JPWO2010150724A1 - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can reduce the number of components, illuminate an input region with a simple structure and at a low cost. SOLUTION: A lower base material 29, an upper base material 31 arranged to face the upper surface side of the lower base material 29, and inner surfaces of the lower base material 29 and the upper base material 31 facing each other are provided. In the input device 24 having the electrode layers 30 and 32, the light guide part 40 is integrally formed in the input region (input display parts 22 and 23) of the lower base material 29. The lower surface 40b is a reflecting surface 42 that reflects incident light and guides it upward. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device having an input area on the surface that can be input with a finger or a pen, and more particularly to an illumination structure of the input area.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views relating to an illumination structure of a conventional input device.
The input device 1 includes a lower substrate 2, an upper substrate 3, and a decorative film 4. The lower substrate 2 includes a transparent lower base material and a transparent electrode layer formed on the upper surface of the lower base material (a surface facing the upper substrate). The upper substrate 3 includes a transparent upper base material and a transparent electrode layer formed on a lower surface of the upper base material (a surface facing the lower substrate 2). A minute gap (air layer) is provided between the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3.

  For example, the decorative film 4 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 4b at a portion facing the liquid crystal display panel 5 and an input display unit 4a at a position away from the liquid crystal display unit 4b. The input display unit 4a is outlined in the shape of a predetermined character or symbol. In the decorative film 4, the input display part 4a and the liquid crystal display part 4b are translucent parts, and other parts are non-translucent parts such as being colored black.

  In addition, the transparent electrode layer is opposed to both the input display unit 4a and the liquid crystal display unit 4b, which is an input region where the operator can perform an input operation by pressing with a finger or a pen.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, in order to illuminate the input display unit 4a, a light guide unit 10 is provided via a transparent adhesive 9 on the lower surface 2a of the lower substrate 2 facing the input display unit 4a. The reflection layer 11 is provided on the lower surface of the light guide unit 10, and the light source 12 is provided on the side of the light guide unit 10.

  Or as shown in FIG.4 (b), the light source 12 was provided in the lower surface side of the light guide part 10 (it is not providing the reflection layer 11 unlike FIG. 4A).

  As described above, conventionally, the light guide unit 10 is required as a separate member from the input device 1, which increases the number of parts and increases the cost for the members and assembly. There was also a problem that miniaturization could not be promoted.

  Conventionally, since the transparent adhesive 9 is interposed between the lower substrate 2 and the light guide unit 10, the boundary between the lower substrate 2 and the transparent adhesive 9, and between the light guide unit 10 and the transparent adhesive 9 are used. Since light is refracted at the boundary, there is a problem that light transmission efficiency is lowered. Further, by combining another member with the input device 1, light leakage or the like is likely to occur. As described above, in the conventional configuration, the deterioration of the illumination efficiency becomes a problem.

  The following patent documents 1 and 2 disclose inventions related to the touch panel. In these patent documents, the lower substrate is used as the light guide plate.

  However, the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are inventions in which a front light interposed between a touch panel and a liquid crystal display panel is integrated with the lower base material, and an upper surface (a surface facing the upper substrate) of the lower base material. ) To light the display of the liquid crystal display panel.

  Therefore, the invention described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 is provided separately from the liquid crystal display unit 4b as shown in FIG. 4, and does not illuminate the input display unit 4a bordered by predetermined characters or symbols, In the structures of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the input display unit 4a cannot be illuminated.

  Patent Documents 3 to 5 are inventions related to an illumination structure, but none of them is a structure related to an input device including the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 and does not particularly illuminate the input region.

JP 2000-187197 A JP 2000-162594 A JP 2006-62431 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-91073 JP 10-116044 A

  Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and in particular, to provide an input device that can reduce the number of components, and can efficiently illuminate an input area with a simple structure and low cost. To do.

The present invention includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate disposed to face the upper portion of the lower substrate, and electrode layers provided on inner surfaces of the lower substrate and the upper substrate facing each other, In an input device having
A light guide unit is integrally formed on the lower base material, the light guide unit is provided in a light-transmitting input region, and a lower surface of the light guide unit serves as a reflection surface that reflects incident light and guides it upward. It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, the light guide unit is integrally formed with the lower base material, and the lower surface of the light guide unit is formed on the reflective surface. For this reason, incident light can be reflected on the reflecting surface of the light guide unit and guided upward (in the direction of the upper substrate), and the input region can be illuminated with good illumination efficiency. And since the light guide part is integrally molded with the lower base material, the number of parts can be reduced, and the production cost of assembly and materials can be reduced.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the said reflective surface is shape | molded by the uneven surface. As a result, the light guide portion having the concave and convex reflection surface formed on the lower surface can be integrally formed with the lower base material, and the production cost can be reduced more effectively and the size can be reduced.

  In the present invention, a decorative layer is provided on the upper surface side of the upper substrate, and the input region is opposed to the input display unit in which the light guide unit is provided and the liquid crystal display panel by the decorative layer. The liquid crystal display section is preferably partitioned. According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and appropriately illuminate an input display unit provided separately from the liquid crystal display unit.

  In the present invention, the lower base member is formed with a light shielding portion that suppresses light incident on the light guide portion from leaking to the liquid crystal display portion between the input display portion and the liquid crystal display portion. It is preferable. Thereby, the illumination efficiency in an input display part can be improved. Further, since light leakage to the liquid crystal display unit can be suppressed, light unevenness of the liquid crystal display unit can be suppressed.

The present invention also includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate disposed opposite to the upper portion of the lower substrate, and electrode layers provided on inner surfaces of the lower substrate and the upper substrate that face each other. In a light-transmitting input device having
A frame portion is integrally formed with the lower base material. As a result, the input device can be easily incorporated as part of the casing of the electronic device, and the production cost for manufacturing the electronic device can be reduced.

  According to the input device of the present invention, the input area can be illuminated with good illumination efficiency, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly and material production costs can be reduced.

The perspective view of the portable electronic device with which the input device (touch panel) in this embodiment was integrated, The partial expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device which cut | disconnected along the AA line shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a portable electronic device showing an embodiment different from FIG. The fragmentary longitudinal cross-section of the input device in the past.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device in which an input device (touch panel) according to the present embodiment is incorporated. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the portable electronic device cut along the line AA shown in FIG. FIG.

  A mobile electronic device 20 such as a mobile phone shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 21 and input display units 22 and 23, and both the liquid crystal display unit 21 and the input display units 22 and 23 can be input. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the portable electronic device 20 includes an input device 24 and a liquid crystal display panel 25.

  The input device 24 has a configuration in which a lower substrate 26, an upper substrate 27, and a decorative film 28 are laminated in this order from the bottom.

  The lower substrate 26 includes a lower base material 29 and a lower electrode layer 30 formed on the upper surface of the lower base material 29 (a surface facing the upper substrate 27). Further, the upper substrate 27 facing the lower substrate 26 at a predetermined interval in the height direction is an upper electrode layer formed on the lower surface of the upper base material 31 and the upper base material 31 (the surface facing the lower substrate 26). 32.

  The lower base material 29 is formed of a transparent base material such as polycarbonate resin (PC resin), and has a thickness of about 0.5 to 1.5 mm. The lower substrate 29 is thicker and more rigid than the upper substrate 31.

  The upper substrate 31 is a transparent substrate such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, and is formed with a thickness of about 50 μm to 300 μm.

  The lower electrode layer 30 and the upper electrode layer 32 are made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). For example, when formed by sputtering, the thickness of the lower electrode layer 30 and the upper electrode layer 32 is 0. About 0.01 to 0.05 μm. In the case of vapor deposition, the thickness of the lower electrode layer 30 and the upper electrode layer 32 is about 0.1 to 0.3 μm.

  The lower electrode layer 30 and the upper electrode layer 32 are formed on substantially the entire upper surface of the lower base material 29 and the lower surface of the upper base material 31, respectively.

  In FIG. 2, the surfaces (opposing surfaces) of the base materials 29 and 31 on which the electrode layers 30 and 32 are formed are flat surfaces, but face the liquid crystal display panel 25 in order to suppress the occurrence of interference fringes and the like. For example, the surfaces of the portions of the base materials 29 and 31 may have a prism shape.

  The input device 24 shown in FIG. 2 has a structure called a resistance type, and includes an insulating spacer 33 in order to provide an air layer between the lower substrate 26 and the upper substrate 27.

  When the operator presses the upper surface side of the upper substrate 27 downward with a pen or a finger, the electrode layers 30 and 32 come into contact with each other, so that the coordinates of the pressing position can be detected. In the present embodiment, the “input region” refers to a region where the electrode layers 30 and 32 are opposed to each other and the position coordinates of the input operation can be detected.

  In the present embodiment, the input device 24 is not limited to the resistance type as long as the light guide unit 40 described later is injection-molded integrally with the lower base material 29.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a decorative film (decorative layer) 28 is attached to the upper surface of the upper substrate 27. The decorative film 28 is preferably formed using a resin sheet such as an acrylic resin or a polyvinyl chloride resin as a base material. The decorative film 28 is provided with a plurality of window portions 28a and 28b, and one window portion 28a is a light-transmitting portion formed in the planar shape of the input display portions 22 and 23 shown in FIG. The window portion 28b is a light transmitting portion formed in the planar shape of the liquid crystal display portion 21 shown in FIG. For example, the window portion 28a is colored so that the input display portion 22 and the input display portion 23 are illuminated with different colors. Moreover, it is preferable that the window part 28b which is the liquid crystal display part 21 is colorless and transparent.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the light guide 40 is integrally formed with the lower base material 29 at the position of the input display unit 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light guide 40 is formed in a shape protruding downward from the lower surface 29 a of the lower substrate 29. The thickness of the light guide 40 is about 50 to 500 μm. Moreover, the planar shape of the light guide part 40 is, for example, a rectangular shape, and is formed to have the same size as or slightly larger than the window part 28 a formed on the decorative film 28. Alternatively, the planar shape of the light guide unit 40 may be similar to the input display units 22 and 23. Or when performing spot irradiation etc. with respect to the window part 28a, you may form the magnitude | size of the planar shape of the light guide part 40 smaller than the window part 28a. Further, when a plurality of input display units 22 and 23 are provided as shown in FIG. 1, the light guide unit 40 can be provided separately for each of the input display units 22 and 23, or these input display units 22 and 23 can be provided. In the form of simultaneously illuminating, the integrated light guide 40 including the input display units 22 and 23 in plan view may be used.

  The light guide 40 is preferably formed of the same material as the lower base material 29. The light guide 40 and the lower base material 29 can be molded in two colors, but considering light refraction and cost at the interface, the light guide 40 and the lower base material are made of the same translucent material. It is preferable to integrally mold the base material 29.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface 40 b of the light guide 40 constitutes a reflective surface 42 with fine irregularities. The reflective surface 42 may have the same shape as the prism formed on the upper surface of the lower base 26 at a position facing the liquid crystal display panel 25, or each convex portion may be a projection such as a cone or column. Good.

  In the present embodiment, the lower base material 26 can be formed by injection molding. For this reason, the light guide part 40 can be molded integrally with the lower base member 26, and the reflective surface 42 with fine irregularities can be simultaneously formed on the lower surface 40b of the light guide part 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a light source 41 such as an LED is disposed on the side of the light guide 40. The light from the light source 41 is incident from the side surface 40a of the light guide 40, and the incident light is reflected by the reflection surface 42 of the light guide 40 and guided upward, and the lower substrate 26, the upper substrate 27, and the decorative film. The input display sections 22 and 23 are illuminated through the 28 window sections 28a. The number and position of the light sources 41 are not limited. In the embodiment in which the plurality of light guides 40 are separately formed, a light source 41 is provided for each light guide 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a light shielding unit 43 is provided between the input display units 22 and 23 and the liquid crystal display unit 21 to suppress light incident on the light guide unit 40 from leaking to the liquid crystal display unit 21 due to irregular reflection or the like. Preferably it is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the light shielding unit 43 is preferably formed continuously between the plurality of input display units 22 and 23 and the liquid crystal display unit 21, but each input display unit 22 and 23 and the liquid crystal display unit The light shielding part 43 may be provided only between the light shielding parts 21 and the light shielding part 43 may be provided intermittently in this way. As will be described later, the light shielding portion 43 is formed by a notch. In such a case, the mechanical strength of the lower base material 29 can be improved by forming the light shielding portion 43 intermittently. It is also possible to surround the periphery of the liquid crystal display unit 21 with the light shielding unit 43.

  Alternatively, it is preferable to provide a plurality of light-shielding portions 43 between the input display portions 22 and 23 and the liquid crystal display portion 21 with an interval in the direction from the input display portions 22 and 23 to the liquid crystal display portion 21. It is preferable to arrange the light shielding portions 43 in parallel. Thereby, the leak of the light to the liquid crystal display part 21 can be suppressed effectively. It is possible to effectively suppress the leakage of light to the liquid crystal display unit 21 by providing a plurality of the light shielding units 43 at intervals in the light leakage direction, rather than forming a wide width.

  In addition, formation of the light-shielding part 43 is arbitrary. Depending on the position and orientation of the light source 41 with respect to the liquid crystal display unit 21, the distance between the liquid crystal display unit 21 and the input display units 22 and 23, etc., light leakage to the liquid crystal display unit 21 can be suppressed without providing the light shielding unit 43. You can make the structure. For example, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, the light source 41 is installed closer to the liquid crystal display panel 25 than the light guide 40, and the incident light from the plateau 41 to the light guide 40 is away from the liquid crystal display panel 25. It becomes easy to suppress light leakage to the liquid crystal display unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light-shielding portion 43 has, for example, a notch shape. According to the present embodiment, the light-shielding portion 43 can be molded at the same time when the lower base material 29 is injection-molded.

  The liquid crystal display panel 25 shown in FIG. 2 may be of a reflective type, a transflective type, and a transmissive type. The liquid crystal display panel 25 shown in FIG. 2 is, for example, a reflection type, and a front light (not shown) is provided between the liquid crystal display panel 25 and the input device 24.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrode layers 30 and 32 are formed on almost the entire surface of the base materials 29 and 31, and almost the entire area of the portable electronic device 20 shown in FIG. Yes. The input area is formed by a decorative film 28 in a liquid crystal display formed in an area facing the liquid crystal display panel 25 and the input display sections 22 and 23 defined in the shape of, for example, a circle or square symbol or character. It is divided into a part 21. The input display units 22 and 23 and the liquid crystal display unit 21 are all translucent, and the display of the liquid crystal display panel 25 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the light guide 40 is integrally formed on the lower base material 29 located in the input display units 22 and 23. The lower surface 40b of the light guide unit 40 is a reflection surface 42. Therefore, incident light from the side can be reflected by the reflection surface 42 of the light guide unit 40 to illuminate the input display units 22 and 23. In the present embodiment, the light guide unit 40 is integrally molded, and the input display units 22 and 23 can be illuminated with good illumination efficiency. With the input display units 22 and 23 bordered in a predetermined shape illuminated, the operator presses the input display units 22 and 23 with a pen or a finger to perform predetermined input (for example, a telephone function or a mail function). Input) can be performed appropriately.

  On the other hand, the light guide unit 40 is not formed up to the liquid crystal display unit 21, so that light incident on the light guide unit 40 can be prevented from leaking to the liquid crystal display unit 21, and as shown in FIG. The light leakage to the liquid crystal display unit 21 can be more effectively suppressed by providing and the light unevenness of the liquid crystal display unit 21 due to the provision of the light guide unit 40 can be suppressed.

  In this embodiment, when the lower base material 29 is injection-molded, it is possible to simultaneously mold the light guide unit 40, the concavo-convex reflection surface 42, and the light shielding unit 43. For this reason, the number of parts can be reduced, and the production cost of assembly and material can be reduced.

  In addition, as the formation of the reflection surface 42, it is possible to separately provide a reflection layer by sputtering or the like on the lower surface 40b (which may be a flat surface at this time) of the light guide section 40. 2 is excellent in an embodiment in which the light guide 40 and the reflection surface 42 shown in FIG.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 3, by printing the reflective layer 44 with a space on the lower surface of the light guide unit 40, the cost is higher than the reflective surface 42 with fine irregularities as shown in FIG. The reflection efficiency can be increased, and the configuration is particularly advantageous for the spot irradiation described above.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the light source 41 can be positioned laterally, it is possible to promote the thinning of the portable electronic device 20.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a frame portion 45 projecting downward (in a direction away from the upper substrate 27) is integrally formed on the side portion of the lower base material 29.

  Thereby, the lower base material 29 of the input device 24 of the present embodiment can be used as the upper housing of the portable electronic device 20, and the portable electronic device having the input device 24 can be easily provided by joining to the lower housing 46 shown in FIG. The device 20 can be assembled. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Portable electronic device 21 Liquid crystal display part 22, 23 Input display part 24 Input device 25 Liquid crystal display panel 26 Lower board | substrate 27 Upper board | substrate 28 Decorative film (decorative layer)
29 Lower substrate 30 Lower electrode layer 31 Upper substrate 32 Upper electrode layer 40 Light guide portion 41 Light source 42 Reflecting surface 43 Light shielding portion 44 Reflective layer 45 Frame portion 46 Lower housing

Claims (5)

An input having a lower substrate, an upper substrate disposed to face the upper surface side of the lower substrate, and electrode layers provided on inner surfaces of the lower substrate and the upper substrate facing each other In the device
A light guide unit is integrally formed on the lower base material, the light guide unit is provided in a light-transmitting input region, and a lower surface of the light guide unit serves as a reflection surface that reflects incident light and guides it upward. An input device characterized by that.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is molded into an uneven surface.   A decoration layer is provided on the upper surface side of the upper substrate, and the input region includes an input display unit in which the light guide unit is provided by the decoration layer, and a liquid crystal display unit facing the liquid crystal display panel. The input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input device is partitioned into two.   The light shielding part which suppresses that the light which injected into the said light guide part leaks to the said liquid crystal display part between the said input display part and the said liquid crystal display part is formed in the said lower base material. Input device. A light transmitting material comprising: a lower substrate; an upper substrate disposed opposite to the upper portion of the lower substrate; and electrode layers provided on inner surfaces of the lower substrate and the upper substrate facing each other. In the optical input device,
An input device, wherein a frame portion is integrally formed with the lower base material.

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