JP6037816B2 - Touch panel and display device including the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel and a display device including the touch panel.

  Conventionally, a touch panel that receives an input operation by detecting a touch of a finger or the like on the touch panel and specifying coordinates of the touch position is known, and has attracted attention as one of excellent interface means. Such touch panels have been commercialized using various methods such as a resistive film method and a capacitance method as a touch position detection method.

  As a conventional touch panel, detection column wirings arranged in parallel with a space on the surface of a thin transparent dielectric film, and parallel to the back surface of the dielectric film with a space between them, orthogonal to the detection column wiring There is known a configuration including a detection row wiring. These detection column wiring and detection row wiring (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as “detection wiring”) are, for example, transparent conductive materials such as indium oxide, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, Alternatively, it is made of an opaque conductive material such as silver.

JP 9-51186 A JP 2010-97536 A

  In the touch panel as described above, when the detection wiring is made of a transparent conductive material, a touch panel with high visibility can be obtained. However, since the conductive material has high electrical resistance, there is a problem that the response speed is lowered. there were. In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed to form the detection wiring from an opaque conductive material having a low electrical resistance instead of a transparent conductive material.

  However, in this case, there is a difference in light transmittance between a portion where the detection wiring is present and a portion where the detection wiring is not present, and the light transmittance is periodically changed on the touch panel surface. On the other hand, in a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, there is a difference in light luminance between a portion where pixels are present and a portion where pixels are not present, and the light luminance periodically changes on the display panel surface. For this reason, when a touch panel made of an opaque conductive material is mounted on a display panel, there is a problem that moire occurs due to interference between the periodically changing light transmittance and the periodically changing luminance.

  In order to make moiré difficult to see, it is conceivable to reduce the size of the moire by making the detection wiring pattern dense. However, if the detection wiring pattern is simply made dense, the parasitic capacitance between the detection wirings increases, and the response speed when touched with a finger or the like decreases. Also, a structure in which a dummy pattern is formed in order to make the moiré difficult to see is known. However, in the configuration in which a unidirectional dummy pattern is formed as in Patent Document 2, the effect of making the moiré difficult to see is from a specific direction. There was a problem that could only be obtained when viewed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of making it difficult to visually recognize moire.

  A touch panel according to the present invention includes a transparent substrate, a first bundle wiring including a plurality of first wirings formed on the transparent substrate and made of an opaque conductive material arranged at intervals in a first direction, and And a second bundle wiring including a plurality of second wirings made of an opaque conductive material arranged at intervals in a second direction intersecting the first direction. In the touch panel, a wiring interval which is a region surrounded by the first wiring of the first bundle wiring and the second wiring of the second bundle wiring is set to m, n in the first and second directions, respectively. (M and n are integers equal to or greater than 2) A third wiring made of an opaque conductive material that is equally insulated from the first and second bundle wirings is provided.

  According to the present invention, the third is located at a position that divides the wiring interval, which is a region surrounded by the first and second wirings, equally into m and n (m and n are integers of 2 or more) in the first and second directions, respectively. Wiring is formed. Accordingly, the moire pitch in a plurality of directions is reduced, and therefore, it is difficult for the moire to be visually recognized.

4 is a plan view showing a configuration of a touch panel according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a connection between the touch panel and the controller board according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a configuration of a touch panel according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a touch panel according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing another configuration of the touch panel according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a configuration of a touch panel according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a touch panel 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a touch panel 1 includes a transparent substrate 2 made of transparent glass or resin, a detection column wiring 3, a detection row wiring 4, connection wirings 5a and 5b, lead wirings 16, and terminals. 17. Note that the detection column wiring 3, the detection row wiring 4, the connection wirings 5 a and 5 b, the lead-out wiring 16, and the terminal 17 are formed on the transparent substrate 2.

  The plurality of detection column wirings 3 (first wirings) are linearly extended in the column direction (Y direction in FIG. 1), and in the row direction (first direction, in FIG. 1) perpendicular to the column direction. (X direction) are arranged at predetermined intervals. The detection column wiring 3 is made of an opaque conductive material such as silver.

  The plurality of detection row wirings 4 (second wirings) extend linearly in the row direction (X direction in FIG. 1), and are predetermined in the column direction (second direction, Y direction in FIG. 1). Arranged at intervals. The detection row wiring 4 is made of an opaque conductive material such as silver and is formed in a different layer from the detection column wiring 3. Here, the first direction and the second direction are the row direction and the column direction orthogonal to each other. However, the first direction and the second direction are not limited to this, and it is sufficient that they intersect each other.

  Both ends of a predetermined number (five in FIG. 1) of detection column wirings 3 are electrically connected by two connection wirings 5a, and a bundle of column-direction bundle wirings 6 is formed by this connection. ing. That is, the column-direction bundle wiring 6 (first bundle wiring) includes a plurality of detection column wirings 3. Similarly, both ends of a predetermined number (five in FIG. 1) of detection row wirings 4 are electrically connected by two connection wirings 5b, and by this connection, a bundle of row-direction bundle wirings 7 is formed. Is configured. That is, the row-direction bundle wiring 7 (second bundle wiring) includes a plurality of detection row wirings 4.

  Here, a predetermined number of column-direction bundle wires 6 are arranged in parallel in the row direction at intervals, and similarly, a predetermined number of row-direction bundle wires 7 are arranged in parallel in the column direction at intervals. With such an arrangement, the transparent substrate 2 is divided into a plurality of areas by a predetermined number of column-direction bundle wires 6 and row-direction bundle wires 7. The predetermined number of column-direction bundle wires 6 and row-direction bundle wires 7, the predetermined number of detection column wires 3 constituting the column-direction bundle wires 6, and the detection row wires 4 constituting the row-direction bundle wires 7. Each of the predetermined numbers is appropriately determined from the required resolution of the touch panel 1.

  The plurality of lead wires 16 are wires that electrically connect the plurality of connection wires 5 a and 5 b and the plurality of terminals 17. In other words, the column-direction bundle wiring 6 is electrically connected to the terminal 17 via the connection wiring 5 a and the lead-out wiring 16, and the row-direction bundle wiring 7 is connected via the connection wiring 5 b and the lead-out wiring 16. Each terminal 17 is electrically connected.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connection between the touch panel 1 and the controller board 21 that controls the touch panel 1. In FIG. 2, the touch panel 1 is schematically shown.

  A terminal 17 (see FIG. 1) of the touch panel 1 is electrically connected to a terminal provided on one end side of an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 22, and a controller board 21 is provided on the other end side of the FPC 22. Is electrically connected to the terminal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a switch circuit 23, an oscillation circuit 24, and a touch position calculation circuit 25 are mounted on the controller board 21. The switch circuit 23 sequentially selects the column direction bundle wiring 6 and the row direction bundle wiring 7 and connects the selected detection wiring to the oscillation circuit 24. The oscillation circuit 24 changes the oscillation period of the oscillation signal in accordance with the capacitance formed between the detection wiring connected by the switch circuit 23 and an indicator such as a finger. The touch position calculation circuit 25 detects a capacitance between the detection wiring connected by the switch circuit 23 and an indicator such as a finger based on the oscillation cycle of the oscillation circuit 24, and based on the detection result. To calculate the touch position of the indicator.

  In FIG. 2, a display device including the display panel 26 and the touch panel 1 disposed on the display panel 26 is illustrated. This display device may be a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal panel as the display panel 26, or may be an organic EL display device using an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel as the display panel 26.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the touch panel 1 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the intersection region R of the column-direction bundle wiring 6 and the row-direction bundle wiring 7 indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, and is a plan view showing a part of the wiring pattern of the touch panel 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the surface region of the touch panel 1 (here, the crossing region R and the region between the adjacent crossing regions R) includes the column wiring for detection 6 and the row direction in the row direction. A wiring interval 10, which is a region surrounded by the detection wiring 4 of the bundle wiring 7, is formed. The touch panel 1 according to the first embodiment further includes a dummy wiring 8 (third wiring) made of an opaque conductive material that divides the wiring interval 10 into two equal parts in the row direction and the column direction.

  Here, the dummy wiring 8 includes a dummy wiring 8a formed at a position that bisects an interval in the row direction (X direction) between two adjacent detection column wirings 3 and two adjacent detection row wirings. 4 and a dummy wiring 8b formed at a position that divides the interval in the column direction (Y direction) into two equal parts.

  Each of the dummy wirings 8a and 8b is separated from the two detection column wirings 3 and the two detection row wirings 4 in a predetermined size in a plan view. That is, the dummy wiring 8 is electrically insulated from the column direction bundle wiring 6 and the row direction bundle wiring 7. The distance between the dummy wirings 8a and 8b and the detection column wiring 3 and the detection row wiring 4 is preferably set to the minimum dimension as long as insulation is allowed in the process from the viewpoint of suppressing the moire visibility.

  The dummy wiring 8a has the same wiring width (size) and planar shape as the detection column wiring 3 except that both ends thereof do not extend to the detection column wiring 3. The wiring 8 b has the same wiring width and planar view shape as the detection row wiring 4 except that both ends thereof do not extend to the detection row wiring 4. That is, the dummy wiring 8 has the same wiring width and planar view shape as the detection column wiring 3 and the detection row wiring 4.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the touch panel 1. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 3, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line BB ′ in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the touch panel 1 includes an interlayer insulating film 11 provided between the detection column wiring 3 and the detection row wiring 4, the detection column wiring 3, the detection row wiring 4, and the like. And a protective film 12 for protecting.

  Here, the interlayer insulating film 11 is formed so as to cover the transparent substrate 2, the detection column wiring 3 and the dummy wiring formed on the transparent substrate 2. A protective film 12 is formed so as to cover the interlayer insulating film 11 and the detection row wiring 4 formed on the interlayer insulating film 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the dummy wiring 8 a is provided at the center of the two adjacent detection column wirings 3 and is formed in the same layer as the detection column wiring 3. Although not shown, the dummy wiring 8 b is provided at the center of two adjacent detection row wirings 4 and is formed in the same layer as the detection row wirings 4. That is, the dummy wiring 8 is formed in the same layer as the detection column wiring 3 or the detection row wiring 4.

  According to such a configuration, since the dummy wiring 8 can be formed together with the detection column wiring 3 or the detection row wiring 4, the manufacturing process can be simplified. Here, the configuration in which the dummy wirings 8a and 8b are formed in different layers so that one is positioned on the other has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the dummy wirings 8a and 8b may be formed in the same layer so that one and the other are connected to each other.

  Unlike FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, which are cross-sectional views of the portion where the detection column wiring 3 and the detection row wiring 4 are formed, FIG. 4C shows the portion where the terminal 17 is formed. A cross-sectional view is shown. In the example shown in FIG. 4C, the terminal 17 (terminal 17 a) connected to the detection column wiring 3 via the lead-out wiring 16 is formed in the same layer as the detection column wiring 3. Similarly, the terminal 17 (terminal 17 b) connected to the detection row wiring 4 via the lead-out wiring 16 is formed in the same layer as the detection row wiring 4. A contact hole 18 is formed on the terminals 17a and 17b, and is electrically connected to a terminal of the FPC 22 by a metal layer (not shown) formed in the contact hole 18.

  In the touch panel 1 and the display device according to the first embodiment configured as described above, a position at which the wiring interval 10 surrounded by the detection column wiring 3 and the detection row wiring 4 is equally divided into two in the row direction and the column direction. In addition, a dummy wiring 8 made of an opaque conductive material is formed. Accordingly, the pitch of the sensor pattern in a plurality of directions is reduced and the pitch of the moire is reduced, so that it is difficult to visually recognize the moire. Further, since the dummy wiring 8 is electrically insulated from the column-direction bundle wiring 6 and the row-direction bundle wiring 7, an increase in parasitic capacitance of these wirings can be suppressed. Therefore, a touch panel with a high response speed can be obtained.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as described above, the dummy wiring 8 has the same wiring width and plan view shape as the detection column wiring 3 and the detection row wiring 4. According to such a configuration, a decrease in light transmittance of the touch panel 1 can be suppressed, so that moire can be efficiently reduced.

  In the above description, the dummy wiring 8 is formed at a position that divides the wiring interval 10 into two equal parts in the row direction and the column direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the dummy wiring 8 is configured such that the wiring interval 10 is equally divided into m (m is an integer of 2 or more) in the row direction and n (n is an integer of 2 or more) in the column direction. What is necessary is just to form in the position equally divided. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the dummy wiring 8 only needs to be formed at a position where the wiring interval 10 is equally divided into three in the row direction and a position where it is equally divided into three in the column direction. Further, the equal fraction m in the row direction and the equal fraction n in the column direction may be the same value or different values.

  In addition, although the moire becomes difficult to be visually recognized as the equal fractions m and n are increased, the light transmittance of the touch panel 1 is decreased. n should be determined appropriately.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a configuration in the intersection region R of the touch panel 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. In the touch panel 1 according to the second embodiment, the same or similar components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and different points will be mainly described below.

  In the second embodiment, detection column wirings 3a and 3b made of an opaque conductive material are provided instead of the above-described detection column wiring 3, and an opaque conductive material is used instead of the above-described detection row wiring 4. The detection row wirings 4a and 4b (broken lines in FIG. 6) are provided. In the following description, a direction in which the column direction (Y direction in FIG. 6) is inclined 45 ° counterclockwise, that is, a direction in which the row direction (X direction in FIG. 6) is inclined 45 ° clockwise. This is referred to as “first tilt direction”. Further, a direction in which the column direction (Y direction in FIG. 6) is inclined 45 ° clockwise, that is, a direction in which the row direction (X direction in FIG. 6) is inclined 45 ° counterclockwise is referred to as “second inclination direction”. "

  The plurality of detection column wirings 3a (first wirings) extend in the second inclination direction, and are arranged at a predetermined interval in the first inclination direction (first direction). The plurality of detection column wirings 3b (fourth wirings) extend in the first tilt direction, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the second tilt direction (second direction). Both ends of a predetermined number (three in FIG. 6) of detection column wirings 3a and 3b are electrically connected by two connection wirings 5a, respectively. Is configured. That is, the column-direction bundle wiring 6 (first bundle wiring) includes a plurality of detection column wirings 3a and 3b. Note that the detection column wirings 3a and 3b are electrically connected to each other at both ends.

  Similarly, the plurality of detection row wires 4a (second wires) are extended in the first inclination direction, and a plurality of detection row wires 4a are arranged at predetermined intervals in the second inclination direction (second direction). The plurality of detection row wirings 4b (fifth wirings) extend in the second inclination direction, and a plurality of the row wirings for detection 4b are arranged at predetermined intervals in the first inclination direction (first direction). Both ends of a predetermined number (two in FIG. 6) of the detection row wirings 4a and 4b are electrically connected by two connection wirings 5b, respectively. Is configured. That is, the row direction bundle wiring 7 (second bundle wiring) includes a plurality of detection row wirings 4a and 4b. Note that the detection row wirings 4a and 4b are also electrically connected to each other at both ends.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection column wiring 3 a of the column-direction bundle wiring 6 is provided in the surface region of the touch panel 1 (here, the region between the intersecting region R and the adjacent intersecting regions R). , 3b and a wiring interval 10 which is a region surrounded by the row wirings for detection 4a and 4b of the row-direction bundle wiring 7 is formed. The touch panel 1 according to the second embodiment further includes a dummy wiring 8 (third wiring) made of an opaque conductive material that divides the wiring interval 10 into two equal parts in the first and second inclined directions. .

  Here, the dummy wiring 8 includes a dummy wiring 8a formed at a position that bisects an interval between the adjacent detection column wiring 3a and the detection row wiring 4b in the first inclination direction, and an adjacent detection column wiring. 3b and the detection row wiring 4a are provided with a dummy wiring 8b formed at a position that bisects the interval in the second inclination direction.

  Each of the dummy wirings 8a and 8b has a predetermined size in plan view and is divided from the two detection column wirings 3a and 3b and the two detection row wirings 4a and 4b. That is, the dummy wiring 8 is electrically insulated from the column direction bundle wiring 6 and the row direction bundle wiring 7. Note that the distance between the dummy wirings 8a and 8b and the detection column wirings 3a and 3b and the detection row wirings 4a and 4b is set to a minimum dimension as long as insulation can be allowed in the process. It is preferable from the viewpoint.

  Further, the dummy wiring 8 according to the second embodiment has the same wiring width and plan view shape as the detection column wirings 3a and 3b and the detection row wirings 4a and 4b, as in the first embodiment. Yes. Further, the dummy wiring 8 according to the second embodiment is formed in the same layer as the detection column wirings 3a and 3b or the detection row wirings 4a and 4b, as in the first embodiment. The dummy wirings 8a and 8b may be formed in different layers so that one of the dummy wirings 8a and 8b is positioned on the other, or the dummy wirings 8a and 8b may be formed in the same layer. And the other may be connected to each other.

  The touch panel 1 and the display device according to the second embodiment have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the above points.

  In the touch panel 1 and the display device according to the second embodiment configured as described above, the wiring interval 10 surrounded by the detection column wirings 3a and 3b and the detection row wirings 4a and 4b is set to the first inclination direction and the second direction. A dummy wiring 8 made of an opaque conductive material is formed at a position equally divided into two in the tilt direction. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the moire pitch in a plurality of directions is reduced, so that the moire becomes difficult to be visually recognized, and the dummy wiring 8 is electrically insulated from the column-direction bundle wiring 6 and the row-direction bundle wiring 7. Therefore, a touch panel with a high response speed can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the dummy wiring 8 has the same wiring width and plan view shape as the detection column wirings 3a and 3b and the detection row wirings 4a and 4b. As a result, a decrease in light transmittance of the touch panel 1 can be suppressed, and moire can be efficiently reduced. Further, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the dummy wiring 8 is formed in the same layer as the detection column wirings 3a and 3b or the detection row wirings 4a and 4b. Can be simplified.

  In the above description, the dummy wiring 8 is formed at a position that divides the wiring interval 10 into two equal parts in the first and second inclined directions. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the dummy wiring 8 is arranged such that the wiring interval 10 is equally divided into m (m is an integer of 2 or more) in the first inclination direction and n (n is 2 in the second inclination direction). (Integer above) as long as it is formed at equal positions. Further, the fraction m for the first tilt direction and the fraction n for the second tilt direction may be the same or different.

  In addition, although the moire becomes difficult to be visually recognized as the equal fractions m and n are increased, the light transmittance of the touch panel 1 is decreased. n should be determined appropriately.

  The present invention is not limited to the detection wiring pattern disclosed in the present specification, but can be applied to other wiring patterns. Further, when adjacent wiring patterns have different wiring widths (sizes) and planar shapes, the dummy wirings 8 may be configured to have the same wiring width and planar shape as either one of them. .

  Also, within the scope of the present invention, the embodiments can be freely combined, or the embodiments can be appropriately modified or omitted.

  1 touch panel, 2 transparent substrate, 3, 3a, 3b detection column wiring, 4, 4a, 4b detection row wiring, 6 column direction bundle wiring, 7 row direction bundle wiring, 8, 8a, 8b dummy wiring, 10 wiring spacing .

Claims (5)

A transparent substrate;
A first bundle wiring including a plurality of first wirings made of an opaque conductive material formed on the transparent substrate and arranged at intervals in the first direction; and a second direction intersecting the first direction. A second bundle wiring including a plurality of second wirings made of an opaque conductive material arranged at intervals;
A wiring interval that is an area surrounded by the first wiring of the first bundle wiring and the second wiring of the second bundle wiring is set to m and n (m and n are 2 in the first and second directions, respectively). A touch panel comprising the first and second bundle wirings and a third wiring made of an opaque conductive material that is electrically insulated. The touch panel according to claim 1,
The first bundle wiring further includes a plurality of fourth wirings made of an opaque conductive material arranged at intervals in the second direction,
The second bundle wiring further includes a plurality of fifth wirings made of an opaque conductive material arranged at intervals in the first direction,
The third wiring has a wiring interval which is a region surrounded by the first and fourth wirings of the first bundle wiring and the second and fifth wirings of the second bundle wiring. A touch panel that equally divides m and n in the direction (m and n are integers of 2 or more). The touch panel according to claim 1 or 2,
The third wiring is
A touch panel having a wiring width and a planar shape similar to those of the first wiring and the second wiring. The touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The third wiring is
A touch panel formed in the same layer as the first wiring or the second wiring. A display panel;
A display device comprising the touch panel according to claim 1, which is disposed on the display panel.

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