WO2003012620A1

WO2003012620A1 - Touch panel unit and liquid crystal display unit

Info

Publication number: WO2003012620A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/007662
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takayuki Takagi; Kazuhiro Nishikawa; Takao Hashimoto
Original assignee: Nissha Printing Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-07-31
Filing date: 2002-07-29
Publication date: 2003-02-13
Also published as: TWI222036B

Abstract

A touch panel being set in a liquid crystal display panel comprising a front light unit (20) and a liquid crystal display (30) to constitute a liquid crystal display unit. A transparent and flexible shock absorbing layer (18) is provided on the lower surface of a transparent touch panel (11) and a transparent film layer (19) is provided on the lower surface of the shock absorbing layer such that it can touch a prism (21a) on the upper surface of the light guide plate (21) of the front light unit (20). The shock absorbing layer sinks at a part touching the prism to absorb a shock received from the prism.

Description

Description Touch panel device and liquid crystal display device

The present invention provides a resistive touch panel device that presses a part of the surface of a touch panel to bend an upper electrode plate to contact an upper electrode and a lower electrode, electrically conduct and input coordinates, and The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device in which the touch panel device and a liquid crystal display panel are assembled. The touch panel device and the liquid crystal display device of the present invention are particularly suitable for electronic devices such as cordless telephones, mobile phones, calculators, personal computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants), digital cameras, video cameras, and commercial communication devices. It is something. Background art

Conventionally, in a portable electronic device provided with a liquid crystal display device, a reflection type liquid crystal display panel is sometimes used to reduce power consumption. Reflective liquid crystal display panels are suitable for portable electronic devices because they have low power consumption by not using a backlight, and they also have excellent visibility under external light when used outdoors.

In order to use a reflective liquid crystal display panel indoors or at night, where sufficient external light cannot be obtained, it is necessary to illuminate the liquid crystal display of the liquid crystal display panel from the front. Above the display panel, a front light device, which is a lighting device in which a light source is located, is arranged.

As a front light device, a light guide plate is placed in parallel on the display surface of a reflective liquid crystal display. Irradiation is common. One surface of the light guide plate has a light diffusing function for emitting light incident from the end surface to the display surface of the liquid crystal display. As the light diffusion function, a large number of fine prisms and microlenses are formed on the upper surface of the light guide plate, and light is diffused by performing fine matte processing. There is something to do.

Touch panel devices are frequently used as input devices in portable electronic devices. The touch panel device is located above the front light device of the liquid crystal display panel.

As a touch panel of a touch panel device, a transparent film having a transparent conductive film formed on a lower surface is used as an upper electrode plate, and a transparent resin plate having a transparent conductive film formed on an upper surface is used as a lower electrode plate. Some of them are laminated so as to face each other. Further, as the lower electrode plate, a transparent film having a transparent conductive film formed on the upper surface is completely adhered to a transparent resin plate as a support, or a lower electrode plate similar to the upper electrode plate is used. Some are also used.

However, when the above touch panel device is used by arranging it on a front light device of a liquid crystal display panel in an electronic device, as shown in FIG. 16, as shown in FIG. When an abnormally large load is applied to the touch panel surface due to the load, the lower electrode plate will bend greatly. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the back surface of the lower electrode plate 117 comes into contact with the upper surface of the front light device, and the fine projections existing on the upper surface of the light guide plate 121 of the front light device. shape

(The end of the prism) will be damaged due to denting. If the fine projections on the upper surface of the light guide plate 121 are damaged, the damaged part emits bright light when the front light device is turned on, and the visibility of the liquid crystal display is significantly reduced. In FIG. 16, reference numeral 112 denotes an upper electrode film, reference numeral 113 denotes an upper electrode of a transparent conductive film, reference numeral 114 denotes a dot spacer, and reference numeral 16 denotes a lower electrode of the transparent conductive film. 22 is a light source. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to prevent a touch panel from being damaged on the upper surface of the light guide plate of the front light device even when the touch panel device is arranged on the front light device and an input operation is performed. A device and a liquid crystal display device are provided. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention is configured as described below to achieve the above object.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a front light device and a liquid crystal display. A touch panel device that is assembled to a liquid crystal display panel to constitute a liquid crystal display device.

A transparent and flexible shock-absorbing layer is disposed on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel, and a transparent film layer for preventing adhesion is disposed on the lower surface of the shock-absorbing layer. A transparent film layer for prevention is arranged so as to be able to contact the prism on the upper surface of the light guide plate of the front light device, and when the prism contacts the shock absorbing layer at the time of input to the touch panel, the contacted portion is depressed. This provides a touch panel device that is flexible enough to absorb the impact from the prism.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the impact absorbing layer has a total light transmittance of 85% or more and a haze of 5% or less, and has a thickness of 10 to 500 μιη. The touch panel device according to the first aspect is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the transparent touch panel, an upper electrode made of a transparent conductive film is provided on a surface of an upper electrode plate made of a transparent film, and a lower electrode plate made of a transparent resin plate A lower electrode composed of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer are provided on the surface of the first and second electrodes, and both electrodes are stacked so as to face each other with a gap provided by the spacer. The touch panel device according to the second aspect is provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an upper electrode composed of a transparent conductive film is provided on a surface of the upper electrode plate composed of the transparent touch panel force transparent film, and a surface of the lower electrode plate composed of the transparent film is provided. A first electrode or a lower electrode comprising a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer are provided, and both electrodes are stacked so as to face each other with a gap provided by the spacer. Provided is a touch panel device according to (1).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the transparent touch panel, an upper electrode made of a transparent conductive film is provided on a surface of an upper electrode plate made of a transparent film, and a lower electrode plate made of a transparent film is provided. A lower electrode made of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer are provided on the surface, and a support made of a transparent resin plate is provided on the back surface of the lower electrode plate. Facing each other with a gap The touch panel device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the touch panel device is laminated as described above.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the impact-absorbing layer is a phenolic silicone resin having a thickness of 50 to 500 μm and having an adhesive property on its surface, and the silicone resin The touch panel device according to the first or second embodiment, wherein the rubber hardness of the touch panel is 10 to 50 (JIS-K62531197).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the dynamic viscoelasticity of the shock absorbing layer is measured by thermomechanical analysis, the amplitude width at 25 ° C. is 25 μm or more. And a touch panel device as described.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the touch panel device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a hard coat layer is further arranged on the lower surface of the transparent film layer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device in which the touch panel device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects is assembled to a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device and a liquid crystal display. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the liquid crystal display device according to the ninth aspect, wherein an air layer exists between the prism on the upper surface of the light guide plate and the touch panel device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in connection with the preferred embodiments of the accompanying drawings. In this drawing,

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the third embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device incorporating any one of the liquid crystal display devices having the touch panel device according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device incorporating any of the liquid crystal display devices having the touch panel device according to the first to sixth embodiments,

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a hard coat layer is formed on the lower surface of the transparent film layer in a modification of the above embodiment,

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a low reflection layer is formed on the lower surface of the transparent film layer in a modification of the above embodiment,

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a layer of a low-refractive material and a layer of a high-refractive material are alternately laminated with an optical film thickness on the lower surface of a transparent film layer in a modification of the above embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device in which the touch panel device and the liquid crystal display panel are incorporated in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which an air layer is arranged between the prism on the upper surface of the light guide plate and the shock absorbing layer of the transparent touch panel in the above embodiment,

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the pressure at the time of contact is absorbed by the shock absorbing layer when input is performed by the touch panel device in the above embodiment,

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion surrounded by a circle in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the prism is damaged by pressure at the time of contact when input is performed with a conventional touch panel device.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion surrounded by a circle in FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Before continuing the description of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing a liquid crystal display device for a portable electronic device incorporating the touch panel device according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device having a liquid crystal display device incorporating any of the liquid crystal display devices having the touch panel device according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device having a liquid crystal display device incorporating any one of the liquid crystal display devices having the touch panel device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 (10A, 10B, 10C, 1OD, 10E, 10F) is a touch panel device, 11 (11A, 11B, 11C, 1ID, 11E, 11F) is a transparent touch panel, 12 Is a transparent upper electrode plate, 13 is a transparent upper electrode, 14 is a spacer, 15 is a peripheral adhesive layer, 16 is a transparent lower electrode, 17 is a lower electrode plate made of a transparent resin plate, and 17 F is Lower electrode plate composed of a transparent film, 18 is a transparent shock absorbing layer, 19 is a transparent film layer, 20 is a front light device, 21 is a light guide plate, 22 is a light source, 30 is a liquid crystal display, 41 is a transparent support , 5OA, 50B are portable electronic devices.

In the touch panel device 10A according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the transparent touch panel 11A is provided with an upper electrode 13 made of a transparent conductive film on the surface of an upper electrode plate 12 made of a transparent film. A lower electrode 16 made of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer 14 are provided on the surface of a lower electrode plate 17 made of a transparent resin plate, and both electrodes 13 and 16 are formed by the spacer 14. Adhesively laminated with a peripheral adhesive layer 15 so that they face each other with a gap! / A shock absorbing layer 18 is disposed on the back surface of the lower electrode plate 17 of the transparent touch panel 11 A, and the shock absorbing layer 18 is placed so as to be able to contact the uneven upper surface of the light guide plate 21. The liquid crystal display 30 is arranged on the lower surface. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the touch panel device 10A is configured by the transparent touch panel 11A and the shock absorbing layer 18 disposed at the lowermost layer of the transparent touch panel 11A, and the touch panel device 10A is a front light device. A liquid crystal display device is constructed by attaching a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal display 20 and a liquid crystal display 30.

In addition, the touch panel device 10B according to the second embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a transparent touch panel 11B. The transparent touch panel 10A of the touch panel device 10A of the first embodiment. A transparent film layer 19 is arranged on the back surface of 1 A to prevent adhesion. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the transparent touch panel 11B, the shock absorbing layer 18 and the transparent film layer 19 arranged on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel 11B constitute a touch panel device 10B, The touch panel device 10B is assembled to a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device 20 and a liquid crystal display 30 to constitute a liquid crystal display device.

Further, the touch panel device 10C according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has a first structure in which the lower electrode plate 17 of the transparent touch panel 11C is formed of the lower electrode plate 17F of a thin transparent film. This corresponds to the embodiment. That is, the touch panel device 10 C according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a transparent touch panel 11 C, an upper electrode plate 12 made of a transparent film, and an upper electrode 1 3, a lower electrode plate 17 made of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer 14 are provided on the surface of a lower electrode plate 17 F made of a transparent film. 16 are adhered and laminated by a peripheral adhesive layer 15 so as to face each other with a gap provided by a spacer 14. A shock absorbing layer 18 is arranged on the back surface of the lower electrode plate 17, and the shock absorbing layer 18 is placed so as to be able to contact the uneven upper surface of the light guide plate 21, and on the lower surface of the light guide plate 21. The liquid crystal display 30 is arranged. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the touch panel device 10C is constituted by the transparent touch panel 11C and the shock absorbing layer 18 disposed at the lowermost layer of the transparent touch panel 11C. The liquid crystal display device is configured by assembling 0 C with a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device 20 and a liquid crystal display 30. Further, the touch panel device 10D according to the fourth embodiment of FIG. 4 has a second configuration in which the lower electrode plate 17 of the transparent touch panel 11D is formed of the lower electrode plate 17F of a thin transparent film. This corresponds to the embodiment. That is, in the touch panel device 10D according to the fourth embodiment of FIG. 4, the transparent touch panel 11D is adhered to the rear surface of the transparent touch panel 11 of the touch panel device according to the first embodiment. It is arranged and arranged for prevention. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the touch panel device 1 OD is constituted by the transparent touch panel 11 D, the shock absorbing layer 18 and the transparent film layer 19 disposed on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel 11 D. Tatsuchi The liquid crystal display device is configured by assembling the panel device 10D with a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device 20 and a liquid crystal display 30.

Further, the transparent touch panel 11E of the touch panel device 10E according to the fifth embodiment of FIG. 5 is a support made of a transparent resin plate below the lower electrode plate 17 of the transparent touch panel 11A of the first embodiment. The body 41 is formed by laminating. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the touch panel device 10E is configured by the transparent touch panel 11E, the support 41 disposed on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel 11E, and the shock absorbing layer 18, and the touch panel device 10E is The liquid crystal display device is constructed by assembling it with a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device 20 and a liquid crystal display 30. Further, the transparent touch panel 11F of the touch panel panel device 10F according to the sixth embodiment of FIG. 6 includes a transparent resin plate below the lower electrode plate 17 of the transparent touch panel 11B of the second embodiment. The support 41 is laminated. Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, the touch panel device 10F includes the transparent touch panel 11F, the support 41, the shock absorbing layer 18, and the transparent film layer 19 disposed on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel 11F. The touch panel device 10F is assembled to a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device 20 and a liquid crystal display 30 to constitute a liquid crystal display device.

As described above, the touch panel devices 10A, 10B, 10C, 1OD, 10E, and 10F according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention include transparent touch panels 11A, 11B, 11C, 1 On the lower surface of ID, 11E, 11F, a transparent and flexible shock absorbing layer 18 is formed. (See Figures 1 to 6). As described later, the flexibility of the impact absorbing layer 18 is such that when the prism 21 a on the upper surface of the light guide plate 21 of the front light device 20 comes into contact with the impact absorbing layer 18 at the time of input to the touch panel 11. The recessed portion has such flexibility that the impact from the prism 21a is absorbed while being dispersed.

As the transparent touch panels 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, and 11F, what is called a resistive film type may be used. The transparent touch panel of the resistive film type includes an upper electrode plate 12 provided with an upper electrode 13 made of a transparent conductive film and a lower electrode plate 17 (17F) provided with a lower electrode 16 made of a transparent conductive film. , Both electrodes 1 The spacers 14 are arranged with a slight gap so that they face each other, and a part of the surface of the touch panel is pressed to bend the upper electrode plate 12 so that the electrodes 13 and 16 come into contact. A method of inputting coordinates by electrically conducting. As the transparent touch panel 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F of the resistive film type, the upper electrode 13 composed of a transparent conductive film is formed on the surface of the upper electrode plate 12 composed of a transparent film. The lower electrode 16 made of a transparent conductive film and a number of dot-shaped spacers 14 are provided on the surface of a lower electrode plate 17 (17F) made of a transparent resin plate. It is preferable to use a structure in which the layers are stacked so as to face each other with a gap provided by the spacer 14 (see FIGS. 1 to 6). Such a configuration is suitable for reducing the weight of the transparent touch panels 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, and 11F.

As the transparent film, a polycarbonate resin film, a polyamide resin film, a polyetherketone resin film, an acrylic resin film, a polyethylene terephthalate resin film, a polybutylene terephthalate resin film, or the like can be used. .

As the transparent conductive film, an indium tin oxide (ITO) film, a tin oxide film, or the like can be used.

As the transparent resin plate, a plate made of a resin having excellent transparency such as an acrylic resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polystyrene resin, or a polyolefin resin can be used.

The spacer 14 can be obtained by forming a transparent resin such as photosensitive acrylic or photosensitive polyester into a fine dot shape by a photo process. Also, the spacer 14 can be formed by forming a large number of transparent inks made of an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, or the like in a fine dot shape by a printing method.

The peripheral adhesive layer 15 is for bonding the upper electrode plate 12 and the upper electrode 13 to the lower electrode plate 17 (17F) and the lower electrode 16 at the peripheral edge. The peripheral adhesive layer 15 may be formed by applying an acrylic adhesive or the like to one or both of the peripheral portion of the lower surface of the upper electrode plate 12 and the peripheral portion of the upper surface of the lower electrode plate 17 (17F). it can. . Alternatively, a double-sided adhesive tape may be used.

Further, as in the third and fourth embodiments, a transparent film may be used as the lower electrode plate 17 (17F) instead of the transparent luster plate (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this case, a thinner model can be achieved. Further, glass may be used for the lower electrode plate 17 (17F). When the lower electrode plate 17 is made of glass, if there is no ordinary shock absorbing layer 18, the glass surface is exposed, and there is a case where cracks occur when a drop impact or the like occurs. In addition, there are cases where the glass bends and breaks even when subjected to static pressure with a strong load. However, in the above-described embodiment having the shock absorbing layer 18, the shock absorbing layer 18 has an effect of alleviating a drop impact and a bend at the time of static pressure, so that the number of cracks can be reduced.

Further, as in the fifth and sixth embodiments, in order to impart rigidity to the transparent touch panels 11E and 1IF themselves, a support 41 composed of a transparent resin plate is laminated below the lower electrode plate 17 and used. (See Figures 5 and 6.) At this time, the shock absorbing layer 18 is disposed below the support 41.

As the support 41, a plate material made of a highly transparent resin such as an acrylic resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polystyrene resin, or a polyolefin resin can be used.

The transparent touch panels 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, and 11F having the above-described configurations are provided with transparent touch panels 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, and 11F. It is suitable for achieving light weight.

Further, as the transparent touch panels 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, and 11F, different types such as a capacitance type and an optical type may be used.

On the lower surface of the transparent touch panel 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, a transparent and flexible shock absorbing layer 18 is formed. As shown in FIG. 14, the touch panel device 1 OA, 1 OB, I OC, 10 D, 10 E, 1 OF bends due to the load at the time of input with the input pen 51 or a finger, and the touch panel device 1 OA, 1 OB, 1 OC. , 10D, 10E, and 10F, and the light guide plate 21 having fine irregularities of the front light device 20 located below the touch panel devices 10A, 1OB, 1OC, 10D, 1OE, and 1OF. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, As described above, in the damping absorption layer 18, the portion of the prism 21a on the upper surface of the light guide plate 21 which is in contact with the tip is dented to absorb the pressure at the time of contact, and the fine irregularities on the upper surface of the light guide plate 21 Fulfills the function of protecting. The portion of the prism 21 a of the tip conduction shock absorbing layer to the contact 1 _8, by the function of the flexibility possessed by the shock-absorbing layer 18 itself to below, to restore over time.

The seed impact absorbing layer 18 needs to have high transparency so as not to lower the visibility of the touch panel devices 10 mm, 1 OB, 10 C, 10 D, 10 mm, and 1 OF. Specifically, it is preferable that the total light transmittance is 85% or more and the haze is 5% or less. The reasons are as follows. In particular, since the liquid crystal display 30 of each of the above embodiments is of a reflective type, the brightness of the liquid crystal display 30 depends on the light that has passed through the touch panel 10 twice when the front light is not lit. For this reason, the transmittance of the touch panel 10 is regarded as important, and there is a general requirement of 85% or more. When the haze is high, light diffusion occurs and clear images cannot be obtained.

Also, when the thickness of the shock absorbing layer 18 is increased, the distance between the surface of the touch panel device 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F and the liquid crystal display 30 is increased, and the parallax is increased, so that the visibility is increased. It is unsuitable because its properties are reduced.

It is necessary for the shock absorbing layer 18 to have softness to absorb shock.However, if there is too much flexibility, the shape of the shock absorbing layer 18 itself will be deformed. This is inconvenient because it remains on layer 18 itself. Therefore, it is necessary to use as the shock absorbing layer 18 a material that has a certain degree of hardness and is flexible enough to absorb an impact, and is thin and / or that absorbs an impact with a thickness. Materials having such characteristics include silicone resin and polymer gel.

As the silicone resin, a gel sheet having an adhesive surface is suitable. When a silicone resin is used as the shock absorbing layer 18, its thickness is suitably 50 to 500 / im. An appropriate rubber hardness of the silicone resin is 10 to 50 (Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) JIS-K6253 1997). Further, 10 to 30 is more desirable.

An acrylic resin, a urethane resin, a natural polymer material, or the like can be used as the polymer resin. If a polymer gel is used as the shock absorbing layer 18, its thickness The appropriate value is 50 to 500.

When silicone resin is used as the shock absorbing layer 18, the transparent touch panel 11A, 1IB, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F is applied to the lower surface and cured. The shock absorbing layer 18 can be formed. When the polymer gel is used as the shock absorbing layer 18, the transparent touch panel 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E,

By sticking a polymer gel formed into a gel sheet on the lower surface of 11F, the shock absorbing layer 18 can be formed.

Regarding the hardness-temperature characteristics of the shock absorbing layer 18, when the dynamic viscoelasticity is measured by thermomechanical analysis (TMA method), the amplitude width at 25 ° C needs to be 25 μιη or more. Also, it is desirable that the amplitude value has little change in the range from low temperature (20 ° C) to high temperature (70 ° C). That is, it is desirable that the hardness does not change over a wide temperature range, and examples thereof include silicone rubber and acrylic gel. In some cases, layers of different materials may be stacked to obtain desired characteristics. Here, the TMA method is defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) JIS-K7 196 1 1991, and this standard applies to thermomechanical processing of thermoplastic films and sheets. It is a rule on the softening temperature test method based on the penetration mode of analysis (TMA). The needle insertion mode is a method of measuring the displacement caused by the softening of the test piece using the needle-shaped indenter of the TMA device.

An adhesive can be used as the shock absorbing layer 18, but a material other than the adhesive (a non-adhesive resin material such as silicone rubber or urethane) can also be used for the shock absorbing layer 18. It is.

In the case where the shock absorbing layer 18 made of a silicone resin or a polymer gel comes into close contact with the upper surface of the front light device 20, as shown in the second, fourth and sixth embodiments, A transparent film layer 19 may be formed on the lower surface of the shock absorbing layer 18 to prevent adhesion (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 6). As the transparent film layer 19, a film such as a polyethylene terephthalate resin, a polycarbonate resin, or an acrylic resin is suitable. In order to form the transparent film layer 19, it is preferable to form the film by a method of directly attaching the above-described film to the impact absorbing layer 18, or by attaching a transparent adhesive entirely. The thickness of the transparent film layer 19 is 10 to 80 μm Is suitable.

As the surface roughness of the transparent film layer 19, a root mean square roughness (Rms) value measured by a surface roughness meter is preferably 10 nm or less. The reason is that if the film surface has large irregularities, the prism will be damaged. Here, the surface roughness is defined as Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) JIS—B 0 6 0 1 1

Specified by measurement according to 994 years.

Further, a hard coat layer 30 may be formed on the lower surface of the transparent film layer 19 in order to prevent the surface of the transparent film layer 19 from being damaged (see FIG. 9). As the hard coat layer 30, an acrylic resin or a siloxane resin is coated to a thickness of about 2 to 1 μππι. Further, the hard coat layer 30 may be subjected to a fluorine coat treatment or the like.

Further, a low reflection layer 31 may be formed on the lower surface of the transparent film layer 19 (not shown in FIG. 10). By forming the low reflection layer 31, the transmittance of the transparent film layer 19 can be improved.

To form the low reflection layer 31, there is a method of forming a low refractive film on the lower surface of the light guide plate 21. The low-refractive-index film may be formed by directly processing a substance having a low refractive index. Low refractive film, inorganic or metal fluoride such as M g F ₂ is, using a metal oxide such as S i 0 _2, can be formed by vacuum deposition. In addition, it can be formed by a plasma polymerization method or a coating method such as dip using a fluorine-based monomer which is an organic substance.

As the low-reflection layer 31, as shown in FIG. 10, in addition to a single-layer type in which a low-refractive material (fluorine, SiO _2, etc.) is formed as a single layer, as shown in FIG. fluorine, with an optical film thickness and a layer 3 3 S i 0 _2, etc.) of the layers 3 2 and the high-refractive material _{(T i 0 2, Z r} 0 2, ITO, S n O 2 , etc.), stacked alternately There is a multilayer film type.

The touch panel device 10 having such a configuration is a reflection type liquid crystal display 30 and a front light device such as a cordless telephone, a mobile phone, a calculator, a sub-notebook personal computer, a PDA, a digital camera, a video camera, and a business communication device. The present invention can be applied to portable electronic devices 5 OA and 5 OB having a liquid crystal display panel composed of 20. Portable electronic equipment 5 OA, which incorporates any one of the liquid crystal display devices having the touch panel devices 10 A, 10 B, 1 OC, 10 D, 10 E, and 1 OF according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, respectively. Two examples of 50 B are shown in FIGS. The portable electronic devices 5 OA and 50 B have an input function using one of the touch panel devices 1 OA, 10 B, 10 C, 10 D, 10 E, and 1 OF, which are pen input devices installed at the top of the liquid crystal display device. To achieve. The touch panel devices 1 OA, 1 OB, 10 C, 10 D, 10 E, and 10 F use at least a reflective liquid crystal display 30 and a front light device 20 (see FIGS. 1 to 6).

The front light device 20 usually includes at least a transparent light guide plate 21 and a light source 22 disposed on an end face thereof.

As the light guide plate 21, it is preferable to use a light guide plate having a transparent luster. The transparent luster is made of acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin, cellulose acetobutylate resin, cellulose propionate resin, polymethinole pentene resin, polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, polyester resin with excellent transparency and light guide properties. Which can be used.

As the shape of the light guide plate 21, a plate-like light guide plate 21 having a large number of fine projections formed on the upper surface is used. Examples of the fine projection shape include a prism shape, a micro lens shape, and a mat shape.

The air layer 40 is disposed between the prism 21 a on the upper surface of the light guide plate 21 and the transparent touch panel 11. That is, the prism on the upper surface of the light guide plate 21

An air layer 40 is required between the 21a and the shock absorbing layer 18 of the transparent touch panel 11 to provide a refractive index of light. This is because the difference between the refractive index of the prism 2 la (about 1.5) and the refractive index (1) of the air layer 40 (about 0.5) as shown in FIGS. The prism angle and the like are designed so that light is reflected by the prism surface 21a and falls directly below, and only light reflected by the reflector 49 under the liquid crystal display 30 is emitted from the light guide plate 21. That's why. Therefore, when the air layer 40 is not provided between the prism 21a and the shock absorbing layer 18 of the transparent touch panel 11 (there is no difference in refractive index), light is not emitted well. The thickness of the air layer 40 is not particularly limited, but the total set thickness and the parallax of the liquid crystal display 30 are reduced. For reasons of size, 10-100 im is preferred. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 50 denotes a frame, which is a frame 50 in which the liquid crystal display 30 and the light guide plate 21 are incorporated.

(Example 1)

An upper electrode plate composed of a 150 / m-thick transparent film with an upper electrode composed of ITO formed on the lower surface, and a space composed of a lower electrode composed of ITO and transparent resin on the upper surface A lower electrode plate composed of a transparent film with a thickness of 100 μπι formed with a sir (area occupancy of 0.1% and a height of 3 μπι) is arranged so that both electrodes face each other with a gap between them with a spacer. Then, the periphery was bonded with a double-sided adhesive tape as a peripheral adhesive layer.

Then, on the lower surface of the lower electrode plate, a polycarbonate plate having a thickness of 1. Omm was stuck over the entire surface via a transparent adhesive to laminate a support, thereby obtaining a transparent touch panel of a resistive film type.

Also, on one side of a transparent polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 50 / im, an impact absorbing layer composed of a transparent silicone resin having a thickness of 200 xm is formed, and on the other side, a silane-based resin-based A sheet provided with a hard coat layer having a thickness of 5 μπι was obtained. The shock absorbing layer side of this sheet was adhered to a support of a transparent touch panel, and a shock absorbing layer, a transparent film layer, and a hard coat layer were sequentially formed on the back surface of the transparent touch panel, to obtain a touch panel device.

The touch panel device thus obtained was laminated on the upper surface of the front light device. As the light guide plate of the front light device, the one in which a number of prism lines having a non-equilateral triangular cross section were formed on the upper surface of an acrylic resin plate was used. The apex angle of the triangle was 50 °, and the pitch between the prism lines was 20 O / zm.

Then, at the writing pressure (load pressure) of 2.45 N, the folding sliding of 5 Omm in the direction perpendicular to the prism line of the front light device was performed 100,000 times linearly to the center of the input surface of the touch panel surface. However, when a sliding test was performed to confirm the front light device and the touch panel device with the light source of the front light device turned on, no damage was found on either the front light device or the touch panel device.

(Example 2) The same transparent touch panel as in Example 1 was used. Then, an acryl-based polymer genole-like adhesive material having a thickness of 300 / im was laminated on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel to form an impact absorbing layer.

Further, a low reflection layer composed of SiO 2 was formed on one surface of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 50 // m, and a hard coat layer was provided on the other surface in the same manner as in Example 1. I got a sheet. The low reflection layer side of this sheet was bonded to the lower surface of the shock absorbing layer, and a low reflection layer, a transparent film layer, and a hard coat layer were sequentially formed to obtain a touch panel device.

The touch panel device thus obtained was laminated on the upper surface of a front light device similar to that of Example 1, and a sliding test similar to that of Example 1 was performed. But no ^^-like wounds were created.

(Example 3)

A touch panel device was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2.

The touch panel device thus obtained was laminated on the upper surface of the front light device. As the light guide plate of the front light device, a light guide plate in which a concave groove having a lens curved surface with a radius of 5 to 15 / xm was formed linearly on the upper surface of an acryl resin plate was used. The pitch between the lens grooves was set to 120 μm, and the radius of the lens grooves was increased as the distance from the entrance surface increased.

When a sliding test similar to that of Example 1 was performed, no external scratch was generated on both the front light device and the touch panel device.

(Example 4)

The same transparent touch panel as in Example 1 was used. Next, an acrylic ester composed of an acrylic resin having a crosslinked structure was applied to the lower surface of the transparent touch panel by a coating method so as to have a thickness of 50 / zm to form a shock absorbing layer. Subsequently, a low reflection layer, a transparent film layer, and a hard coat layer were sequentially formed in the same manner as in Example 2 to obtain a touch panel device.

The touch panel device thus obtained was laminated on the upper surface of a front light device similar to that in Example 1, and a sliding test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. The appearance of both the front light device and the touch panel device was No serious scratches occurred. (Comparative example)

A transparent polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 5 O / m was stuck on the lower surface of the same transparent touch panel as in Example 1 with a transparent adhesive having a thickness of 25 μm entirely interposed therebetween to form a transparent film layer. Was formed to obtain a touch panel device.

The touch panel device thus obtained was laminated on the upper surface of the front light device similar to that of Example 1, and a sliding test similar to that of Example 1 was performed. As a result, the front light prism was damaged by 10 reciprocations. Occurred.

The present invention has the following effects because it is configured by the above-described configuration.

Since the touch panel device of the present invention is configured such that a transparent and flexible shock absorbing layer is formed on the lower surface of the transparent touch panel, the touch panel device is arranged on the front light device to perform an input operation. This will not damage the upper surface of the light guide plate of the front light device. That is, when the prism on the upper surface of the light guide plate of the front light device comes into direct or indirect contact with the shock absorbing layer at the time of input to the touch panel, the shock absorbing layer in the contacted part is dented due to its flexibility. The impact from the prism can be absorbed by the impact absorbing layer. Therefore, the upper surface of the light guide plate of the front light device is not damaged.

Note that by appropriately combining any of the above-described various embodiments, the effects of the respective embodiments can be achieved.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications and alterations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that modifications and variations are included therein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. In a touch panel device that constitutes a liquid crystal display device by being assembled to a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device (20) and a liquid crystal display (30),

On the lower surface of the transparent touch panel (11), a transparent and flexible shock absorbing layer (18) is arranged, and on the lower surface of the shock absorbing layer, a transparent film layer (19) for preventing adhesion is arranged.

The flexibility of the shock absorbing layer is such that the adhesion preventing transparent film layer (19) is arranged so as to be able to contact the prism (21a) on the upper surface of the light guide plate (21) of the front light device (20); When the prism (21a) comes into contact with the shock absorbing layer at the time of input to the touch panel, the touch panel is flexible enough to absorb the shock from the prism (21a) by denting the contacted part. apparatus.

2. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing layer has a total light transmittance of 85% or more and a haze of 5% or less, and has a thickness of 10 to 500 μm.

3. The transparent touch panel has an upper electrode (1 2) composed of a transparent film and an upper electrode (13) composed of a transparent conductive film provided on a surface of the upper electrode plate (1 2). A lower electrode (16) made of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer (14) are provided on the surface of the electrode plate (17), and both electrodes face each other with a gap provided by the spacer. 3. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel device is stacked so as to perform the operation.

4. Transparent touch panel (1 1) Force The upper electrode (1 3) composed of a transparent film is provided on the surface of the upper electrode plate (1 2) composed of a transparent film and is composed of a transparent film. A lower electrode (16) made of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer (14) are provided on the surface of the lower electrode plate (17), and both electrodes are separated by the above-mentioned spacer. 3. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel devices are stacked so as to face each other.

5. Transparent touch panel (1 1) Force The upper electrode (1 3) composed of a transparent conductive film is provided on the surface of the upper electrode plate (1 2) composed of a transparent film, A lower electrode (16) composed of a transparent conductive film and a dot-shaped spacer (14) are provided on the surface of a lower electrode plate (17) composed of a transparent film. 3. The touch panel device according to claim 1, further comprising a support (41) made of a transparent resin plate, wherein both electrodes are stacked so as to face each other with a gap provided by the spacer. .

6. The impact absorbing layer (18) is a genoretic silicone resin having a thickness of 50 to 500 / zm and having an adhesive surface, and the silicone resin has a rubber hardness of 10 to 50 (JI). The touch panel device according to claim 1 or 2, which is S-K6253 1997).

7. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein an amplitude width at 25 ° C. is 25 m or more when a dynamic viscoelasticity of the shock absorbing layer is measured by thermomechanical analysis.

8. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein a hard coat layer (30) is further disposed on a lower surface of the transparent film layer (19).

9. A liquid crystal display device in which the touch panel device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is assembled to a liquid crystal display panel having a front light device (20) and a liquid crystal display (30).

10. The liquid crystal display according to claim 9, wherein an air layer (40) exists between the prism (21a) on the upper surface of the light guide plate (21) and the touch panel device (10).