JP5734130B2 - Input device, display device with input function, and device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, a display device with an input function, and a device that detect, for example, a place where a user performs input operation as an input position.

  As an input device, for example, a capacitive touch panel that detects a change in capacitance between a finger and a detection electrode and detects an input position is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). .

  Such an input device includes a base having an operation surface and a back surface located on the opposite side of the operation surface. The input device includes a detection electrode provided on the back surface of the substrate, a wiring conductor provided on the back surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the detection electrode, and electrically connected to the wiring conductor. And a flexible substrate. The flexible board is bent and electrically connected to an external circuit board.

JP 2008-97283 A JP 2008-310551 A

  In the above input device, a light shielding film is provided on the operation surface of the base so as to cover the flexible substrate in a plan view so that the flexible substrate is not visually recognized by the user. Thereby, possibility that a flexible substrate will be visually recognized by a user can be reduced. However, the flexible substrate is generally brown, and even if a light-shielding film is provided, if the amount of light from the backlight is large, the flexible substrate may be visually recognized by the user through the light-shielding film. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device, a display device with an input function, and a device that can reduce the possibility that a flexible substrate will be visually recognized by a user. About.

One aspect of the input device according to the present invention includes an operation surface and a base having a back surface located on the opposite side of the operation surface, a detection electrode provided on the back surface of the base, and the back surface of the base A wiring conductor electrically connected to the detection electrode, a flexible board electrically connected to the wiring conductor, and the base of the base so as to cover the flexible board in plan view A first light-shielding film provided on the operation surface or the back surface, and the second light-shielding film is provided on the portion of the flexible substrate that overlaps the first light-shielding film when viewed in plan .

  One aspect of the display device with an input function of the present invention is an input device according to the present invention, a display panel disposed on the back side of the input device, and disposed on the opposite side of the input panel of the display panel. A backlight; a circuit board disposed on the opposite side of the backlight from the display panel; and a first housing that houses the display panel, the backlight, and the circuit board. Are electrically connected to the circuit board via a space between the first housing and the display panel and the backlight.

  One aspect of the device of the present invention includes the display device with an input function according to the present invention in the second housing.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The input device, the display device with an input function, and the device of the present invention have an effect that the possibility that the flexible substrate is visually recognized by the user can be reduced.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus with an input function which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line II shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the touchscreen which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line II-II shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line III-III shown in FIG. It is the figure which expanded the part of K1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the same part as FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a modification of FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  However, for convenience of explanation, the drawings to be referred to below show simplified main members necessary for explaining the present invention, among the constituent members of one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the input device, the display device with an input function, and the device according to the present invention may include arbitrary constituent members that are not shown in the drawings referred to in this specification.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input function-equipped display device X1 according to this embodiment includes a display input region E _I capable of inputting displayed and information desired image, outside the display input region E _I And an outer region _EO located. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device with input function X1 includes a liquid crystal display panel 2, a backlight 3, a touch panel 4, a circuit board 5, a first housing 6, a first flexible board 7, and a first display. 2 A flexible substrate 8 is provided. In addition, the touch panel 4 and the 1st flexible substrate 7 become one Embodiment of the input device of this invention.

  The liquid crystal display panel 2 is a display panel that uses a liquid crystal composition for display. Specifically, the liquid crystal display panel 2 includes an upper substrate 21, a lower substrate 22 that protrudes outward from the upper substrate 21 and is disposed to face the upper substrate 21, an upper substrate 21, and a lower substrate 22. A liquid crystal layer (not shown) interposed between the upper substrate 21 and the lower substrate 22 and a display member layer (not shown) that contributes to display. Examples of the display member layer include a pixel electrode, an alignment film, and a color filter. The driving method of the liquid crystal display panel 2 may be a simple matrix driving method or an active matrix driving method. The liquid crystal display panel 2 may be a monochrome display panel or a color display panel.

  Instead of the liquid crystal display panel 2, a display panel such as a plasma display, an organic EL display, or electronic paper may be used.

The backlight 3 is disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel 2 and is a member that plays a role of irradiating the liquid crystal display panel 2. The backlight 3 includes a light source 31 and a light guide plate 32. The light source 31 is a member that plays a role of emitting light toward the end surface 32a of the light guide plate 32,
For example, it is composed of an LED (Light Emitting Diode). Instead of the LED, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, or an EL (Electro-Luminescence) may be used. The light source 31 is provided on the second flexible substrate 8 so as to face the end surface 32 a of the light guide plate 32. The light guide plate 32 is a member that plays a role for guiding light from the light source 31 substantially uniformly over the entire lower surface of the liquid crystal display panel 2.

  The touch panel 4 is disposed in front of the liquid crystal display panel 2 and is a member that plays a role of detecting a position operated by a user with a finger or a pen as an input position. As shown in FIG. 2, the touch panel 4 is configured to protrude outward from the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the backlight 3. Hereinafter, an example in which the touch panel 4 is a capacitive touch panel will be described. However, the touch panel 4 is not limited to this, and a resistive film touch panel, a surface acoustic wave touch panel, an infrared touch panel, or an electromagnetic induction system is used. It may be a touch panel.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the touch panel 4 according to the present embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line II-II shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line III-III shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the touch panel 4 includes a base body 41. The base 41 has an operation surface 41a operated by a user with a finger or a pen, and a back surface 41b located on the opposite side of the operation surface 41a. The base body 41 is configured to be able to appropriately transmit light in a direction that intersects the operation surface 41a and the back surface 41b, and has an insulating property. Examples of the constituent material of the base body 41 include those having translucency such as transparent glass or transparent plastic, among which transparent glass is preferable from the viewpoint of visibility. In addition, in this specification, translucency means having transparency with respect to visible light.

On the back surface 41b of the substrate 41 corresponding to the display input region _{E I,} the first detection electrode 42, and the first connection electrode 43, and the second detection electrode 44, and the second connecting electrode 45, and the insulator 46 Is provided.

First detection electrode 42, the fingers F1 of the user has approached the display input region E _I, are those having a role to detect the input position in the Y direction, to generate an electrostatic capacitance between the finger F1 It has a function. In other words, the first detection electrodes 42 are provided on the back surface 41 b of the base body 41 with a predetermined interval along the X direction. Here, from the viewpoint of improving detection sensitivity, the first detection electrode 42 according to the present embodiment has a substantially rhombus shape in plan view, but is not limited thereto.

  The first connection electrode 43 is a member that plays a role of electrically connecting the adjacent first detection electrodes 42. The first connection electrode 43 is provided on the back surface 41 b of the base body 41.

Second detection electrode 44, the fingers F1 of the user has approached the display input region E _I, are those having a role to detect the input position in the X direction, to generate an electrostatic capacitance between the finger F1 It has a function. That is, the second detection electrodes 44 are provided on the back surface 41b of the base body 41 at a predetermined interval along the Y direction. Here, from the viewpoint of improving detection sensitivity, the second detection electrode 44 according to the present embodiment has a substantially rhombus shape in plan view, but is not limited thereto.

The second connection electrode 45 is a member that plays a role of electrically connecting the adjacent second detection electrodes 44. The second connection electrode 45 is electrically insulated from the first connection electrode 43 and the insulator 4
6 is provided on the insulator 46 so as to straddle 6. Here, the insulator 46 is provided on the back surface 41 b of the base body 41 so as to cover the first connection electrode 43. Examples of the constituent material of the insulator 46 include a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or a silicone resin.

  Examples of the constituent material of the first detection electrode 42, the first connection electrode 43, the second detection electrode 44, and the second connection electrode 45 include a conductive member having translucency. As a conductive member having translucency, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide), AZO (Al-Doped Zinc Oxide), tin oxide, zinc oxide, or Examples thereof include conductive polymers.

A wiring conductor 47 is provided on the back surface 41b of the base body 41 corresponding to the outer region _EO .

  The wiring conductor 47 is a member that plays a role for applying a voltage to the first detection electrode 42 and the second detection electrode 44. One end of the wiring conductor 47 is electrically connected to the first detection electrode 42 and the second detection electrode 44, and the other end is electrically connected to the first flexible substrate 7. The wiring conductor 47 is made of, for example, a metal thin film so as to be hard and have high shape stability. Examples of the metal thin film include an aluminum film, an aluminum alloy film, a laminated film of a chromium film and an aluminum film, a laminated film of a chromium film and an aluminum alloy film, a silver film, a silver alloy film, or a gold alloy film. . Examples of the method for forming the metal thin film include a sputtering method, a vapor deposition method, and a chemical vapor deposition method.

  The protection member 48 is a member that plays a role of protecting the first detection electrode 42, the first connection electrode 43, the second detection electrode 44, the second connection electrode 45, the insulator 46, and the wiring conductor 47. For this reason, the protection member 48 is provided so as to cover these members. That is, the protection member 48 is bonded to the back surface 41 b of the base body 41 through the bonding member 49. Examples of the protective member 48 include a polyethylene terephthalate film, an acrylic film, a polycarbonate film, and a resin film. Moreover, as the joining member 49, an acrylic adhesive, a silicone adhesive, a rubber adhesive, a urethane adhesive, etc. are mentioned, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first light shielding film 9 is provided on the operation surface 41 a of the base body 41 corresponding to the outer region _EO .

The first light shielding film 9 is a member that plays a role of decorating the outer region _EO of the display device with an input function X1 with, for example, black. In the present embodiment, the first light shielding film 9 is formed in a frame shape so as to surround the display input region E _I. The first light-shielding film 9 is a member that also plays a role for reducing the possibility that the first flexible substrate 7 and the second flexible substrate 8 are visually recognized by the user. For this reason, the first light shielding film 9 is provided on the operation surface 41 of the base body 41 so as to cover the first flexible substrate 7 and the second flexible substrate 8 in plan view. In the present specification, “covering” means not only covering all of the first flexible substrate 7 and the second flexible substrate 8 but may cover a part thereof. Examples of the first light shielding film 9 include a resin film containing black pigment or carbon, a metal chromium film, or a titanium film. Examples of a method for forming the first light shielding film 9 include a screen printing method and an ink jet printing method.

In the above description, the example in which the first light shielding film 9 is provided on the operation surface 41a of the base 41 corresponding to the outer region _EO has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the first light shielding film 9 may be provided on the back surface 41b of the base body 41 corresponding to the outer region _EO . The first light shielding film 9 provided on the back surface 41b of the base body 41 is preferable in terms of design because the operation surface 41a of the base body 41 corresponding to the display input area E _I and the outer area E _O becomes flat.

The circuit board 5 is disposed behind the backlight 3 and is a plate-like structure that mounts electronic components such as a control circuit, a resistor, and a capacitor on the surface, and connects the components with wiring to form an electronic circuit. Or it is a film-like board | substrate. Examples of the control circuit 51 provided on the circuit board 5 include a touch panel driver for controlling the touch panel 4, a backlight driver for controlling the backlight 3, and a display driver for controlling the liquid crystal display panel 2. Can be mentioned. The display driver is a liquid crystal display panel 2 by COG (Chip On Glass).
The upper substrate 21 may be provided on the lower substrate 22 protruding outward. The display driver may be provided on the second flexible substrate 8 by COF (Chip On Film).

  The first housing 6 is a member that plays a role for housing the liquid crystal display panel 2, the backlight 3, and the circuit board 5. Examples of the constituent material of the first housing 6 include a resin such as polycarbonate, or a metal such as stainless steel and aluminum.

  The first housing 6 includes an upper housing 61 and a lower housing 62. The upper casing 61 is bonded to the touch panel 4 via the adhesive member 10, and the lower casing 62 is bonded to the upper casing 61 via the adhesive member 10. Specifically, the upper housing 61 is bonded to the touch panel 4 at a portion where the touch panel 4 protrudes. Examples of the adhesive member 10 include a double-sided tape, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, a silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesive, a rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a urethane-based pressure-sensitive adhesive. The liquid crystal display panel 2, the backlight 3, and the circuit board 5 are sealed by the touch panel 4, the upper casing 61, and the lower casing 62. Thereby, the liquid crystal display panel 2, the backlight 3, and the circuit board 5 can suppress the adhesion of dust or water from the outside.

  In the above description, the example in which the upper casing 61 and the lower casing 62 are separately configured as the first casing 6 has been described. However, the first casing 6 is not limited thereto. For example, the upper housing 61 and the lower housing 62 may be integrally configured.

  A first connector 52 and a second connector 53 are provided on the mounting surface of the circuit board 5. The first connector 52 is connected to the first flexible substrate 7. That is, the first flexible substrate 7 electrically connects the wiring conductor 47 of the touch panel 4 and the first connector 52 through the space S1 between the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the backlight 3 and the upper housing 61. . The first connector 52 is electrically connected to the control circuit 51. That is, the first flexible board 7 is bent to the back side of the circuit board 5 after passing through the space S <b> 1 and connected to the first connector 52. The second connector 53 is connected to the second flexible substrate 8. That is, the second flexible substrate 8 electrically connects the light source 31 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the backlight 3 and the second connector 53. The second connector 53 is electrically connected to the control circuit 51.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the portion K1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the first flexible substrate 7 is provided with a second light shielding film 11. As the second light shielding film 11, as with the first light shielding film 9, for example, a resin film containing a black pigment or carbon, a metal chromium film, a titanium film, or the like can be given. As a method of forming the second light shielding film 11, as with the first light shielding film 9, for example, a screen printing method, an ink jet printing method, or the like can be given.

Here, the first flexible substrate 7 has a front surface 7a and a back surface 7b. In this specification, the surface 7a of the first flexible substrate 7 refers to a surface having a portion C1 where the wiring conductor 47 of the touch panel 4 and the first flexible substrate 7 are connected. Further, the back surface 7b of the first flexible substrate 7 refers to a surface located on the opposite side to the portion C1 where the wiring conductor 47 of the touch panel 4 and the first flexible substrate 7 are connected. In the present embodiment, the second light shielding film 11 is provided on the back surface 7 b of the first flexible substrate 7. Since the second light-shielding film 11 is provided on the back surface 7 b of the first flexible substrate 7, the first flexible substrate 7 is used via the first light-shielding film 9 even when the amount of light from the backlight 3 is large. The possibility of being visually recognized by a person can be reduced.

  Specifically, when the display device X1 with an input function is provided in the portable terminal P1, which will be described later, a plurality of operation keys are arranged at the lower part of the display screen of the portable terminal P1, so It is necessary to increase the amount of light from the backlight 3 for the lower part of the screen. Since the first flexible substrate 7 is located near the lower portion of the display screen of the portable terminal P1, even if the first light shielding film 9 is provided, the first flexible substrate 7 is interposed via the first light shielding film 9. There was a possibility of being visually recognized by the user. This is because the first flexible substrate 7 is generally brown. On the other hand, in the display device with an input function X1 according to the present embodiment, the second light shielding film 11 is provided on the back surface 7b of the first flexible substrate 7, and thus the first flexible film is interposed via the first light shielding film 9. The possibility that the substrate 7 is visually recognized by the user can be reduced.

  Thus, since the 2nd light shielding film 11 is provided in the back surface 7b of the 1st flexible substrate 7, the site | part C1 where the wiring conductor 47 of the touch panel 4 and the 1st flexible substrate 7 were connected is shown to the 1st flexible substrate. 7 can be shielded from the rear surface 7b. When it is not necessary to shield the portion C1 from the back surface 7b of the first flexible substrate 7, the second light shielding film 11 may be provided only on the surface 7a of the first flexible substrate 7. Further, the second light shielding film 11 may be provided on both the front surface 7 a and the back surface 7 b of the first flexible substrate 7. Thereby, the possibility that the first flexible substrate 7 is visually recognized by the user via the first light shielding film 9 can be further reduced.

  In FIG. 2, the example in which the second light shielding film 11 is provided on a part of the back surface 7 b of the first flexible substrate 7 has been described, but the second light shielding film 11 may be provided on the entire back surface 7 b of the first flexible substrate 7. Good.

  The second light shielding film 11 preferably contains a conductive material. Examples of the conductive material include carbon or resin particles covered with a gold or silver film. When the second light shielding film 11 includes a conductive material, the second light shielding film 11 can shield noise from the liquid crystal display panel 2 to some extent. Thereby, the influence of the noise from the liquid crystal display panel 2 on the wiring conductor 47 can be reduced. As a result, in the touch panel 4, the possibility that the detection accuracy and detection sensitivity of the input position are reduced can be reduced.

  In the touch panel 4, the second light shielding film 11 is preferably set to a reference potential, in particular, a ground potential, in order to further reduce the possibility that the detection accuracy and detection sensitivity of the input position will decrease.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that a third light shielding film 12 is provided on the surface 8 a of the second flexible substrate 8. For the same reason as above.

  In addition, although the example which implement | achieved the above connection states using two flexible substrates, the 1st flexible substrate 7 and the 2nd flexible substrate 8, was demonstrated above, it is not limited to this. The above connection state may be realized using one flexible substrate, or the above connection state may be realized using three or more flexible substrates.

  The first light shielding film 9, the second light shielding film 11, and the third light shielding film 12 are not limited to thin films.

  Next, the detection principle of the touch panel 4 will be described.

The operating surface 41a of the substrate 41 corresponding to the display input region E _I, finger F1 is conductor proximity, contact, or is pressed, the electrostatic capacitance between the finger F1 and the detection electrodes 42 and 44 is changed. Here, the touch panel driver always detects a change in capacitance between the finger F1 and the detection electrodes 42 and 44. When the touch panel driver detects a change in capacitance that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the touch panel driver detects a position where the change in capacitance is detected as an input position. In this way, the touch panel 4 can detect the input position. The touch panel 4 may detect either the mutual capacitance method or the self-capacitance method. Employing the mutual capacitance method is preferable compared to the case of employing the self-capacitance method because a plurality of input positions can be detected simultaneously.

The touch panel 4 can input various types of information by performing an input operation on the display input area E _I while looking through the liquid crystal display panel 2. When inputting various types of information, the touch panel 4 may be provided with a function of presenting various tactile sensations such as a feeling of pressing, a feeling of tracing, and a feeling of touch to the user who has input the information. In this case, the base body 41 of the touch panel 4 includes one or a plurality of vibrating bodies (for example, piezoelectric elements) and vibrates at a predetermined frequency when a predetermined input operation or a predetermined pressing load is detected. This can be realized.

  As described above, according to the display device with an input function X1, the possibility that the first flexible substrate 7 is visually recognized by the user can be reduced.

  Next, the portable terminal P1 provided with the display device with an input function X1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the mobile terminal P1 according to the present embodiment is a device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a PDA, for example, and includes a display device X1 with an input function, an audio input unit 101, and an audio output unit 102. A key input unit 103 and a second housing 104.

  The voice input unit 101 includes, for example, a microphone or the like, and inputs a user's voice or the like. The audio output unit 102 includes a speaker or the like, and outputs audio from the other party. The key input unit 103 is constituted by, for example, a mechanical key. Note that the key input unit 103 may be an operation key displayed on the display screen. The second housing 104 is a member that plays a role of housing the display device X1 with an input function, the voice input unit 101, the voice output unit 102, and the key input unit 103.

  In addition, the mobile terminal P1 may include a short-distance wireless communication unit such as a digital camera function unit, a one-segment broadcasting tuner, an infrared communication function unit, and various interfaces, depending on the required functions. The detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

  Since the portable terminal P1 includes the display device X1 with an input function, the possibility that the first flexible substrate 7 is visually recognized by the user can be reduced.

  In addition, although the example which provided the audio | voice input part 101 in the portable terminal P1 was demonstrated above, it is not limited to this. That is, the voice input unit 101 may not be provided in the mobile terminal P1.

  Here, the display device X1 with an input function is a programmable display, an electronic notebook, a personal computer, a copying machine, a terminal device for games, a television, a digital camera, etc. used for industrial purposes instead of the portable terminal P1. It may be provided in various devices.

Display device with X1 input function P1 Mobile terminal (device)
2 Liquid crystal display panel (display panel)
3 Backlight 4 Touch Panel 41 Base 41a Base Operation Surface 41b Base Back 42 First Detection Electrode (Detection Electrode)
44 Second detection electrode (detection electrode)
47 Wiring conductor 5 Circuit board 6 First housing 7 First flexible board (flexible board)
9 1st light shielding film 11 2nd light shielding film 104 2nd housing | casing

Claims (6)

A base having an operation surface and a back surface located on the opposite side of the operation surface;
A detection electrode provided on the back surface of the substrate;
A wiring conductor provided on the back surface of the base body and electrically connected to the detection electrode;
A flexible substrate electrically connected to the wiring conductor;
A first light-shielding film provided on the operation surface or the back surface of the base so as to cover the flexible substrate in plan view,
An input device, wherein a second light shielding film is provided on a portion of the flexible substrate that overlaps the first light shielding film when viewed in plan .   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second light shielding film is provided on a surface of the flexible substrate that is located on a side opposite to a portion where the wiring conductor and the flexible substrate are connected.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second light shielding film includes a conductive material.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second light-shielding film is provided in a portion of the flexible substrate located in the vicinity of the back surface of the base body. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A display panel disposed on the back side of the input device;
A backlight disposed on the opposite side of the display panel from the input device;
A circuit board disposed on the opposite side of the backlight from the display panel;
A first housing in which the display panel, the backlight, and the circuit board are housed,
The display device with an input function, wherein the flexible substrate is electrically connected to the circuit board via a space between the first housing, the display panel, and the backlight. The apparatus provided with the display apparatus with an input function of Claim 5 in the 2nd housing | casing.

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