JP6543052B2 - Stereoscopic structure, touch sensor with design, touch panel and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereoscopic structure, a touch sensor with a design, a touch panel, and an electronic device capable of three-dimensionally displaying patterns such as characters formed in a design forming layer.

  As a design panel provided on the surface of an electronic device or the like, there are cases in which a design such as a character is three-dimensionally displayed to enhance a decorative effect. Patent Document 1 discloses a display device in which at least one of the mirrors disposed opposite to each other is used as a display surface. This display device has a configuration in which a light emission portion is provided between the mirrors, with the mirrors constituting the display surface as semi-transmission type mirrors.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a desired shape is provided between a mirror surface, a half mirror layer formed above the mirror surface via a light transmitting layer, and a mirror surface and a half mirror layer, and at a distance from the mirror surface. And a light emitting means for emitting light. In this display device, by repeating the generation and reflection of the mirror image, a plurality of light emission images continuously connected from the front to the back can be observed through the half mirror layer.
It is observed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-058394 Patent document 1: JP 2008-070697

  However, in any of the techniques, the display is a multiple display in which a pattern such as a character is superimposed, and does not look like a floating appearance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic structure, a touch sensor with a design, a touch panel, and an electronic device capable of realizing an appearance in which a pattern such as a character is exposed.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, a stereoscopic vision structure of the present invention has a plurality of reflective surfaces inside, reflects a part of light, and has a translucent multi-layer reflective structure, and a light reflection. And a light guide layer provided between the multilayer reflective structure and the reflective layer, and a design forming layer provided in the light guide layer and having different degrees of light guide and light scattering. It is characterized by

  According to such a configuration, light guided by the light guide layer is scattered and reflected by the design forming layer, and travels to the multilayer reflective structure. The scattered light and the reflected light are repeatedly reflected and transmitted by the plurality of reflecting surfaces of the multilayer reflecting structure, and are transmitted to the outside of the multilayer reflecting structure. As a result, when viewed from the outside of the multilayer reflective structure, a pattern such as characters formed in the design forming layer looks like a tail in a specific direction and appears to be three-dimensionally floated out.

  In the stereoscopic structure of the present invention, the multilayer reflective structure may have different refractive indexes in adjacent layers. Thereby, the characteristics of reflection and transmission of the light scattered by the design forming layer are set based on the refractive index difference of the adjacent layers.

  In the stereoscopic structure of the present invention, the multilayer reflective structure may have a structure in which a plurality of half mirror layers and a plurality of light transmitting layers are alternately stacked. Thus, the reflection and transmission characteristics of light scattered in the design forming layer are set by the light reflection and transmission characteristics of the half mirror layer and the light transmitting layer.

  In the stereoscopic structure of the present invention, the design forming layer may scatter light more easily than the light guide layer. Thus, the light guided to the light guide layer is scattered by the design forming layer and directed to the multilayer reflective structure.

  In the stereoscopic structure of the present invention, the design forming layer may be less likely to scatter light than the light guide layer. Thereby, light scattered in the light guide layer is reflected by the design forming layer to be directed to the multilayer reflective structure.

  In the stereoscopic structure of the present invention, the light guide layer further includes a light source capable of receiving light from the end of the light guide layer, and the light guide layer allows light emitted from the light source into the inside from the end of the light guide layer. It may be directed toward. According to such a configuration, light emitted from the light source is guided to the light guide layer, and is scattered and reflected by the design forming layer to be directed to the multilayer reflective structure. That is, when light is emitted from the light source, a pattern such as characters formed in the design forming layer appears to draw a tail in a specific direction and appears to be three-dimensionally floated. On the other hand, when light is not emitted from the light source, the amount of light scattered and reflected by the design forming layer is small, so that the pattern such as characters formed in the design forming layer hardly comes out.

  A touch sensor with a design of the present invention is characterized by including the above-described stereoscopic structure and the touch sensor laminated with the stereoscopic structure. The touch panel according to the present invention is characterized by including a laminate of a display panel, a touch sensor, and the above-described stereoscopic structure. According to such a configuration, as a design of the touch sensor and the touch panel, a pattern such as a character formed on the design forming layer of the stereoscopic structure appears to float up in a specific direction, so that the design can be achieved. Can be enhanced.

  An electronic device according to the present invention includes at least one of the above-described touch sensor with a design and a touch panel. According to such a configuration, as a design of the electronic device provided with the touch sensor and the touch panel, a pattern such as characters formed in the design forming layer of the stereoscopic structure body appears to be drawn so as to draw a tail in a specific direction And the design can be enhanced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a stereoscopic structure, a touch sensor with a design, a touch panel, and an electronic device capable of realizing an appearance in which a pattern such as a character is embossed.

(A) And (b) is sectional drawing which illustrates the stereoscopic vision structure which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the example of how to look at a design formation layer. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing which illustrates the stereoscopic vision structure which concerns on the other example of 1st Embodiment. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing which illustrates the stereoscopic vision structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A) and (b) is a schematic diagram shown about an application example. (A) and (b) is a schematic diagram shown about an application example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the following description, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the members once described will be omitted as appropriate.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are cross-sectional views illustrating a stereoscopic structure according to the first embodiment.
The structure of the stereoscopic structure 1 is represented by Fig.1 (a), and the partial expanded sectional view of the multilayer reflective structure 10 is represented by FIG.1 (b).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stereoscopic structure 1 according to the present embodiment includes a multilayer reflective structure 10, a reflective layer 20, a light guide layer 30, and a design forming layer 40. The light guide layer 30 is provided between the multilayer reflective structure 10 and the reflective layer 20. The design forming layer 40 is provided in the light guide layer 30. Such a stereoscopic structure 1 is a structure that three-dimensionally shows patterns such as characters formed in the design forming layer 40.

  The multilayer reflective structure 10 has a plurality of reflective surfaces 10r inside. A part of the light directed to the multilayer reflecting structure 10 is reflected by the reflecting surface 10 r and another part is transmitted. The multilayer reflective structure 10 is a laminated structure of a plurality of layers. In the present embodiment, the first layer 10-1, the second layer 10-2, ..., and the n-th layer 10-n (n is a natural number) are stacked. In the present embodiment, the stacking direction of the first layer 10-1, the second layer 10-2,..., And the n-th layer 10-n of the multilayer reflective structure 10 is orthogonal to the first direction D1 and the first direction D1. Is referred to as a second direction D2.

  In the multilayer reflective structure 10, the refractive indices of light of adjacent layers are different from each other. The refractive index in the present embodiment is the refractive index for light of a specific wavelength in the visible light range. In the present embodiment, visible light is simply referred to as "light".

  For example, the refractive index of the first layer 10-1 is lower than the refractive index of the second layer 10-2, and the refractive index of the second layer 10-2 is higher than the refractive index of the third layer 10-3. The refractive index of each of the first layer 10-1 to the n-th layer 10-n is, for example, configured to repeat relatively low and relatively high.

  The thickness of each of the first layer 10-1 to the n-th layer 10-n is about several nanometers (nanometers) or more and several tens of micrometers (micrometers) or less. The number of layers (n) is about several hundred or more and several thousand or less. The specific refractive index, layer thickness and number of layers are appropriately set in accordance with the characteristics of light reflection and transmission. For example, "PICASUS (registered trademark) series" manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. can also be used.

  The reflective layer 20 is a layer that reflects light. The light reflected by the reflective layer 20 efficiently travels to the multilayer reflective structure 10 side. For the reflective layer 20, a reflective substrate or a reflective film is used. Moreover, the structure by which the reflective material was formed in the surface of a base material may be sufficient.

  The light guide layer 30 guides light in the second direction D2 in the layer. The light guide layer 30 has a first area 31 and a second area 32. The first area 31 is an area formed of, for example, plastic or glass. The second area 32 is an area between the first area 31 and the reflective layer 20. The refractive index of the first region 31 is higher than the refractive indexes of the first region 31 and layers adjacent in the first direction D1. Thus, among the light incident on the light guide layer 30, light within the critical angle is totally reflected and travels in the second direction D2 in the layer.

  In the design forming layer 40, a design that is a pattern such as characters is formed. The degree of light scattering of the design forming layer 40 is different from the degree of light scattering of the light guide layer 30. For example, when the design forming layer 40 scatters light more easily than the light guiding layer 30, the light guided to the light guiding layer 30 is scattered by the design forming layer 40 and travels to the multilayer reflective structure 10. Become. On the other hand, when the design forming layer 40 is less likely to scatter light than the light guide layer 30, the light that has traveled while being scattered by the light guide layer 30 is reflected by the design forming layer 40 to the multilayer reflective structure 10. I will head.

  In the stereoscopic structure 1, the multilayer reflective structure 10 and the light guide layer 30 are connected via the adhesive member 15. In addition, the first region 31 of the light guide layer 30 and the reflective layer 20 are connected via the adhesive member 15. For example, a double-sided tape is used as the adhesive member 15. In the present embodiment, the second region 32 is a space corresponding to the thickness of the bonding member 15.

  The stereoscopic structure 1 may further include a light source 50 capable of receiving light from the end of the light guide layer 30. For the light source 50, for example, an LED light source is used. The light emitted from the light source 50 is incident from the end of the light guide layer 30 and travels the inside in the second direction D2.

  When the light guided to the light guide layer 30 reaches the design forming layer 40, the light is scattered and reflected by the design forming layer 40 to be directed to the multilayer reflective structure 10. The light incident on the multilayer reflective structure 10 is reflected by and transmitted through the multilayer reflective structure 10 and exits the multilayer reflective structure 10.

  The example of the optical path of reflection and transmission of the light which goes to the multilayer reflective structure 10 from the light guide layer 30 side is shown by FIG.1 (b). For example, it is assumed that the light C0 scattered and reflected by the design forming layer 40 is incident on the multilayer reflective structure 10 at a predetermined angle. Part of the light C0 passes through the multilayer reflecting structure 10 to become light C1. The other part of the light C0 is reflected by the uppermost (first) reflecting surface 10r of the multilayer reflecting structure 10, is reflected by the second reflecting surface 10r, and exits out of the multilayer reflecting structure 10 to be light C2 It becomes. Similarly, part of the light C0 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 10r, and is reflected by the third reflecting surface 10r, the fourth reflecting surface 10r,... The lights C 3, C 4,..., C n coming out of the structure 10 are obtained.

  In the multilayer reflective structure 10, light of various angles scattered and reflected by the design forming layer 40 is incident. For this reason, multiple reflection occurs in the multilayer reflecting structure 10, and the light C0 is repeatedly reflected like a laminated mirror. Then, the reflection and transmission are repeated on each of the plurality of reflection surfaces 10 r and go out of the multilayer reflection structure 10.

  When the design forming layer 40 is viewed from the outside of the multilayer reflective structure 10, light scattered and reflected by the design forming layer 40 appears to be continuously shifted in a specific direction as lights C1 to Cn. That is, a pattern such as a character formed in the design forming layer 40 is referred to as an image 40i which appears to be drawn so as to draw a tail in a specific direction.

  In the stereoscopic structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the stronger the light irradiated from the light guide layer 30 to the design forming layer 40, the longer the tailing length in the image 40i. On the other hand, when the light irradiated from the light guide layer 30 to the design forming layer 40 is weak, an image 40i that almost trails does not appear. That is, the length of the tail of the image 40i changes according to the light intensity. Also, depending on the angle at which the multilayer reflective structure 10 is viewed from above, the length of the tail of the image 40i changes.

FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c) are diagrams showing an example of how the design forming layer looks.
FIG. 2A shows an image 40i-1 in the case where the light irradiated to the design forming layer 40 is weak. In this image 40i-1, there are very few parts which pull a tail from a pattern such as characters. For example, when light is not emitted from the light source 50, a pattern such as a character can not be seen in three dimensions.

  The image 40i-2 in case the light irradiated to the design formation layer 40 is strong is represented by FIG.2 (b). In this image 40i-2, many parts which pull a tail from patterns, such as a character, appear. By this, a pattern such as a letter appears to be three-dimensional as if it is floating. For example, when light is emitted from the light source 50 and is incident on the light guide layer 30, a pattern such as a character looks three-dimensional.

  An image 40i-3 of the reference example is shown in FIG. 2 (c). Here, the appearance of the image 40i-3 when light is emitted from the light source 50 without providing the multilayer reflective structure 10 on the light guide layer 30 is represented. Even when light is emitted from the light source 50 and is incident on the light guide layer 30, a pattern such as characters does not look like a tail if the multilayer reflective structure 10 is not provided.

  By providing the multilayer reflective structure 10 as in the present embodiment, as in an image 40i-2 shown in FIG. 2B, a pattern such as a character appears to draw a tail in a specific direction. In this case, it is not a display in which the patterns of the same character or the like are shifted and overlapped, but it appears that the tail is drawn continuously. Since it looks as if the tail-pulling portion represents the height of a pattern such as a character, the character such as a pattern can be viewed in a pseudo three-dimensional manner.

  Further, as shown by an image 40i-1 shown in FIG. 2A, when the light is weak (for example, when no light is emitted from the light source 50), a flat display is obtained, and the image 40i shown in FIG. When light is strong (for example, when light is emitted from the light source 50) as shown in -2, three-dimensional display is performed. In other words, it is possible to switch between displaying as a solid image or displaying as a flat image depending on the intensity of light. Because of the change of light and light due to the floating of patterns such as characters, it becomes possible to provide a distinctive design.

  By using the multilayer reflective structure 10 as in this embodiment, a stereoscopic structure 1 capable of displaying a stereoscopic image 40i without forming a complex optical element such as micro processing such as a micro lens or a prism is configured. It becomes possible.

  In addition, although the example which has 1st layer 10-1-n-th layer 10-n from which the refractive index of the light of an adjacent layer mutually differs as a multilayer reflective structure 10 was shown above, the multilayer reflective structure 10 is A plurality of half mirror layers and a plurality of light transmitting layers may be alternately stacked. In this way, the tailing appearance of the image 40i is set by the light reflection and transmission characteristics of the half mirror layer and the light transmitting layer.

(Another example of the first embodiment)
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating a stereoscopic structure according to another example of the first embodiment.
In the stereoscopic structure 1 </ b> B shown in FIG. 3A, the light source 50 is disposed obliquely above the multilayer reflective structure 10. Light obliquely incident on the multilayer reflective structure 10 from the light source 50 passes through the multilayer reflective structure 10 and reaches the light guide layer 30. The light reaching the light guide layer 30 travels in the second direction D2 and illuminates the design forming layer 40. The light irradiated to the design forming layer 40 is scattered and reflected to be directed to the multilayer reflective structure 10. Similar to the stereoscopic structure body 1, the light directed to the multilayer reflective structure body 10 forms an image 40 i that draws a tail of a pattern such as characters formed in the design forming layer 40.

  In the stereoscopic structure 1C shown in FIG. 3B, the multilayer reflective structure 10 is directly formed on the light guide layer 30. For example, the multilayer reflective structure 10 is directly laminated on the light guide layer 30 made of plastic or glass. Each of the first layer 10-1 to the n-th layer 10-n of the multilayer reflective structure 10 is sequentially stacked on the light guide layer 30 by, for example, a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method.

  Even in such a stereoscopic structure 1C, similarly to the stereoscopic structure 1, an image 40i is formed that draws a tail of a pattern such as a character formed in the design forming layer 40. By forming the multilayer reflective structure 10 on the light guide layer 30 in advance, the stereoscopic structure 1C can be easily assembled.

Second Embodiment
Next, the second embodiment will be described.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating a stereoscopic structure according to the second embodiment.
In the stereoscopic structure 1D shown in FIG. 4A, the light guide layer 30 is constituted only by the first region 31, and the design forming layer 40 is embedded in the first region 31. In the stereoscopic structure 1D, the stereoscopic view looks different depending on the position of the design forming layer 40 in the first direction D1 in the light guide layer 30 (first region 31).

  The method for embedding the design forming layer 40 in the first region 31 of the stereoscopic structure 1D is arbitrary. For example, the first region 31 has a two-layered OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) laminated structure, and when forming this laminated structure, the design forming layer 40 is disposed on the first OCA, and By arranging another layer of OCA, a structure in which the design forming layer 40 is embedded in the first region 31 made of OCA is formed. In the case where the first region 31 has a layered structure from a multilayer OCA, a stereoscopic structure 1D including a design forming layer 40 in which the position in the first direction D1 is different by arranging the design forming layer 40 at different interlayer interfaces. Is obtained.

  In the stereoscopic structure 1E shown in FIG. 4B, the second region 32 of the light guide layer 30 is configured by the OCA 35. The design forming layer 40 is embedded in the OCA 35. As a result, the way in which stereoscopic vision appears differs depending on the light transmittance of the OCA 35 and the optical characteristics such as the refractive index. The OCA 35 may be a multilayer film. Depending on the optical properties of the multilayer film of OCA 35, how the tail of the image 40i is drawn changes.

(Example of application)
Next, application examples of the stereoscopic structure 1, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5A to FIG. 6B are schematic views showing application examples. 4 and 5 show application examples of the stereoscopic structure 1, but the same applies to the stereoscopic structures 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E.
An example in which the stereoscopic structure 1 is applied to the touch panel 200 is shown in FIG. 5 (a). The touch panel 200 includes a display panel 210 and the stereoscopic structure 1 provided on the display panel 210. For example, a liquid crystal display panel is used as the display panel 210. A display panel 210 formed of a liquid crystal display panel includes a drive substrate 211 and an opposite substrate 212 which are disposed to face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 213 is provided between the drive substrate 211 and the opposite substrate 212. The touch sensor 220 is provided on the front side of the counter substrate 212. Moreover, it is also possible to form a touch sensor with a design, a touch switch, or the like by laminating the touch sensor 220 and the stereoscopic structure 1 without providing the display panel 210.

  The example of the electronic device 300 provided with the touch panel 200 is represented by FIG.5 (b). The electronic device 300 is, for example, a television. The electronic device 300 includes a housing 310 and a display unit 320. The touch panel 200 is provided on the surface of the display unit 320. Note that the electronic device 300 is not limited to a television, and may be another device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal.

  An example (notebook type computer) of a computer 400 provided with the touch panel 200 is shown in FIG. The computer 400 includes a display 410, a keyboard 420, an input pad 430, and the like. As shown in FIG. 6B, the computer 400 includes a central processing unit 401, a main storage unit 402, a sub storage unit 403, an input unit 404, an output unit 405, and an interface 406. The keyboard 420 and the input pad 430 are an example of the input unit 404. The display 410 is an example of the output unit 405. The display 410 includes the touch panel 200. The touch panel 200 is an example in which both the input unit 404 and the output unit 405 are used.

  By applying the stereoscopic structure 1 of the present embodiment to these devices, a pattern such as characters formed in the design forming layer 40 can be seen three-dimensionally as if a tail is drawn, and a product with high designability is provided. It will be possible to

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the stereoscopic structure 1, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E, the touch panel 200, and the electronic device 300 can be provided which can realize an appearance in which a pattern such as a character is lifted. It becomes possible.

  Although the embodiment and the application examples thereof have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, those skilled in the art may appropriately add, delete, or change design elements of the above-described embodiments or application examples thereof, or may appropriately combine the features of the embodiments. As long as the gist of the invention is included, it is included in the scope of the present invention.

1, 1B, 1C: Stereoscopic structure 10: Multilayer reflective structure 10-1: First layer 10-2: Second layer 10-3: Third layer 10-n: Nth layer 10r: Reflective surface 15: Adhesive member 20: Reflective layer 30: Light guide layer 31: First region 32: Second region 40: Design forming layer 40i, 40i-1, 40i-2, 40i-3: Image 50: Light source 200: Touch panel 210: Display Panel 211: Drive substrate 212: Opposite substrate 213: Liquid crystal layer 220: Touch sensor 300: Electronic device 310: Casing 320: Display unit 400: Computer 401: Central processing unit 402: Main storage unit 403: Secondary storage unit 404: Input Unit 405 Output unit 406 Interface 410 Display 420 Keyboard 430 Input pad C0, C1, C2, C3, C4 Light D1 First direction D2 Second direction

Claims (10)

A multilayer reflective structure having a plurality of reflective surfaces inside to reflect a part of light and having translucency;
A reflective layer that reflects light,
A light guide layer provided between the multilayer reflective structure and the reflective layer;
A design forming layer provided in the light guide layer and having different degrees of light scattering from the light guide layer;
A stereoscopic structure characterized by comprising: The stereoscopic structure according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer reflective structure has different refractive indexes in adjacent layers. The stereoscopic structure according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer reflective structure has a structure in which a plurality of half mirror layers and a plurality of light transmitting layers are alternately stacked. The three-dimensional structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the design formation layer scatters the light more easily than the light guide layer. The stereoscopic structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the design formation layer is less likely to scatter the light than the light guide layer. It further comprises a light source capable of entering light from the end of the light guide layer,
The stereoscopic structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the light guide layer guides the light emitted from the light source from an end of the light guide layer toward the inside. The stereoscopic structure according to claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED light source. A stereoscopic structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ;
A touch sensor with a design, comprising the touch sensor laminated with the stereoscopic structure. Display panel,
Touch sensor,
A stereoscopic structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ;
A touch panel characterized by having a laminate of An electronic device comprising at least one of the design-equipped touch sensor according to claim 8 and the touch panel according to claim 9 .