JP5574133B2 - Capacitive input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a capacitance-type input device that includes a plurality of translucent electrodes arranged in the same layer and can detect the position of an electrode that is in contact with a finger or the like.

  In recent years, touch panels have been adopted for operation units of various electronic devices such as mobile phones, portable information terminals, and car navigation systems. The touch panel is configured by attaching an input device capable of detecting a contact position of a finger or the like on a display screen of a display device such as a liquid crystal panel. There are various types of input devices constituting the touch panel, such as a resistance film type and a capacitance type, depending on the structure and detection method. Among these, the capacitance-type input device has a light-transmitting conductive film (translucent electrode) on a single substrate and flows through a capacitance formed by touching a finger or the like. By detecting a change in the amount of current, the contacted position is specified, and there is an advantage that a higher transmittance can be obtained as compared with the resistance film type input device.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional capacitive input device described in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the VII-VII line shown in FIG.

  The capacitive input device 91 has a plurality of X-axis traces 93 extending on the substrate 92 in the X-axis direction (vertical direction in the figure), and extending in the Y-axis direction (left-right direction in the figure). A plurality of Y-axis traces 94 arranged to intersect with each other, and detect the contact position of a finger or the like in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, respectively.

  The X-axis trace 93 is formed by interconnecting a plurality of transparent electrodes 95 aligned in the X-axis direction. On the other hand, the Y-axis trace 94 is formed by electrically connecting a plurality of transparent electrodes 96 arranged intermittently in the Y-axis direction via a jumper 99 made of a conductive material. The jumper 99 is formed on the insulating film 97 stacked on the X-axis trace 93 and the Y-axis trace 94 so as to straddle the upper part of a part of the X-axis trace (the connecting portion of the adjacent pair of transparent electrodes 95). The through hole 98 located on the transparent electrode 96 is connected to the transparent electrode 96.

  As described above, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, an insulating film is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 92 in order to insulate between the X-axis trace 93 and the jumper 99 formed across the X-axis trace 93. Through holes 98 are provided only at the connection points between 99 and the transparent electrode 96.

  Further, Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which an insulating film is formed only on a portion where a jumper straddles instead of providing an insulating film on the entire surface of the substrate.

Registered Utility Model No. 3144563 Registered Utility Model No. 3144241

  The above-described conventional capacitive input device is formed by laminating a translucent electrode, an insulating film, and a jumper (conductor) in this order on a substrate. In this case, there are the following problems.

  First, since the jumper is formed on the side closer to the person (the side opposite to the liquid crystal panel), when the jumper is formed of a conductive material having a metallic luster, the jumper is easily noticeable.

  Secondly, when a part of the insulating film is in an overhang state, there is a high possibility that the jumper straddles the overhang portion, and the jumper is likely to be disconnected.

  8 is a plan view for explaining a case where an overhang of the insulating film occurs in the capacitive input device shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX shown in FIG. It is.

  The through hole 98 is formed by laminating an insulating film 97 over the entire substrate 92 and then selectively etching a part thereof. However, if the etching processing time becomes too long, the etching further proceeds deeper from the surface of the insulating film 97, and as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. There is a case where the shape protrudes toward the center side (overhang).

  For example, when an overhang occurs in a range indicated by an arrow shown in FIG. 8, as schematically shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, the jumper 99 for connecting a pair of adjacent transparent electrodes 96 is disconnected, The conduction state of the Y-axis trace 94 cannot be obtained. Here, if it is assumed that an overhang occurs in the half circumference of the through hole, the jumper 99 formation region and the overhang region overlap each other with a probability of approximately 50%, and it can be seen that the disconnection occurs with a considerable probability.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining a case where an overhang of the insulating film occurs in the conventional capacitance type input device described in Patent Document 2, and FIG. 11 is a diagram of XI-XI shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of a line.

  A similar problem may occur even in the structure described in Patent Document 2 in which the insulating film 97 is provided only in a portion where the jumper 99 straddles the X-axis trace 93. For example, when an overhang occurs in the range indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10 (the short side portion of the insulating film 97), the jumper 99 is disconnected as schematically shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Trace 94 no longer conducts.

  Therefore, the present invention has a structure in which biaxial translucent electrodes are arranged in the same layer, and the jumper that connects the translucent electrodes in one axial direction is not conspicuous and may be disconnected. An object of the present invention is to provide a capacitive input device having a low structure.

A capacitance-type input device according to the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of conductors formed on the surface of the substrate, arranged in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal thereto, and a plurality of conductors A plurality of insulating films provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of conductors on a one-to-one basis so as to partially cover each of the plurality of conductors, and a plurality of first films arranged in the first and second directions A translucent electrode and a plurality of second translucent electrodes that are arranged in first and second directions and are respectively disposed between rows and columns of the first translucent electrode. Each of the first translucent electrodes aligned in the first direction is electrically connected to each other by the conductor by contacting a portion of the conductor that is not covered with the insulating film, and the second The second translucent electrodes aligned in the direction are connected to each other on the insulating film, and each of the first translucent electrodes is a portion of the conductor not covered by the insulating film. so that the entire covering, Ru is formed from the surface of the insulating film over the surface of the substrate.

  According to the present invention, in a capacitance-type input device in which a plurality of translucent electrodes are arranged in the same layer, a conductor used to connect the translucent electrodes is placed on the substrate (that is, the inside of the input device). ), The conductor can be made inconspicuous. Further, by forming each of the first translucent electrodes so as to cover the entire portion of the conductor that is not covered with the insulating layer, the conductor is prevented from being disconnected regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the insulating film. It becomes possible to do.

The top view which shows schematic structure of the capacitive input device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention The expanded sectional view of the II-II line shown in FIG. Enlarged view of the vicinity of the through hole shown in FIG. The top view which shows schematic structure of the capacitive input device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Enlarged end view of the VV line shown in FIG. A plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional capacitance-type input device VII-VII line enlarged sectional view shown in FIG. The top view for demonstrating the case where the overhang of an insulating film generate | occur | produced in the electrostatic capacitance type input device shown in FIG. Sectional drawing of the IX-IX line shown in FIG. The top view for demonstrating the case where the overhang of an insulating film generate | occur | produced in the conventional electrostatic capacitance type input device Sectional drawing of the XI-XI line shown in FIG.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the capacitive input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the through hole shown in FIG.

  The capacitive input device 1 includes a substrate 2, a plurality of jumpers 8, an insulating film 6, a plurality of first light-transmissive electrodes 3, and a plurality of second light-transmissive electrodes 4. The jumper 8, the insulating film 6, and the translucent electrodes (the first translucent electrode 3 and the second translucent electrode 4) are formed on the substrate 2 in this order.

  The jumpers 8 are formed of a conductive material, and are arranged in a matrix on the surface of the substrate 2. Each of the jumpers 8 is for connecting the first translucent electrode 3 in the X-axis direction, and both end portions thereof overlap with each of the pair of first translucent electrodes 3 adjacent in the X-axis direction. These positions and dimensions are formed. The jumper 8 can be made of, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), a Mo / Al / Mo laminate, Ag, an Ag alloy, or a conductive polymer.

  The insulating film 6 is formed by laminating an insulating material so as to cover the entire surface of the jumper 8 and the substrate 2, and a portion where the first translucent electrode 3 and the jumper 8 overlap is formed on the surface of the jumper 8. Through holes 7 reaching up to are provided.

  The first translucent electrode 3 and the second translucent electrode 4 are arranged in a matrix in the same layer in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal thereto. The first translucent electrode 3 and the second translucent electrode 4 are formed in the same process using a translucent conductive material such as ITO.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the first translucent electrodes 3 is not connected to either the X axis direction or the Y axis direction on the insulating film 6, but through the through hole 7. Are connected to a jumper 8 on the substrate 2. As a result, the first translucent electrodes 3 aligned in the X-axis direction are electrically connected to each other.

  On the other hand, each of the second translucent electrodes 4 is disposed between the rows and the columns of the first translucent electrodes 3 and patterned on the insulating film 6 simultaneously with the second translucent electrodes 4. They are connected to each other in the Y-axis direction via the connecting portion 5.

  When the first translucent electrode 3 connected in the X-axis direction and the second translucent electrode 4 connected in the Y-axis direction are arranged in the same layer, an intersecting portion is generated. In order to make a connection in the direction, a wiring portion such as a jumper 8 is required. In the capacitive input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the jumper 8 is formed on the surface of the substrate 2, and the insulating film 6 and the first and second translucent electrodes 3 and 4 are formed thereon. Therefore, the jumper 8 can be made inconspicuous when viewed from the front side.

  In the present embodiment, since the entire opening of the through hole 7 is covered with the first translucent electrode 3, for example, an overhang of the insulating film (see FIG. 9) occurs in the range of the arrow shown in FIG. Even in this case, the first translucent electrode 3 can reach the surface of the jumper 8 along the inner wall of the through hole 7 without overhang. Therefore, disconnection of the jumper 8 can be prevented regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the inner wall of the through hole 7.

  As described above, the jumper 8 can be formed of various conductive materials. However, when a light-shielding material is used, there are the following advantages.

  When the jumper 8 is formed of a light-shielding material, a positioning alignment mark can be formed on the substrate 2 using the same material as the jumper 8 in the same process as the patterning of the jumper 8. As a result, it is possible to reduce the alignment mark formation process, and positioning at the time of exposure using a standard reading mechanism without any special modification to the exposure machine used to form the second and subsequent layers. It becomes possible to do.

  In addition, when the alignment is performed by visually confirming with a microscope or the like when forming the second and subsequent layers, the visibility is improved because the first-layer jumper 8 is formed of a light-shielding material. It is possible to easily perform alignment.

  Furthermore, a conductive polymer material can be employed as the light shielding material. In general, a polymer film has a trade-off relationship between translucency and conductivity. However, as long as the jumper 8 is formed in a limited range, even if there is a light-shielding property, it gives the light transmittance of the entire input device. The impact is small. In addition, regarding the conductivity, any material having a resistance value comparable to that of ITO may be used, so that a highly conductive conductive polymer can be used.

  When a metal is used as the light-shielding material, the jumper 8 and a metal wiring layer (not shown) on the substrate 2 (wiring connected to the translucent electrode, etc.) can be patterned simultaneously in one process. It is also possible to reduce costs by reducing the cost.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a capacitive input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of the VV line shown in FIG.

  As in the first embodiment, the capacitive input device according to the present embodiment has a jumper 8, an insulating film 6, and a translucent electrode (the first translucent electrode 3 and the second translucent electrode) on the substrate 2. Although the transparent electrode 4) is sequentially laminated, the region where the insulating film 6 is formed is different from that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  In the present embodiment, the insulating film 6 is provided only in a portion that intersects with the connection portion 5 that connects the adjacent second translucent electrodes 4. More specifically, the insulating film 6 partially covers each of the jumpers 8 except for a part (shaded portion) of a portion where the jumper 8 and each of the adjacent first translucent electrodes 3 overlap. It is formed as follows. In the present embodiment, both end portions of the jumper 8 are provided with portions that are not covered with the insulating film 6, but the region that is not covered with the insulating film 6 does not necessarily have to be end portions. What is necessary is just to be a part of the overlap part of the jumper 8 and a translucent electrode.

  In addition, each of the first translucent electrodes 3 is formed so as to cover a part of the surface of the jumper 8 that is not covered by the insulating film 6 (shaded portion), and the part of the jumper 8 is covered. Abut. As a result, the first translucent electrodes 3 aligned in the X-axis direction are electrically connected to each other. On the other hand, each of the second translucent electrodes 4 aligned in the Y-axis direction is connected via the connection portion 5 on the insulating film 6 covering the jumper 8.

  Also in the capacitive input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the jumper 8 is formed on the surface of the substrate 2, and the insulating film 6 and the first and second translucent electrodes 3 and 4 are formed thereon. Therefore, the jumper 8 can be made inconspicuous when viewed from the front side.

  Further, in the capacitive input device 1 according to the present embodiment, a part of the jumper 8 that is not covered with the insulating film 6 and the first translucent electrode 3 can be in surface contact with each other. As shown in the cross section of FIG. 5, even when an overhang (a state in which the surface side portion of the insulating film 6 protrudes further outward in the cross section of the outer peripheral wall of the insulating film 6) occurs, The connection between the photoelectrode 3 and the jumper 8 can be ensured.

  In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the translucent electrode is connected in the X-axis direction via the jumper is shown. However, the X-axis and the Y-axis in the example of FIG. The translucent electrode in the direction may be connected through the connecting portion, and the translucent electrode in the Y-axis direction may be connected with a jumper.

  The present invention can be used to configure a touch panel used as an input / output device of various electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Capacitance type input device 2 Board | substrate 3 1st translucent electrode 4 2nd translucent electrode 6 Insulating film 7 Through hole 8 Jumper

Claims (7)

A capacitive input device,
A substrate,
A plurality of conductors formed on the surface of the substrate and arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular thereto;
A plurality of insulating films provided to have a one-to-one correspondence with each of the plurality of conductors so as to partially cover each of the plurality of conductors;
A plurality of first translucent electrodes arranged in the first and second directions;
A plurality of second translucent electrodes arranged in the first and second directions, each disposed between rows and columns of the first translucent electrodes,
Each of the first translucent electrodes aligned in the first direction is in contact with a portion of the conductor that is not covered with the insulating film, thereby being electrically connected to each other by the conductor. Connected,
Each of the second translucent electrodes aligned in the second direction is connected to each other on the insulating film ,
Each of the first translucent electrodes is formed from the surface of the insulating film to the surface of the substrate so as to cover the entire portion of the conductor that is not covered with the insulating film. , Capacitive input device.   The capacitive input device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating film is formed across a surface of the conductor and a surface of the substrate.   3. The capacitive input device according to claim 1, wherein each of the second translucent electrodes is formed across a surface of the insulating film and a surface of the substrate. The conductor is made of a light-shielding material, capacitive input device according to any one of claims 1-3. The capacitance-type input device according to claim 4 , further comprising an alignment mark formed on the substrate from the same material as the conductor and used for positioning during manufacturing. The material of the conductor is a metal;
The metal wiring layer which is formed from the same material as the said conductor on the said board | substrate, and is further connected to a said 1st translucent electrode and a said 2nd translucent electrode, The any one of Claims 1-5 The capacitance-type input device according to the above. The capacitance-type input according to claim 6, wherein a width of the conductor in the second direction is smaller than a width in the first direction of a connection portion that connects the adjacent second translucent electrodes. apparatus.

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