and an inventory management terminal. ATM and various multimedia terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Upper electrode substrate 11 Film 12 Transparent conductive film 13 Extraction electrode part 14 Flexible substrate 20 Lower electrode substrate 21 Glass 22 Transparent conductive film 23 Electrode 24 Electrode 25 Electrode 26 Electrode 27 Flexible substrate 31 Spacer 100 Drive circuit 101 MCU
101A Analog / Digital Converter 102 Potential Control Unit 103 Multiplexer 104 Output Adjustment Circuits 104a to 104d Adjustment Resistors 104A to 104D Switching Element 105 Noise Filter 121 Conductive Region 121a Region Portion 121b Lead Portion 121c Connection Portion 122 Conductive Region 131 Lead Electrode 132 Lead electrode

Claims (6)

An upper electrode substrate having a first substrate and an upper conductive film including a plurality of conductive regions formed on the first substrate and divided into three or more portions in the vertical direction and three or more portions in the horizontal direction When,
Spacers,
A lower electrode formed on the second substrate and having a lower conductive film opposed to the upper conductive film and disposed between the upper electrode substrate and the spacer. A substrate,
Electrodes provided at the ends of the four sides of the lower conductive film to generate a potential distribution in the lower conductive film;
A coordinate detection circuit that is connected to each of the conductive regions and detects the coordinate position of the conductive region in contact with any of the conductive regions when the conductive region is in contact with the lower conductive film;
Wherein among the four sides of the upper electrode substrate not in contact with any of the sides, a conductive region surrounded by another conductive region in a plan view, have a lead portion consisting of an upper conductive layer extending in one side of the four sides,
In order to adjust the resistance value of the conductive region having the lead portion and the resistance value of the conductive region not having the lead portion, a first resistor connected to the conductive region having the lead portion, and the lead portion And a second resistor connected to a conductive region that does not include a touch panel , further including an output adjustment circuit that inputs the output through the first resistor and the second resistor to the coordinate detection circuit . An upper electrode substrate having an upper conductive film including a plurality of conductive regions formed on a first substrate and divided into three or more portions in the vertical direction and three or more portions in the horizontal direction;
A lower electrode substrate having a lower conductive film formed on a second substrate and facing the upper conductive film;
Electrodes provided at the ends of the four sides of the lower conductive film to generate a potential distribution in the lower conductive film;
A coordinate detection circuit that is connected to each of the conductive regions and detects the coordinate position of the conductive region in contact with any of the conductive regions when the conductive region is in contact with the lower conductive film;
The number of divisions in the smaller direction among the number of divided conductive regions in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction in the upper electrode film is 4 or more, and the divided conductive regions are along the direction with the larger number of divisions. The conductive region that is not adjacent to the side is provided with the lead-out portion extending to the side along the direction in which the number of divisions is large ,
In order to adjust the resistance value of the conductive region having the lead portion and the resistance value of the conductive region not having the lead portion, a first resistor connected to the conductive region having the lead portion, and the lead portion And a second resistor connected to a conductive region that does not include a touch panel , further including an output adjustment circuit that inputs the output through the first resistor and the second resistor to the coordinate detection circuit .   The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein a resistance value of the first resistor is smaller than a resistance value of the second resistor. The coordinate detection circuit, while sequentially selecting each of said conductive region, by detecting the potential at each of the conductive regions, detects the coordinate position of a of said contact conductive region, any of claims 1 to 3 the touch panel according to one paragraph or. The coordinate detection circuit is connected to each of the conductive regions, sequentially selects each of the conductive regions and outputs a signal representing a potential in each conductive region, and digitally converts the signal output from the multiplexer The touch panel according to claim 4 , further comprising an analog / digital converter. The touch panel according to claim 5 , wherein the multiplexer simultaneously selects conductive regions arranged in the same column in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction among the plurality of conductive regions.

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