JP5870897B2 - Electrostatic touch panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic touch panel.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrostatic touch panel is known that includes a housing having a contact surface with which a finger contacts, and an electrode member whose capacitance value changes according to the contact of the finger with the contact surface of the housing. As a kind of such an electrostatic touch panel, in the case disclosed in Patent Document 1, the casing and the electrode member are bonded to each other by an adhesive material.

JP2012-146297

  However, when a material that generates gas due to changes with time is used as the material constituting the housing, bubbles are generated between the housing and the adhesive due to the generated gas. Due to the bubbles, the distance between the housing and the electrode member changes with respect to the initial value, so that the capacitance for detecting the finger contact with the contact surface of the housing fluctuates, and the finger contact May not be detected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic touch panel in which fluctuations in capacitance are suppressed.

  The invention for achieving the above object is characterized by the following points. In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis described in the claim shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later as one aspect, Comprising: It does not limit the technical scope of invention. Absent.

  The present invention includes a housing having a contact surface with which an input operation body contacts, an electrode member whose capacitance value changes according to the contact of the input operation body with the contact surface of the housing, and the housing and the electrode member. And a space portion into which gas generated from the casing flows is formed between the electrode member and the casing.

  According to the present invention, since the space part into which the gas generated from the casing flows is provided between the electrode member and the casing, the electrode member and the casing are bonded together by the binding material. Compared with the gap, the gas is diffused into a space having a large volume. For this reason, the gas generated from the housing is unlikely to accumulate as local bubbles between the housing and the binder. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a change in the distance between the housing and the electrode member, and it is possible to detect the contact of the input operation body while suppressing the fluctuation of the capacitance.

It is a front view which shows the electrostatic touch panel by 1st embodiment of this invention. It is (a) OO sectional drawing and (b) perspective view which show the electrostatic touch panel by 1st embodiment of this invention. It is (a) OO sectional drawing and (b) perspective view which show the electrostatic touch panel by 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is (a) OO sectional drawing and (b) perspective view which show the electrostatic touch panel by 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the electrostatic touch panel by other embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol to the corresponding component in each embodiment.

(First embodiment)
The electrostatic touch panel 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is installed on an instrument panel in a vehicle cabin. The electrostatic touch panel 1 is exposed to the interior of a vehicle to form a design surface, and has a plurality of switch operation surfaces 11 that are operated to be touched by an operator's fingers 2. For example, when the operator touches the switch operation surface 11 with the finger 2, the air conditioner is activated, and the operation state of the air conditioner is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 13. The electrostatic touch panel 1 includes a film sensor 20, a housing 10, an adhesive material 30, a light source 60, and the like. Here, the switch operation surface 11 in the first embodiment corresponds to the contact surface in the claims, and the finger 2 in the first embodiment corresponds to the input operation body in the claims. Moreover, the film sensor 20 in 1st embodiment is corresponded to the electrode member of a claim. Furthermore, the adhesive material 30 in the first embodiment corresponds to the binder of the claims.

The film sensor 20 is configured by providing an electrode 22 on a resinous base material 21. Base material 2
1 and the electrode 22 have translucency. In the film sensor 20, the capacitance between the electrode 22 and the switch operation surface 11 changes according to the contact of the finger 2 with the switch operation surface 11 of the housing 10.

  The electrode 22 is made of ITO (indium tin oxide) or a transparent conductive polymer. The end of the electrode 22 is electrically connected to the connector by silver paste or the like. Here, whether or not the finger 2 is in contact is determined by an output from the electrode 22 that is formed between the operator's finger 2 with respect to the switch operation surface 11 and that corresponds to a change in capacitance value.

  The housing 10 is formed by printing a light-shielding paint on a resin material having translucency. The housing 10 is formed with a plurality of light-transmitting surfaces on which no light-shielding paint is printed. These translucent surfaces function as a switch operation surface 11 on which the finger 2 comes into contact to operate the switch. The housing 10 is bound to each other by the film sensor 20 and the adhesive material 30. The housing 10 is formed of, for example, polycarbonate or the like, and gas is generated due to changes over time.

  The adhesive material 30 is a double-sided tape provided with an acrylic adhesive material on both sides, and is formed to a thickness of about 50 μm. The adhesive material 30 binds the housing 10 and the film sensor 20. The adhesive material 30 is not particularly provided with a base material and transmits light.

  The light source 60 is a light emitting diode or the like, and is disposed at a position facing the electrode 22 on the side opposite to the operator of the film sensor 20 (the side opposite to the operator). The light from the light source 60 passes through the film sensor 20 and the switch operation surface 11 toward the operator side. Therefore, when the light source 60 is turned on, it is visually recognized that the switch operation surface 11 at a position facing the light source 60 is turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a space 40 is formed between the housing 10 and the film sensor 20. Here, the adhesive 30 that binds the housing 10 and the film sensor 20 is provided in a substantially C-shape when viewed from the operator side inward from the outer edge 14 of the housing 10. The space 40 is a cavity formed inside the adhesive material 30. Moreover, in the space part 40, the distance between the housing | casing 10 and the film sensor 20 is kept constant. The light from the light source 60 passes through the film sensor 20 from the non-operator side of the film sensor 20, passes through the hollow space 40, and is projected from the switch operation surface 11 of the housing 10 toward the operator. . In the first embodiment, an area of the housing 10 that faces the space 40 is the switch operation surface 11.

  A gap 50 in which the adhesive material 30 is interrupted is formed in a part of the adhesive material 30. Here, the gap 50 is formed by the end faces 31 of the broken adhesive material 30 and functions as a flow path 50 through which gas flows out to the outside.

  The distribution path 50 is a gap 50 formed by the end faces 31 of the adhesive material 30 and communicates with the space portion 40. The end 51 of the flow path 50 opposite to the side communicating with the space 40 is open to allow gas to flow outside. The size of the distribution channel 50 is such that the gas generated from the housing 10 can flow out. The size of the distribution channel 50 is, for example, about several μm.

  According to the first embodiment described so far, since the space part 40 into which the gas generated from the housing 10 flows is provided between the film sensor 20 and the housing 10, the gas is diffused into the space part 40. become. For this reason, the gas generated from the housing 10 does not easily accumulate as local bubbles between the housing 10 and the adhesive material 30. Therefore, the change of the distance between the housing | casing 10 and the film sensor 20 can be suppressed, and the fluctuation | variation of the value of the electrostatic capacitance for determining the presence or absence of the contact of the finger 2 with respect to the switch operation surface 11 of the housing | casing 10 is possible. It becomes possible to suppress.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, the space portion 40 into which the gas generated from the housing 10 flows is provided between the film sensor 20 and the housing 10, and the gas that has flowed into the space portion 40 flows into the space portion 40. It flows out from the distribution channel 50 communicated to the outside. Therefore, even if the volume of the space 40 is small relative to the generated gas, the gas generated from the housing 10 is unlikely to collect between the housing 10 and the film sensor 20, and the housing 10 and the film sensor. The distance to 20 is unlikely to change with respect to the initial value. According to this, it becomes possible to suppress the fluctuation of the capacitance value for determining whether or not the finger 2 is in contact with the switch operation surface 11 of the housing 10 and reliably determine the finger 2 contact. .

  Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the space portion 40 is formed inside the adhesive material 30 provided in a predetermined range on the inner side from the outer edge 14 of the housing 10, and thus the housing is formed by the cut adhesive material 30. The space 40 is formed simply by binding the body 10 and the film sensor 20 together. Therefore, the space 40 can be easily formed and the gas from the housing 10 can be diffused. As a result, it is possible to easily detect the contact of the finger 2 while suppressing the fluctuation of the capacitance.

  In the first embodiment, the switch operation surface 11 with which the finger 2 comes into contact is an area facing the space 40 in the housing 10. Therefore, the electrostatic touch panel 1 can realize the suppression of the change in the distance between the housing 10 and the film sensor 20 in the region facing the space portion 40. Therefore, in 1st embodiment, the effect of suppression of the fluctuation | variation of an electrostatic capacitance is exhibited notably.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, the space 40 formed inside the adhesive material 30 is sandwiched between the housing 10 and the film sensor 20, and the housing 10 and the film sensor 20 are connected to the light source 60. Transmits light from. Here, since the inside of the space portion 40 is gas and transmits light, the light from the light source 60 sequentially passes through the film sensor 20, the space portion 40, and the housing 10 from the side opposite to the film sensor 20. become. Therefore, the electrostatic touch panel 1 can illuminate characters or images printed on the switch operation surface 11 by the light from the light source 60. At this time, if the gas generated from the housing 10 flows into the space portion 40 and then flows out from the distribution path 50, the gas generated from the housing 10 causes local gas between the housing 10 and the adhesive 30. Color unevenness caused by bubbles generated in the electrostatic touch panel 1 can be suppressed, and design deterioration of the electrostatic touch panel 1 can be prevented.

(Second embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 3, the second embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment. The adhesive material 230 of the second embodiment is provided in a spiral shape toward the center of the housing 10 over a predetermined range inward from the outer edge 14 of the housing 10. The space 240 of the second embodiment is formed in a spiral gap of the adhesive material 230 and has a spiral shape. In the space 240, an end 251 opposite to the center of the spiral is opened so that gas can flow out to the outside.

  The switch operation surface 211 of the second embodiment is a region facing the region covering the spiral space 240. The spiral width W1 of the adhesive material 230 is sufficiently narrower than the spiral width W2 of the space portion 240 so that the gas generated from the casing 10 in contact with the spiral adhesive material 230 can flow into the space portion 240. ing. Further, the adhesive material 230 transmits light, and the light from the light source 60 provided on the non-operator side of the spiral adhesive material 230 passes through the film sensor 20 and the adhesive material 230 or the space portion 240 to switch operation. The light is projected toward the operator side of the surface 211.

  According to the second embodiment described so far, the adhesive material 230 is provided in a spiral shape toward the center of the housing 10 over a predetermined range from the outer edge 14 of the housing 10. The gas generated from the housing 10 can be caused to flow into the spiral space 240 formed in the above, and the gas can be allowed to flow out from the end 251 of the space 240. Moreover, since the housing | casing 10 and the film sensor 20 are bound in the wide range from the outer edge 14 of the housing | casing 10 to the center, the housing | casing 10 and the film sensor 20 are bound more firmly. Will be. According to these, it is possible to realize the electrostatic touch panel 1 in which the fluctuation of the capacitance is suppressed and the casing 10 and the film sensor 20 are firmly bonded.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the adhesive material 230 is provided in a spiral shape toward the center of the housing 10 over the predetermined range from the outer edge 14 of the housing 10 to the inside, and thus fills the space 240. Therefore, improvement in electrostatic sensitivity can be expected.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, even if the adhesive material 230 that transmits light from the light source 60 is provided between the switch operation surface 211 that the finger 2 contacts and the housing 10, characters and When displaying an image or the like, the gas generated from the housing 10 flows into the space 240 and then flows out from the end 251 of the space 240. Therefore, color unevenness due to bubbles generated locally between the housing 10 and the adhesive material 230 by this gas is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to realize the electrostatic touch panel 1 in which the switch operation surface 211 of the housing 10 and the film sensor 20 are more firmly bound, and the sensitivity and the deterioration of the design are suppressed.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 4, the third embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment. A filler 341 is provided between the film sensor 20 and the housing 10 of the third embodiment. The filler 341 is made of a porous resin such as urethane foam and has pores. In the third embodiment, the holes function as a space 340 into which gas generated from the housing 10 flows. The filler 341 may be filled in a part of the space 340 or may be filled entirely. The filler 341 has a dielectric constant higher than that of air, and the filler 341 is different from the adhesive material 30.

  According to the third embodiment described so far, the filler 341 provided between the film sensor 20 and the housing 10 has holes, and the holes function as the space portion 340, and thus are generated from the housing 10. The gas that has flowed into the holes will be diffused. For this reason, bubbles are locally formed between the housing 10 and the adhesive material 30 so that the gas does not easily accumulate. Therefore, the change with respect to the initial value of the distance between the housing | casing 10 and the film sensor 20 can be suppressed, and the fluctuation | variation of the value of an electrostatic capacitance can be suppressed. As a result, the contact of the finger 2 can be reliably detected. In addition, it is possible to improve the sensitivity of detecting the contact of the finger 2 by filling a material having a dielectric constant higher than that of air as the filler 341.

(Other embodiments)
Although a plurality of embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not construed as being limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments and combinations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be applied.

  Specifically, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the light source 60 is arranged on the side opposite to the operator of the film sensor 20, but the light source 60 may not be arranged. Moreover, in 1st embodiment-3rd embodiment, although the film sensor 20 and the housing | casing 10 permeate | transmit light, it does not need to permeate | transmit light. Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the adhesive material 30 transmits light, but does not need to transmit light. In addition, in the first to third embodiments, the flow paths 50 and 251 for letting gas flow out to the outside are in communication with the space portions 40, 240 and 340. In particular, the flow paths 50 and 251 are provided. It is not necessary. In this case, the space portion 40 is formed with a volume sufficiently larger than the volume of gas generated from the housing 10 due to a change with time.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment to the third embodiment, the space portions 40, 240, and 340 are provided inside the adhesive material 30. However, as illustrated in FIG. The convex part 412 which protrudes toward the adhesive material 30 may be provided in the place where it does not, and the inside of the convex part may be formed as the space part 440. In other words, in the first to third embodiments, no inclusion is provided between the portion of the housing 10 that faces the switch operation surface 411 and the film sensor 20, but the space portion 40. , 240, 340 may be in contact with the housing 10, an inclusion may be provided between the film sensor 20 and the location. In addition, in the first to third embodiments, the finger 2 corresponds to the input operation body in the claims, but the touch pen or the like may be used as the input operation body without being limited to the finger 2. Furthermore, in 1st embodiment-3rd embodiment, although it was supposed that the adhesive materials 30 and 230 corresponded to the binder of a claim, it is good also as using an adhesive material. In addition, the filler 341 may be filled into the spiral spaces 240 and 340 by combining the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrostatic touch panel, 2 fingers (input operation body), 10, 410 Case, 11, 211, 411 Switch operation surface (contact surface), 13 Liquid crystal display part, 14 Outer edge, 20 Film sensor (electrode member), 30, 230 Adhesive material (binder), 31 End face, 40, 240, 340, 440 Space part, 341 Filler, 50 Distribution channel, 60 Light source

Claims (8)

A housing (10, 410) having contact surfaces (11, 211, 411) with which the input operating body (2) contacts;
An electrode member (20) whose capacitance value changes according to the contact of the input operating body with the contact surface of the housing;
A binder (30, 230) that binds the casing and the electrode member;
An electrostatic touch panel, wherein a space (40, 240, 340, 440) into which gas generated from the casing flows is formed between the electrode member and the casing.   The electrostatic touch panel according to claim 1, wherein a flow path (50) through which the gas flows out is communicated with the space portion. The binder (30) is provided over a predetermined range from the outer edge (14) of the housing to the inside,
The electrostatic touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the space portion (40, 340) is formed inside the binder.   The electrostatic touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact surface (11, 411) is disposed in a region of the housing facing the space. The binder (230) is provided in a spiral shape toward the center of the casing over a predetermined range from the outer edge of the casing to the inside.
The electrostatic touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the space portion is formed in a spiral shape.   A filler (341) having a hole is provided between the electrode member and the housing, and the hole is the space (340). The electrostatic touch panel according to claim 1. A light source (60) that emits light from the side opposite to the input operation body of the electrode member toward the input operation body;
The electrostatic touch panel according to claim 3, wherein the casing and the electrode member transmit light from the light source. The electrostatic touch panel as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the binder transmits light from the light source.

Images