JP5334889B2 - Input device and display device including the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device that detects a place where a user performs an input operation as an input position, and a display device including the same.

  A conventional input device has an input area for detecting an input position. When a finger or the like approaches or presses the input area, a position where the finger or pen approaches or presses is detected as an input position.

  On the other hand, in recent years, there has been known one in which a display pattern is provided outside an input area for the purpose of improving the design of the input device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such an input device includes a base, a coloring member disposed so as to surround the input region, and a protection member provided from the coloring member to the base. This colored member forms a display pattern on the input device.

JP-A-5-114329

  However, in such an input device, when the input area is pressed by a finger or a pen, the protective member is deformed, and the protective member located outside the input area is pulled toward the input area, so that Stress is applied to the positioned protective member. When this pressing is repeated, the bonding strength between the protective member and the colored member is reduced by the stress, and the protective member is easily peeled from the colored member. When the protective member is peeled off, the colored member is exposed, and there is a problem that the reliability of the input device is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device and a display device that can suppress a decrease in reliability even when a colored member is provided. .

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to the present invention is an input device having an input region for detecting an input position, and is disposed so as to surround the input region on the substrate and the substrate. A colored member having a portion, and a protective member provided from above the colored member to the base and partly embedded in the hole.

  The input device according to the present invention can suppress a decrease in reliability even when a colored member is provided.

It is a top view of the input device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. (A) is sectional drawing which followed II of FIG. (B) is sectional drawing which followed II-II of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. It is a top view of the input device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along IV-IV of FIG. It is a top view of the input device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along VV of FIG. It is a figure which shows the input device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is sectional drawing corresponding to II of FIG. 1, (b) is sectional drawing corresponding to II-II of FIG. FIG. It is a figure which shows the input device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, and is sectional drawing corresponding to III-III of FIG. It is a top view of the input device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in alignment with VI-VI of FIG. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing method of the input device of FIG. 10, and is sectional drawing corresponding to VI-VI. It is a top view which shows the input device which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the input device which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention, and is sectional drawing corresponding to VII-VII of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the display apparatus which has an input device of FIG. FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal display panel mounted on the display device of FIG. 15.

[Embodiment 1]
First, an input device X1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The input device X1 according to the present embodiment is a capacitive touch panel.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input device X1 is positioned outside the input area E _I and an input area E _I for inputting information by a user approaching or pressing a conductor such as a finger or a pen. And an outer region _EO . In addition, the outer area _EO has an FPC (Flexible Printed) not shown.
It has an external conduction region E _G where Circuit) and the like are electrically connected.

  The input device X1 includes a base body 10, a detection electrode 20, a wiring conductor 30, a coloring member 40, and a protection member 50.

The substrate 10 has a role of supporting the detection electrode 20, the wiring conductor 30, the coloring member 40 and the protection member 50. The base 10 has a first main surface 10a and a second main surface 10b located on the opposite side of the first main surface 10a. As shown in FIG. 1, the planar view shape of the substrate 10 is rectangular, but is not limited to this and is arbitrary. Examples of the material of the base 10 include insulating and translucent materials, such as glass and plastic. Here, translucency means having transparency to visible light, and the transmittance of visible light is preferably 90% or more.

The detection electrode 20 includes a plurality of detection units 21 and connection units 22. Detection electrode 20 is provided on the first major surface 10a of the substrate 10 corresponding to the input region _{E I.} The detection electrodes 20 are arranged along the directions of the arrows A and B. Further, the detection electrodes 20 arranged in the direction of the arrow A and the detection electrodes 20 arranged in the direction of the arrow B intersect with each other via the insulating member 20A. Here, examples of the material of the insulating member 20A include resins such as acrylic resin and epoxy resin.

Examples of the material of the detection electrode 20 include materials having translucency and conductivity. As what has translucency and conductivity, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide), and AZO (Al-Doped Zinc Oxide)
), Tin oxide, zinc oxide, and conductive polymers (such as PEDOT and PSS).

  Examples of a method for forming the detection electrode 20 include the following method. First, for example, ITO is formed as a film on the first major surface 10a of the substrate 10 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A photosensitive resin is applied to the surface of the ITO film, and a desired pattern is formed on the photosensitive resin by performing exposure processing and development processing on the applied photosensitive resin. Next, the ITO film is etched into a desired shape by etching the ITO film with a chemical solution. Then, the detection electrode 20 is formed by removing the photosensitive resin provided on the surface of the ITO film.

The detection unit 21 has a function of detecting an input position. The detection electrodes 20 are arranged in a matrix with a predetermined interval. Further, the detection units 21 adjacent in the direction of arrow A are electrically connected to each other by the connection unit 22. Similarly, the detection units 21 adjacent in the arrow B direction are electrically connected to each other by the connection unit 22. The detection unit 21
Although the shape in plan view is a rhombus, it is not limited to this and is arbitrary.

  In the present embodiment, the width of the detection unit 21 is set larger than the width of the connection unit 22. For example, the width of the detection unit 21 is 5 to 30 times larger than the width of the connection unit 22. That's it.

  The connection part 22 has a role which electrically connects the adjacent detection parts 21. FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection portion 22 of the detection electrode 20 arranged in the direction of the arrow A and the connection portion 22 of the detection electrode 20 arranged in the direction of the arrow B intersect via the insulating member 20A. ing.

The wiring conductor 30 has a function of applying a voltage to the detection electrode 20. The wiring conductor 30 is provided on the first main surface 10a of the base 10 corresponding to the outer region _EO . Wiring conductor 30 has one end electrically connected to the detection electrode 20, the other end portion is located outside conductive region E _G. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the input device X1 includes a wiring conductor existence region E ₃₀ regions where the wiring conductor 30 is provided, an area where the wiring conductor 30 is not provided conductor absence region E _30N .

  Examples of the material of the wiring conductor 30 include conductive materials such as ITO, tin oxide, aluminum, aluminum alloy, silver film, or silver alloy. Moreover, the formation method of the wiring conductor 30 includes the same method as the detection electrode 20.

The coloring member 40 has a function of coloring the outer region _EO of the input device X1. Colored member 40 is provided so as to surround the input region E _I to the second major surface 10b of the substrate 10 corresponding to the outer region E _O. Moreover, the coloring member 40 has the joint surface 40a. The joint surface 40 a is a surface that joins the protection member 50.

In addition, the coloring member 40 has a plurality of hole portions 41 on the joint surface 40 a that joins the protection member 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the holes 41 are regularly arranged in a certain direction in plan view. Further, the depth L ₄₁ of the hole 41 in the present embodiment is set to be larger than the thickness L ₃₀ of the wiring conductor 30.

  Further, the coloring member 40 is provided on the second main surface 10b of the base 10 so as to overlap the wiring conductor 30 in plan view. Thereby, since the wiring conductor 30 can be hidden with the coloring member 40, when using the input device X1, a user becomes difficult to visually recognize the wiring conductor 30.

  Examples of the material of the coloring member 40 include a resin such as a polyvinyl chloride resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic resin, and a urethane resin, which contains a predetermined color pigment or dye as a colorant. It is done. Examples of the method for forming the coloring member 40 include the following methods. For example, an acrylic resin is applied to the second main surface 10 b of the substrate 10. And a hole is formed in the coloring member 40 by performing an exposure process and a development process sequentially with respect to this acrylic resin. Then, the hole 41 of a desired shape can be formed by heating for a predetermined time under a predetermined temperature condition and adjusting the viscosity of the acrylic resin.

The protection member 50 has a function of protecting the coloring member 40 from an external object. The protection member 50 is provided from the coloring member 40 to the base body 10. Specifically, the protection member 50 is provided on the second main surface 10b of the base 10 corresponding to the input region E _I and the outer region E _O so as to cover the coloring member 40. A part of the protective member 50 is embedded in the hole 41 of the coloring member 40. A part of the protection member 50 is joined to the inner wall surface 41 a of the hole 41. In the present embodiment, a part of the protective member 50 is filled in the hole 41.

  Examples of the material of the protective member 50 include polyethylene-terephthalate, acrylic, polycardade, and glass.

  The protective member 50 may have a function as an adhesive member, and a protective substrate may be further bonded to the protective member 50 as the adhesive member. In this case, examples of the material for the protective member include acrylic adhesives, silicon adhesives, rubber adhesives, and urethane adhesives. Moreover, the protection member 50 may have a function as a polarizing plate, a decoration board, etc., for example.

  In the input device X <b> 1, the coloring member 40 has a hole 41, and a part of the protective member 50 is embedded in the hole 41. Therefore, in the input device X1, the area of the joint surface 40a where the coloring member 40 is joined to the protection member 50 is increased as compared with the conventional input device. Thereby, even when pressing with a finger or the like is repeated, it is possible to reduce the peeling of the protective member 50 from the colored member 40 by improving the bonding strength between the protective member 50 and the colored member 40. Therefore, since the input device X1 can reduce the exposure of the coloring member 40, the reliability is improved.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 is formed in a taper shape in a cross-sectional view. That is, since the inner wall surface 41a of the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 is inclined, the area of the joint surface 40a of the coloring member 40 joined to the protection member 50 increases. Thereby, joint strength further improves.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, it is more preferable that the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 has a tapered shape in which the width H of the hole 41 decreases as the base member 10 is approached. Accordingly, when the user presses the input area E _I , it is possible to reduce stress concentration on the protection member 50 located at the end 41b of the hole 41, and thus the protection member 50 located at the end 41b. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of cracks.

In the input device X1, by bringing a conductor such as a finger or a pen close to or pressing the second main surface 10b of the base body 10 in the input area E _I, a position where the conductor such as a finger approaches or is pressed is set as an input position. To detect. Specifically, the electrostatic capacitance between the conductor and the input region E _I is changed, the change in capacitance is detected by the not shown driver. The driver detects the input position based on the change in capacitance. In this way, the input device X1 can detect the input position.

Note that the input device X1 can also detect the approached or pressed position as the input position by approaching or pressing a finger or the like to the first main surface 10a of the base body 10.

[Embodiment 2]
4 and 5 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an input device X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the input device X1 and the input device X2 is that the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 penetrates in the thickness direction of the coloring member 40.

  In the input device X2, since the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 penetrates the coloring member 40 in the thickness direction, the joint surface 40a of the coloring member 40 further increases. Thereby, since the joint strength of the protection member 50 and the coloring member 40 further improves, it is preferable.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the input device X <b> 2, the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 is provided in a region where the wiring conductor 30 does not exist. That is, the hole 41 of the coloring member 50 is provided in the wiring conductor non-existing region E _30N . Thereby, when using input device X2, a user becomes difficult to visually recognize wiring conductor 30 via hole 41.

[Embodiment 3]
6 and 7 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the input device X3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the input device X1 and the input device X3 are as follows.

  The hole 41 of the coloring member 40 has a first hole 41A and a second hole 41B.

The first hole 41A is located in a region where the wiring conductor 30 exists, and a part of the coloring member 40 is interposed between the bottom surface 41Ac of the first hole 41A and the wiring conductor 30. That is, the first hole portion 41A located wiring conductor existence region E ₃₀ does not penetrate the colored member 40. Thereby, when using input device X3, a user becomes difficult to see wiring conductor 30 visually.

The second hole 41B is located in a region where the wiring conductor 30 does not exist, and penetrates the coloring member 40 in the thickness direction. That is, the second hole portion 41B which is located wiring conductor absence region E ₃₀ is a colored member 40 because it penetrates in the thickness direction, it is possible to improve the bonding strength between the protective member 50 and the colored member 40.

  Since the input device X3 includes the first hole portion 41A and the second hole portion 41B, it is possible to prevent the user from visually recognizing the wiring conductor 30, and the bonding strength between the protection member 50 and the coloring member 40. Can be improved at the same time.

[Embodiment 4]
8 and 9 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an outline of an input device X4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the input device X1 and the input device X4 are as follows.

In the input device X4, the coloring member 40 and the protection member 50 are provided not on the second main surface 10b of the base body 10 but on the first main surface 10a on which the detection electrode 20 and the wiring conductor 30 are provided. Specifically, the coloring member 40 is provided on the first main surface 10a of the base body 10 in the outer region _EO . Further, the protection member 50 is provided from the coloring member 40 to the first main surface 10 a of the base body 10.

In the input device X4, the coloring member 40 and the protection member 50 are provided on the first main surface 10a of the base body 10. That is, the colored member 40 and the protective member 50 is, because not provided on the second main surface 10b of the base 10, an outer region E _O caused by providing the colored member 40 in the outer region E _O and the input region E _I of The level | step difference between them is reduced and the flatness of a user's pressing surface improves. Thereby, the reflection which external light reflects on a press surface can be suppressed.

  Further, since the coloring member 40 is provided on the second main surface 10b of the base body 10 so as to overlap the wiring conductor 30 in plan view, the first main surface of the base body 10 is used when the input device X4 is used. When 10a is a user-side surface, the wiring conductor 30 can be hidden by the coloring member 40, so that when the input device X1 is used, the user can be prevented from viewing the wiring conductor 30.

[Embodiment 5]
10 and 11 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an outline of an input device X5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  Since the input device X5 adopts a configuration in which the configuration of the input device X2 is applied to the input device X4, the input device X5 has the same effect as the input device X2.

  That is, in the input device X5, since the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 penetrates the coloring member 40 in the thickness direction, the joint surface 40a of the coloring member 40 further increases. Thereby, since the joint strength of the protection member 50 and the coloring member 40 further improves, it is preferable.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the input device X <b> 2, the hole 41 of the coloring member 40 is provided in a region where the wiring conductor 30 does not exist. That is, the hole 41 of the coloring member 50 is provided in the wiring conductor non-existing region E _30N . This makes it difficult for the user to visually recognize the wiring conductor 30 through the hole 41 when the first main surface 10a of the base body 10 is a user-side surface when the input device X5 is used.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the input device X5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.

  First, a plurality of mother substrates 100 having a plurality of substrate regions to be the substrate 10 are prepared. The detection electrode 20, the wiring conductor 30, and the coloring member 40 are formed on the plurality of mother substrates 100 by the above-described forming method.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the mother substrate 100 is laminated through the UV curable resin 60 containing a plurality of spacers 60 </ b> A. The spacer 60A reduces the contact between the mother substrates. The UV curable resin 60 may not contain a spacer.

  The laminated body is irradiated with UV light to cure the UV curable resin. Conventionally, when UV light is irradiated to the laminate of the mother substrate by such a method, the UV light is absorbed by the coloring member 40, and the UV curable resin corresponding to the portion where the coloring member 40 is provided is cured. It becomes difficult to do. Therefore, since a relatively long time is required for curing the UV curable resin, there is a problem in that the production efficiency is lowered.

  On the other hand, in the manufacturing method of the present application, the colored member 40 is provided with a hole 41 that penetrates the colored member 40 in the thickness direction. Thereby, the UV light passes through the hole 41 and reaches the UV curable resin 60. Therefore, in the laminate, the UV curable resin corresponding to the portion where the coloring member 40 is provided is easily cured. Therefore, compared with the conventional manufacturing method, the UV curable resin corresponding to the portion where the colored member 40 of the laminate is provided can be cured in a short time, and the manufacturing efficiency of the input device is improved.

  Next, after irradiation with UV light, the laminate is cut in accordance with the substrate region. And the UV curable resin is peeled off by heating the laminated body after cutting.

  In this way, the input device X5 is manufactured.

[Embodiment 6]
13 and 14 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an outline of an input device X6 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

  Since the input device X6 has a configuration in which the configuration of the input device X3 is applied to the input device X4, it has the same effect as the input device X3.

That is, in the input device X6, the first hole portion 41A located wiring conductor existence region _{E 30} does not penetrate the colored member 40. Thereby, when the first main surface 10a of the base body 10 is a user-side surface when the input device X6 is used, the user is less likely to see the wiring conductor 30. Further, the second hole portion 41B located in the wiring conductor non-existing region _E30N penetrates the coloring member 40 in the thickness direction. Thereby, the joining strength of the protection member 50 and the coloring member 40 can be improved.

  In the input device X6, it is possible to achieve both suppression of the user visually recognizing the wiring conductor 30 and improvement of the bonding strength between the protective member 50 and the coloring member 40.

[Configuration of display device]
As shown in FIG. 15, the display device Y includes an input device X1 and a liquid crystal display device Z. The liquid crystal display device Z includes a liquid crystal display panel 70, a light source device 80, and a housing 90.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the liquid crystal display panel 70 includes an upper substrate 71, a lower substrate 72, and a sealing member 73. The liquid crystal display panel 70 includes a plurality of pixels for displaying an image by interposing a liquid crystal layer between an upper substrate 71 and a lower substrate 72 and sealing the liquid crystal layer with a sealing member 73. Region P is formed.

  The light source device 80 has a function of irradiating light toward the liquid crystal display panel 70, and is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel 70 and the lower housing 72.

  The housing 90 has a function of accommodating the liquid crystal display panel 70 and the light source device 80, and includes an upper housing 91 and a lower housing 92. Examples of the material of the housing 90 include a resin such as a polycarbonate resin, a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum.

  In the display device Y, as shown in FIG. 15, an input device X1 is mounted so as to face the liquid crystal display panel 80.

  Further, the input device X1 and the liquid crystal display device Z are bonded via a double-sided tape M. Note that the fixing member used in the method for fixing the input device X1 and the liquid crystal display device Z is not limited to the double-sided tape R. For example, an adhesive member such as a thermosetting resin or an ultraviolet curable resin, or the input device X1. And a liquid crystal display device Z may be fixed.

  The display device Z includes the input device X1 as described above. Thereby, even when providing a colored member, the fall of the reliability of the display apparatus Z can be reduced.

  The specific embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Moreover, although the case where the input device is a capacitive touch panel has been described in the above-described embodiment, for example, a resistive touch panel may be used instead. The resistive film type touch panel includes an upper base body having a first detection electrode on one main surface, and a lower side faced to the upper base body and having a second detection electrode on the main surface facing the first detection electrode. A base and a protective member provided on the upper base are provided. In this case, the upper substrate corresponds to the substrate. In other words, in the resistive film type touch panel, the colored member having the hole is disposed on the upper base so as to surround the input region _EO , and the protective member 50 is provided from the top of the colored member 50 to the upper base. A part of the protective member is embedded in the hole. Thereby, the effect shown in this embodiment can be acquired.

  In the display device Y, the example of the display device Y including the input device X1 has been described. However, instead of the input device X1, an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention may be employed.

  In the display device Y, the example in which the display panel is the liquid crystal display panel 70 has been described, but the display device Y is not limited thereto. That is, the display panel may be a CRT, plasma display, organic EL display, inorganic EL display, LED display, fluorescent display tube, field emission display, surface electric field display, electronic paper, or the like.

X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6 Input device Y Display device Z Liquid crystal display device 10 Base 20 Detection electrode 30 Wiring conductor 40 Colored member 41 Hole 41a First hole 41b Second hole 50 Protective member 70 Display panel

Claims (9)

An input device having an input area for detecting an input position,
A substrate;
A colored member disposed on the substrate so as to surround the input region and having a hole;
An input device comprising: a protective member provided from above the colored member to the base and partially embedded in the hole. A detection electrode provided on the substrate corresponding to the input region;
A wiring conductor provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the detection electrode;
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the coloring member is provided so as to cover the wiring conductor.   The input device according to claim 2, wherein a depth of the hole is greater than a thickness of the wiring conductor.   The input device according to claim 2, wherein the hole portion penetrates the colored member in a thickness direction.   The input device according to claim 4, wherein the hole is provided in a region where the wiring conductor does not exist. The hole is provided in a region where the wiring conductor exists,
The input device according to claim 2, wherein a part of the coloring member is interposed between a bottom surface of the hole and the wiring conductor in the hole in the region where the wiring conductor is present.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the hole has a tapered shape. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A display device comprising: a display panel disposed opposite to the input device.   The display device according to claim 8, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.

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