JP2014081870A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel used in various electronic devices that is easy to see and can be reliably operated.
By providing a polarizing plate on the lower surface of a lower substrate on which a plurality of lower conductive layers that are substantially band-shaped and light transmissive are formed, the reflected light from the lower surface of the lower substrate can be reduced, and air Since the reflected light on the lower surface of the polarizing plate 9 that is the interface is also halved, the translucent portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 is prevented from being whitish, and a touch panel that is easy to see and can be reliably operated can be obtained.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel used mainly for operating various electronic devices.

  In recent years, with the advancement and diversification of various electronic devices such as mobile phones and car navigation systems, a light transmissive touch panel is mounted on the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal display element, and the display element on the back side is mounted through this touch panel. The number of devices that switch various functions of a device by touching the touch panel with a finger or the like while viewing the display is increasing, and there is a demand for a device that can be easily viewed and surely operated.

  Such a conventional touch panel will be described with reference to FIG.

  In addition, in this drawing, in order to make the configuration easy to understand, the dimensions are partially enlarged.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional touch panel. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a film-like and light-transmitting upper substrate, and the upper surface is a light-transmitting and substantially band-like material such as indium tin oxide. A plurality of upper electrodes 3 made of silver, carbon, or the like extend with one end being connected to the end of the upper conductive layer 2 and the other end extending to the outer peripheral right end of the upper substrate 1. Is formed.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a film-like or plate-like light-transmitting lower substrate, and a plurality of light-transmitting and substantially band-like lower conductive layers 5 such as indium tin oxide on the upper surface, which are orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 2 A plurality of lower electrodes 6 similar to the upper electrode 3 are formed to extend in the left-right direction and one end is connected to the end of the lower conductive layer 5 and the other end extends to the outer peripheral right end of the lower substrate 4. ing.

  Further, 7 is a film-like or plate-like light-transmitting cover substrate, and a dark frame such as black or the like is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the cover substrate 7 by printing or the like. Is a transparent translucent portion 7B.

  Further, the upper substrate 1 is overlaid on the upper surface of the lower substrate 4, and the cover substrate 7 is overlaid on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1, and these are bonded to each other by an adhesive layer (not shown) such as acrylic or rubber to constitute a touch panel. .

  And the touch panel comprised in this way is arrange | positioned in the front surface of display elements, such as a liquid crystal display element, is mounted | worn with an electronic device, and is the edge part of the several upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 extended to the outer periphery right end Are electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a flexible wiring board, a connector (not shown) or the like.

  In the above configuration, the upper surface of the light transmitting portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 is touched with a finger or the like according to the display on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel in a state where voltages are sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the plurality of upper electrodes 3 and lower electrodes 6. When touched with, the capacitance between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the operated part changes, so that the operated part is detected by the electronic circuit, and various functions of the device are detected. Switching takes place.

  That is, for example, when a plurality of menus and the like are displayed on the display element on the back, when a finger or the like is touched on the upper surface of the light transmitting portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 on the desired menu, a part of the electric charge is conducted to the fingers. Then, the capacitance between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the touch panel at the operated position is changed, and the electronic circuit detects this, thereby selecting a desired menu or the like. It was a thing.

  As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2008-262326 A

  However, in the conventional touch panel, there is a gap between the lower surface of the touch panel and the display element when the liquid crystal display element is disposed on the front surface of the display element, and the refractive index of light on the lowermost surface is lower than about 1.5. Since an interface with a large refractive index difference is formed by the lower surface of the substrate 4 and air having a refractive index of 1, external light such as sunlight or electric light entering the cover substrate 7 or the upper substrate 1 from below is lowered. There is a problem that the light-transmitting portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 may appear whitish when reflected on the lower surface of the substrate 4 and the display element is turned off by the reflected light.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a touch panel that is easy to see and can be reliably operated.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a touch panel by providing a polarizing plate on the lower surface of a lower substrate on which a plurality of lower conductive layers that are substantially band-shaped and light transmissive are formed. As well as reducing light, the reflected light on the lower surface of the polarizing plate, which is the interface with the air, is also halved, so that the translucent part of the cover substrate is prevented from appearing whitish, and a touch panel that is easy to see and can be operated reliably is obtained. It has the effect of being able to.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize a touch panel that is easy to see and can be reliably operated.

Sectional drawing of the touchscreen by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Exploded perspective view of a conventional touch panel

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  These drawings are partially enlarged in size for easy understanding of the configuration.

  Further, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the background art section, and the detailed description will be simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the touch panel, in which 1 is a film of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, polycarbonate, etc. On the upper substrate, a plurality of light-transmitting, substantially band-like upper conductive layers 2 such as indium tin oxide and tin oxide are arranged in the front-rear direction by sputtering or the like.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes an upper electrode such as silver, carbon, or copper foil. One end of the plurality of upper electrodes 3 is connected to the end of the upper conductive layer 2 and the other end is formed to extend to the right outer periphery of the upper substrate 1. .

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a film-like plate like the upper substrate 1 or a glass-like light-transmitting lower substrate, and a plurality of light-transmitting, substantially band-like lower conductive layers 5 such as indium tin oxide on the upper surface. The upper conductive layer 2 is arranged in the left-right direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 2 and has one end connected to the end of the lower conductive layer 5 and the other end extending to the right outer periphery of the lower substrate 4. A plurality of lower electrodes 6 are formed to extend.

  The plurality of upper conductive layers 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 are formed by connecting a plurality of square portions in a band shape, and a plurality of substantially square gap portions are provided between them, and the upper substrate 1 In the state where the lower substrate 4 and the lower substrate 4 are stacked, the respective rectangular portions are formed so as to alternately overlap the upper and lower spaces.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a film-like or plate-like light-transmitting cover substrate similar to the lower substrate 4, and a window frame portion 7A having a substantially frame shape in a dark color such as black by printing or the like on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the cover substrate 7. Is provided, and the central part is a transparent light-transmitting part 7B.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes a polarizing plate in which triacetyl cellulose or the like is laminated on the upper and lower surfaces of polyvinyl alcohol or the like that has been adsorbed with iodine or a dye and is stretched and oriented. The lower substrate is formed by an adhesive layer (not shown) such as acrylic or rubber. 4 Affixed to the lower surface.

  Further, the upper substrate 1 is overlaid on the upper surface of the lower substrate 4, and the cover substrate 7 is overlaid on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1, and the upper adhesive layer 1 A such as acrylic or epoxy formed on the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 and the upper surface of the lower substrate 4. The touch panel is configured by being bonded to each other by the lower adhesive layer 4A similar to the upper adhesive layer 1A formed in the above.

  That is, in the present embodiment, a plurality of upper conductive layers 2 arranged in the front-rear direction and a lower conductive layer 5 arranged in the left-right direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer 2 are formed on the upper substrate 1 and the lower surface thereof. It is configured to face each other with a predetermined gap through the lower adhesive layer 4A.

  And the touch panel comprised in this way is arrange | positioned in the front surface of display elements, such as a liquid crystal display element, is mounted | worn with an electronic device, and is the edge part of the several upper electrode 3 and the lower electrode 6 extended to the outer periphery right end Are electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a flexible wiring board, a connector (not shown) or the like.

  In the above configuration, the upper surface of the light transmitting portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 is touched with a finger or the like according to the display on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel in a state where voltages are sequentially applied from the electronic circuit to the plurality of upper electrodes 3 and lower electrodes 6. When touched with, the capacitance between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the operated part changes, so that the operated part is detected by the electronic circuit, and various functions of the device are detected. Switching takes place.

  That is, for example, when a plurality of menus and the like are displayed on the display element on the back, when a finger or the like is touched on the upper surface of the light transmitting portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 on the desired menu, a part of the electric charge is conducted to the fingers. Then, the capacitance between the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the touch panel at the operated position is changed, and the electronic circuit detects this, thereby selecting a desired menu or the like. .

  Further, when the liquid crystal display element or the like is disposed on the front surface of the display element, there is a gap between the lower surface of the touch panel and the display element, but since the polarizing plate 9 is provided on the lowermost surface of the touch panel, Reduces the reflection of external light such as sunlight or electric light that has entered the cover substrate 7 or the upper substrate 1, and prevents the transparent portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 from appearing whitish when the back display element is turned off, making it easy to see , So that you can perform certain operations.

  That is, external light such as sunlight or electric light that has entered the cover substrate 7 or the upper substrate 1 from above is transmitted through the interface between the lower surface of the lower substrate 4 and the upper surface of the polarizing plate 9, or the lower surface of the polarizing plate 9 and the gap below this. Although reflected at the interface with air, in the present invention, the refractive index of light of the lower substrate 4 and the polarizing plate 9 is almost equal to about 1.5, so that the reflected light on the lower surface of the lower substrate 4 is greatly reduced. Is done.

  The lowermost polarizing plate 9 has air with a refractive index of 1 and there is a difference in refractive index between the polarizing plate 9 and air, but external light such as sunlight or electric light passes through the polarizing plate 9. Among the light waves in the X direction and the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, for example, when the polarizing plate 9 absorbs the light wave in the Y direction, it becomes a linearly polarized light in the X direction, that is, is halved as the amount of light. Since the light is reflected from the lower surface of the polarizing plate 9, the reflected light at this interface is also reduced.

  When a liquid crystal display element is used as the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, a polarizing plate is usually mounted on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display element. A plate having the same polarization direction is used.

  In the above description, the structure in which the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 of the touch panel are formed of a metal thin film such as indium tin oxide or tin oxide is described. However, in a resin such as light-transmitting acrylic, The present invention can also be implemented as a configuration formed by dispersing metal such as silver or thin wires such as carbon, or a configuration formed of a light-transmitting conductive resin such as polythiophene or polyaniline.

  In the above description, the upper substrate 1 having a plurality of upper conductive layers 2 formed on the upper surface, the lower substrate 4 having a plurality of lower conductive layers 5 formed on the upper surface, and the cover substrate 7 are stacked. Although the configuration in which the touch panel is formed by bonding together with the adhesive layer 1A and the lower adhesive layer 4A has been described, the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the upper substrate 1, and the upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer are formed. The layer 5 may be disposed to face the upper substrate 1 with a predetermined gap therebetween.

  Further, the upper substrate 1 is omitted, a plurality of upper conductive layers 2 are embedded in the lower surface of the upper adhesive layer 1A on the lower surface of the cover substrate 7, and a plurality of lower conductive layers 5 are embedded in the lower surface of the lower adhesive layer 4A on the lower surface. The upper conductive layer 2 and the lower conductive layer 5 are arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap through the lower adhesive layer 4A, so that the number of components can be reduced and the overall thickness can be reduced. It becomes.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the polarizing plate 9 is provided on the lower surface of the lower substrate 4 on which the plurality of lower conductive layers 5 that are substantially band-shaped and light transmissive are formed, so that the reflected light on the lower surface of the lower substrate 4 is reflected. In addition to reducing the reflected light on the lower surface of the polarizing plate 9 that is an interface with air, the translucent portion 7B of the cover substrate 7 is prevented from being whitish, and a touch panel that is easy to see and can be reliably operated is obtained. It is something that can be done.

  Also, instead of the upper substrate 1, the upper conductive layer 2 is formed on the lower surface of the upper adhesive layer 1A, and the lower conductive layer 5 is formed on the lower surface of the lower adhesive layer 4A, thereby reducing the number of components and reducing the overall thickness. Can do.

  The touch panel according to the present invention has an advantageous effect of being easy to see and capable of obtaining a reliable operation, and is mainly useful for operating various electronic devices.

1 Upper substrate 1A Upper adhesive layer 2 Upper conductive layer 3 Upper electrode 4 Lower substrate 4A Lower adhesive layer 5 Lower conductive layer 6 Lower electrode 7 Cover substrate 7A Window frame portion 7B Translucent portion 9 Polarizing plate

Claims (2)

An upper substrate having a plurality of substantially light-transmitting upper conductive layers arranged in a predetermined direction on the upper surface, and a plurality of light-transmitting substantially band-shaped light beams arranged on the upper surface in a direction orthogonal to the upper conductive layer. A touch panel comprising a lower substrate on which a lower conductive layer is formed, an upper adhesive layer formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate, and a lower adhesive layer, and a polarizing plate provided on the lower surface of the lower substrate. The touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein, instead of the upper substrate, an upper conductive layer is formed on the lower surface of the upper adhesive layer, and a lower conductive layer is formed on the lower surface of the lower adhesive layer.

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