JPS58197616A - Transparent film switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transparent film switch, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a transparent film switch in which electrodes are formed on a transparent insulating film and the electrodes are opposed to each other with an appropriate gap.
The electrode spacer that maintains the gap between both electrodes has been improved to improve the transparency visibility of the film switch, ensure the gap between the electrodes, and prevent damage to the operating electrode during switch operation. The present invention aims to provide a new transparent film switch that can extend the life of the switch.

The general structure of a transparent film switch is that a thin film-like transparent electrode is formed on each opposing surface of two transparent films so that they face each other, and the electronic circuit is turned on and off by pressing the electrode with a finger. Because it is transparent and ultra-thin, it can be used to replace keyboards in various devices, and can also be usefully applied to touch channel selection on televisions and various display devices in computers. . In particular, it is very convenient to communicate with a total of 3 I machines by directly operating switches on the screen F- of the data displayed as an image on the cathode ray tube (braun tube) screen of the electronic computer, and to command such communication. As a switch part, a transparent film switch has come to be attached directly to the screen or with some spacing. As described above, transparent film switches can be applied to a wide range of applications due to their characteristics, but conventional film switches of this type have had several practical problems.

Figure i1 shows a conventional transparent film switch a. b is a base sheet, C is a cover sheet, both sheets b and C are transparent and insulating sheets made of a polymeric material such as polyester, and the cover sheet C and base sheet b are generally 1 mm thick. They face each other with the following extremely small distance d. and,
On the surface of the base sheet b facing the cover sheet C (hereinafter referred to as the opposite surface of the base sheet), fixed electrodes e, e are formed of a thin film made of a conductive material and extending approximately in a strip shape.
. A large number of actuating electrodes f, f, . In other words, the fixed electrodes e, e... formed on the opposing surfaces of the base sheet b and cover sheet C, respectively.
・and working electrodes f, f... are arranged in rows in a matrix orthogonal direction to face each other, and any one of these fixed electrodes e, e... and working electrodes f, f...ψ
A contact point of the switch is formed at a location where any of the electrodes face each other, and therefore, when the cover sheet c at any of the opposing locations is pressed with a finger, the contact point is closed and electrical continuity is established. On the other hand, g is a spacer sheet interposed between the facing gap 6 between the base sheet b and the cover sheet C, and is a sheet made of a transparent material such as nylon, and is punched with a large number of openings h... . i is a connecting member such as a double-sided adhesive tape provided between the facing surfaces of the peripheral edge of the base sheet and the peripheral edge of the cover sheet C, and this connecting member i
Both sheets b and C are fixed to each other by.

Such a transparent film switch a is for example a cathode ray tube j.
It is used by being attached to the screen as appropriate.

As mentioned above, in order to maintain the gap d between the electrodes, the conventional transparent film switch a includes a spacer sheet g having punched openings h, separate from the base sheet b and the cover sheet C. and its aperture, h--
・The working electrodes f, f---・ are connected to the fixed electrodes e, eΦ・
・It should be pressed so that it comes into contact with the Therefore, the gap between both electrodes is maintained for the time being, but when viewed from the outside, the opening formed in the spacer sheet and the opening edge of h@-@ are clearly visible, and depending on the viewing angle of transparent switch a, Since the opening edge reflects the surrounding light and shines, these can significantly prevent the visibility of various displays and displayed images provided at the rear of the base sheet (b), and furthermore, the spacer Due to the edges of the opening edges of the openings, h...e, or the cracks generated when punching the opening, when pressing with a finger on the part of the working electrode f, f@-- that comes into contact with the opening edge, the local area is always affected. The fixed electrode e is exposed to stress and is intensively damaged, causing the electrode to break, cutting off the circuit continuity or causing poor contact, or deforming the working electrode and causing the fixed electrode e to be damaged even when pressed.
, e*φ・, which caused the circuit to become conductive, causing a malfunction.

However, if no spacer is provided between the opposing electrodes, the opposing gap must be made wide with a considerable margin. Peripheral fixing member i
It was necessary to make the material quite thick, and to provide strong tension to the base sheet b and cover sheet c, a considerably thick sheet material had to be used, and in the end it became the prototype.

This will also lead to various drawbacks in the future, such as reduced transparency and a deeper one-press stroke, which reduces the ease and reliability of operation.

Therefore, in view of the various drawbacks of the conventional transparent film switch as described above, the present invention improves the electrode spacer for maintaining the gap between the electrodes, improves the transparent visibility of the film switch, and The purpose of this project is to provide a new transparent film switch in which the gap between the electrodes is reliably maintained and furthermore, damage to the operating electrodes due to the spacer can be prevented. A large number of fixed electrodes are formed on the opposing surface of the base sheet, and a large number of actuating electrodes are formed on the opposing surface of the cover sheet in directions orthogonal to each other in a matrix shape.The opposing surface of the base sheet has a curved upper surface. The details of the transparent film switch of the present invention, which is characterized by forming a large number of transparent and insulating inter-electrode spacer strips, will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 shows the first embodiment of the transparent film switch of the present invention.
This shows that. In the figure, 2 is a base sheet, and 3 is a cover sheet, both of which are transparent and insulating made of a polymeric material such as polyether or polyimide.The sheet thickness is very thin, for example, 120 microns. That's about it. The base sheet 2 and the cover sheet 3 have one side facing each other, and transparent electrodes are formed on each facing side. That is, on the surface of the base sheet 2 facing the cover sheet 3 (hereinafter referred to as the "opposing surface"), fixed electrodes 4.4, .
are formed in parallel. This fixed electrode 4.4,...
* extends in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. 2(A), and is formed with an appropriate insulation interval of 5.5, φ, . on the other hand,
The surface of the cover sheet 3 facing the base sheet 2 (hereinafter referred to as
The above-mentioned fixed electrodes 4.4...
A thin film-like working electrode 6.6 similar to 6.
are formed in parallel in the direction of arrow Y, keeping appropriate insulation intervals 7.7, . In other words, base sheet 2
and a fixed electrode 4. on the opposing surfaces of the cover sheet 3 and the cover sheet 3, respectively.
4, . ,
...The contact point of the switch is formed at the cylindrical place where either electrode of Φ faces.

By the way, these fixed electrodes 4.4, . . . and working electrodes 6.
The film thickness of 6, . A conductive film is first formed on substantially the entire surface of the base sheet 2 and cover sheet 3 using a material, for example, by a known vacuum deposition method, and then the conductive film is separated by an insulating interval 5 by means such as photoetching or mechanical peeling.
．． A method of deleting the parts 5, number, fist, and 7, 7, 9, etc. is used, but of course, the method is not limited to this method.

The fixed electrode 4.4 formed in this way, the active electrode 6.6, the active electrode 6.6, the terminal 8.8 for circuit connection at each connection end of the active electrode, the terminal 8.8, and the terminal 9,9. .1・-wo, eyelet 1
0.10, ... to the base sheet 2 or force-fixed integrally with the sheet 3 and attached 7. 11,11,・
The adhesive layer that fixes the two sheets 2 and 3 to each other at the periphery of the facing surfaces of the base sheet 2 and the cover sheet 3 has a thickness of, for example, about 10 to 150 microns. These adhesive layers 11, 11, . . . are formed, for example, by pasting double-sided adhesive tape or by applying a suitable adhesive,
Both sheets are positioned facing each other and then fixed. Therefore, the fixed electrodes 4.4 of the base sheet 2,
. . . and the actuating electrode 6.6 of the force sheet 3, . . . and the fist are opposed to each other.

12.12, φ... are insulating electrode spacers, and the fixed electrodes 4, 4,... are arranged within each insulation interval of 5.5,... between the fixed electrodes on the opposing surface of the base sheet 2. A large number of electrode spacers 12, 12, . . .
1.6.11φ. The surface facing the cover sheet 3 side is a curved surface, and therefore the cross section of the electrode spacer is formed in a semicircular shape, a hollow shape, or an elliptical shape. This electrode spacer 12.12 is made of a soft and transparent resin material, such as a highly transparent adhesive material such as polyester or acrylic urethane. , . . . can be formed by, for example, applying a screen printing method and drying appropriately to suppress adhesive activity. Also, this electrode spacer 12.
The heights of the fixed electrodes 4.4, the pot... and the working electrodes 6, 6.12, . The upper surfaces of the electrode spacers 12.12, . . . are the working electrodes 6, 6. It is best if it makes light contact with ..., but it may be formed lower than this. That is, the fixed electrode 4
．． 4. ... and [16,6,--] are electrode spacers 12.12. which are formed integrally with this base sheet 2 and whose upper surfaces are curved.・The opposing gap is maintained by the 11th model.

In the transparent film switch l described above, FIG. 2 (D
), if you press any contact point on the force/height sheet 3 with your finger, the cover sheet 3 pressed by that finger will be recessed toward the base sheet 2 side, and the working electrode 6 at that point will be connected to the fixed electrode 4 at that point. The contact closes when it comes into contact with. When this finger is pressed, both sides of the contact portion of the cover sheet, which is recessed toward the base sheet side, are recessed while contacting the upper surfaces of the electrode spacers 12, 12, . - The sheet 3 and the working electrode 6 are only deformed into a curved shape along the curved surface thereof, and are not bent into a square shape by the opening edge of the spacer as in the conventional case.
Moreover, since the electrode spacers 12, 12, . . . are made of a soft material, the finger pressure is absorbed to some extent by the electrode spacers 12, 12, . Damage never occurs. And electrode spacers 12, 12 . -... is formed integrally on the base sheet 2 over the insulating intervals 5, 5, ·Φ· between the fixed electrodes, instead of intervening a separate sheet as in the past, When looking at this transparent film switch l from the cover sheet 3 side, there is nothing that impedes the transparency of each electrode section, and the transmission visibility is extremely good, and the fixed electrodes 4, 4,... The opposing gap between the working electrodes 6.6, . . . is an electrode spacer 12.1.
2. Reliably held by ...

Even if this transparent film switch l is attached to a curved surface as well as a flat surface, there will be no accident in which the contact point becomes loose by itself when the switch is not pressed with a finger.

Such a transparent film switch l according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
The various data imaged on the screen 14 are transferred to the transparent sheets 2, 3 and electrodes 4, 4 of the transparent film switch 1.
...and 6.6,...Q while looking through it and pressing your finger on the cover sheet 3 of the contact section corresponding to the imaged data, the display system 15 will be activated in the circuit where that contact is conductive. Instructions can be sent to the computer via the , and communication can be made with the computer.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment 16 of the transparent film switch of the present invention. This is transparent film switch 1
6 is suitable for attaching the base sheet 2 to a relatively large curved surface or a screen with curvature in two directions.
The electrode spacers are formed in a lattice shape.

That is, the electrode spacer 12.12 shown in the above embodiment
An electrode spacer 17.1 whose upper surface is curved and has a substantially semicircular cross section, similar to . , . . . are the insulation intervals 5, 54, . . . on the base sheet 2 between the fixed electrodes, and the insulation intervals 7.7, . It is formed on the position corresponding to e. According to this.

Fixed electrode 4.4. ... and working electrodes 6, 6. Each contact area facing each other is completely demarcated by all four sides of the area or by 1m spacers 17.17, ·φ. Even if a fixed electrode 4. is attached at each contact point.・4,... and working electrode 6.6,...
The opposing gap of am is maintained more reliably.

As described above, in the transparent film switch of the present invention, since the electrode spacer having a curved upper surface is formed in a strip shape on the base sheet, the operating electrode is not damaged by the spacer member when pressed with a finger. This can extend the life of the switch. Further, since the spacer in the transparent film switch of the present invention does not have an edge that shines depending on the viewing angle, its visibility through transmission is extremely excellent.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows an example of a conventional transparent film switch, in which (A) is an exploded perspective view, (B) is a partially cutaway and enlarged partial perspective view, and (C) is a longitudinal side view. ))
2 shows an example of the transparent film switch of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 2B shows a view taken along line B-B in FIG. (C) is a partial vertical sectional side view cut away from the C in (A).
- Enlarged perspective view 1 cut along line C and partially cut away
(D) is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional side view of a part showing a finger-pressed state; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the transparent film switch of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a part of another embodiment of the transparent film switch of the present invention with a cutout I. Explanation of symbols■--Transparent film switch, 2. Φ base sheet, 3. Φ.cover sheet, 4. Life-fixing electrode, 5. Insulation interval, 6. Working electrode, 7.
・+1@insulation interval, 12 spacer strips between electrodes,
16 Rumor/Transparent Fi) Rem Switch, 171-
-Interelectrode spacer strip Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Figure 1 (A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A base sheet and a cover sheet made of a transparent insulating material are placed facing each other with an appropriate gap, and a fixed electrode is placed on the opposing surface of the base sheet, and an actuating electrode is placed on the opposing surface of the cover sheet in a direction perpendicular to each other in a matrix pattern. A transparent film switch characterized in that a large number of transparent and insulating inter-electrode spacer strips with curved upper surfaces are formed on the opposing surface of the base sheet.