JP2011238024A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel used in various electronic devices, which can detect a plurality of pressed positions with a simple configuration and can perform various operations.
A substantially rectangular upper conductive layer is formed on the lower surface of an upper substrate, and a plurality of substantially strip-shaped lower conductive layers are formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate to face the upper conductive layer with a predetermined gap. In addition, by providing a pair of upper electrodes 15 and 16 extending in the same direction as the lower conductive layer 14 at both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 and a lower electrode 18 connecting them to one end of the plurality of lower conductive layers 14, By detecting the voltages at both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 and the plurality of lower conductive layers 14, a plurality of pressed positions can be detected, so that the number of upper and lower electrodes can be reduced, and calculation processing for connection to the control circuit and position detection And a touch panel capable of various operations with a simple configuration 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, as various electronic devices such as mobile phones and electronic cameras have become highly functional and diversified, 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 attached through this touch panel. There are an increasing number of devices that switch various functions of a device by pressing the touch panel with a finger, a pen, or the like while viewing the display, and there is a demand for devices that can perform various operations.

  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. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional touch panel. In FIG. 8, 1 is a film-like upper substrate that is light-transmissive, 2 is a light-transmissive lower substrate such as glass, and the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 is substantially rectangular. A light transmissive upper conductive layer 3 such as indium tin oxide in shape is formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2, and a lower conductive layer 4 is formed on almost the entire surface.

  A plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 4 by an insulating resin at predetermined intervals, and a pair of upper electrodes (not shown) are formed at both ends of the upper conductive layer 3. At both ends of the lower conductive layer 4, a pair of lower electrodes (not shown) perpendicular to the upper electrode are formed.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a substantially frame-shaped spacer formed on the outer peripheral inner edge between the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2, and the upper substrate is coated with an adhesive (not shown) formed on the upper and lower surfaces or one surface of the spacer 5. The outer periphery of 1 and the lower board | substrate 2 is bonded together, and the touch panel is comprised so that the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 may oppose with a predetermined space | gap.

  The touch panel thus configured is placed on the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal display element and attached to an electronic device, and a pair of upper and lower electrodes are connected to a control circuit (not shown) such as a microcomputer of the device. )).

  In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 is pressed with a finger or a pen according to the display on the display element on the back of the touch panel, the upper substrate 1 bends, and the upper conductive layer 3 at the pressed position becomes the lower conductive layer 4. To touch.

  Then, a voltage is sequentially applied from the control circuit to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and the control circuit detects the pressed position based on a voltage ratio between these electrodes, and various functions of the device are switched.

  That is, when, for example, a plurality of menus are displayed on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 1 on the desired menu is pressed as indicated by the arrow A, the upper electrode and the lower electrode corresponding to the pressed position. The control circuit detects the operated position based on the respective voltage ratios, and a desired menu can be selected from a plurality of menus.

  In addition, as described above, such a touch panel is provided with a pair of upper electrodes on both ends of a substantially rectangular upper conductive layer 3 on the lower surface of the upper substrate 1 and a lower conductive layer 4 having a substantially rectangular shape on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2. A pair of lower electrodes is provided at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the upper electrode, and the pressed portion is detected by a voltage ratio between these electrodes.

  Therefore, the pressed position can be detected only at one location, and as shown in FIG. 8, for example, while pressing the location of arrow A with one finger, the location of arrow B is simultaneously pressed with another finger. In this case, the two pressed positions cannot be detected simultaneously.

  For this reason, for example, the upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 are not formed in a substantially rectangular shape, but are formed in a plurality of conductive layers, generally in a band shape, depending on the size, generally in a dozen to several tens of conductive layers, These are arranged so as to cross each other with a predetermined gap in the orthogonal direction and face each other, and a voltage is sequentially applied to each conductive layer to detect a plurality of pressing positions.

  However, in this case, for each of the plurality of upper and lower conductive layers, several tens of upper and lower electrodes for connection to the control circuit are required, and the overall outer shape becomes large. Since it is necessary to detect the pressed position by sequentially applying a voltage to the electrodes, it takes time to detect the position, and the connection to the control circuit and the calculation processing of the position detection become complicated. there were.

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

JP 2007-310440 A

  However, in the conventional touch panel described above, when the substantially conductive upper conductive layer 3 and the lower conductive layer 4 are opposed to each other, a plurality of pressing positions cannot be detected. In the case of crossing and facing each other, there is a problem that the outer shape is large and the structure becomes complicated.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel that can detect a plurality of pressing positions with a simple configuration and can perform various operations.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a substantially rectangular upper conductive layer on the lower surface of the upper substrate, and a plurality of substantially strip-shaped lower conductive layers facing the upper conductive layer with a predetermined gap on the upper surface of the lower substrate. A touch panel is formed by forming a pair of upper electrodes extending in the same direction as the lower conductive layer at both ends of the upper conductive layer, and providing a lower electrode connecting these at one end of the plurality of lower conductive layers. Because it is possible to detect a plurality of pressing positions by simply detecting the voltages at both ends of the upper conductive layer and the plurality of lower conductive layers, the number of upper and lower electrodes can be reduced, and the overall outer shape can be prevented from becoming large. In addition to being able to connect to the control circuit and calculation processing for position detection, it has a function of being able to detect a plurality of pressed positions with a simple configuration and obtain a touch panel capable of various operations. It is.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a plurality of pressed positions with a simple configuration and to obtain an advantageous effect that a touch panel capable of various operations can be realized.

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

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

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

(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 thereof, in which 11 is a film-like light-transmitting film such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, or polycarbonate. On the lower surface of the upper substrate, a light transmitting upper conductive layer 12 such as indium tin oxide or tin oxide is formed on the lower surface by sputtering or the like.

  Similarly, 13 is a film-like or thin plate such as glass or acrylic and has a light-transmitting lower substrate. On the upper surface, a substantially strip-like shape having a width of about 0.5 to 10 mm, and a plurality of indium tin oxide, tin oxide, etc. The light transmissive lower conductive layer 14 is formed with a gap of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

  A plurality of dot spacers (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the lower conductive layer 14 by an insulating resin such as epoxy or silicone at a predetermined interval. A pair of upper electrodes 15 and 16, such as silver and carbon, extending in the same direction, a plurality of lower electrodes 17 at the front end and a rear end of the plurality of lower conductive layers 14 are connected to the front and rear ends of the lower conductive layer 14. The lower electrodes 18 are formed so as to extend from the direction perpendicular to the upper electrodes 15 and 16 to the right end direction.

  Further, 19 is a spacer such as polyester, epoxy, or non-woven fabric, which is formed in a substantially frame shape on the outer peripheral inner edge between the upper substrate 11 and the lower substrate 13, and acrylic or coated on the upper and lower surfaces or one surface of the spacer 19. The outer periphery of the upper substrate 11 and the lower substrate 13 is bonded together by an adhesive (not shown) such as rubber, and the upper conductive layer 12 and the plurality of lower conductive layers 14 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. Is configured.

  The touch panel thus configured is placed on the front surface of a display element such as a liquid crystal display element and attached to an electronic device, and a pair of upper electrodes 15 and 16, a lower electrode 18 and a plurality of lower electrodes 17 are provided. And electrically connected to a control circuit (not shown) such as a microcomputer of the device via a connector, a lead wire (not shown) or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the position indicated by the arrow A is pressed with a finger, a pen, or the like on the upper surface of the upper substrate 11, for example, as shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. 11 is bent and the upper conductive layer 12 at the pressed position contacts the lower conductive layer 14 on the upper surface of the lower substrate 13, for example, behind the lower conductive layer 14 </ b> A.

  At this time, when a voltage is applied to both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 from the control circuit, and a voltage of 5 V is applied to the upper electrodes 16 and 15, for example, 1.5 V is applied from the lower electrode 17A of the lower conductive layer 14A. Since the voltage is detected, the control circuit detects the pressing operation position of the arrow A in the left-right direction based on this voltage.

  Thereafter, when the control circuit switches the electrode to which the voltage is applied and a voltage of 5 V is applied to the lower electrodes 18 and 17A as shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. Therefore, for example, a voltage of 1.2 V is detected, and the control circuit detects the pressing operation position of the arrow A in the front-rear direction based on this voltage.

  That is, when, for example, a plurality of menus and the like are displayed on the display element on the back surface of the touch panel, when the upper surface of the upper substrate 11 on the desired menu, for example, the position indicated by the arrow A is pressed, A voltage is sequentially applied to the electrodes, and the control circuit detects the pressing position in the left-right direction by the voltage of the lower electrode 17A, and the pressing position in the front-rear direction by the voltage of the upper electrodes 16 and 15, and a desired menu is selected from a plurality of menus. It is comprised so that selection etc. can be performed.

  Further, when the location indicated by the arrow A is pressed with a finger in this way and the location indicated by the arrow B is pressed with another finger, for example, as shown in FIG. The conductive layer 12 contacts the lower conductive layer 14 on the upper surface of the lower substrate 13, for example, in front of the lower conductive layer 14D.

  At this time, when a voltage of 5 V is applied to both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 from the control circuit, for example, to the upper electrodes 16 and 15, a voltage of 3.5 V, for example, is detected from the lower electrode 17D of the lower conductive layer 14D. Therefore, the control circuit detects the pressing operation position of the arrow B in the left-right direction by this voltage.

  Thereafter, when the control circuit switches the electrodes to which the voltage is applied and a voltage of 5 V is applied to the lower electrodes 18 and 17D, as shown in FIG. Since a voltage of 2 V is detected, the control circuit detects the pressing operation position in the front-rear direction of the arrow B based on this voltage.

  That is, a voltage is sequentially applied from the control circuit to each electrode, and the pressing position in the left and right direction of the arrow A is detected by the voltage of the lower electrode 17A, and the pressing position in the left and right direction of the arrow B is detected by the voltage of the lower electrode 17D. By detecting the pressing positions in the front-rear direction by the voltages of the upper electrodes 16 and 15, a plurality of pressing positions can be detected.

  Furthermore, as shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. 5, for example, after pressing the location indicated by the arrow C and then pressing the location indicated by the arrow D with another finger, the upper substrate 11 is bent. The upper conductive layer 12 on the lower surface contacts the lower conductive layer 14 on the upper surface of the lower substrate 13, for example, in front of and behind the same lower conductive layer 14B.

  At this time, when a voltage of 5 V is applied to both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 from the control circuit, for example, to the upper electrodes 16 and 15, the voltage V1 detected from the lower electrode 17B of the lower conductive layer 14B is first set to the arrow C Is pressed, for example, a voltage of 2.6 V is detected, and the control circuit detects the pressing operation position of the arrow C in the left-right direction based on this voltage.

  After that, when the position of the arrow D is also pressed, the voltage V1 detected from the lower electrode 17B is 2.6 V because the resistance between the arrows C and D of the upper conductive layer 12 is in parallel. When a voltage of 2.4 V, for example, is detected and at the same time the two locations indicated by arrows C and D are pressed, a lower voltage V2, for example 2. A voltage of 3V is detected.

  That is, when the voltage value V1 detected from the lower electrode 17B and the voltage value V2 detected from the lower electrode 18 are different from each other in this way, two pressing operations indicated by arrows C and D are performed in a single direction. The control circuit can detect what has been done on the lower conductive layer 14B.

  Then, from these voltage values, the control circuit subtracts a voltage value 0. 0 from the voltage 2.6V from the lower electrode 17B when only the arrow C is pressed, and a voltage 2.4V when the arrow D is also pressed. 2V is subtracted from the voltage 2.3V when both the arrows C and D from the lower electrode 18 are pressed, and a voltage 2.1V that is the pressing operation position in the left-right direction of the arrow D is calculated.

  Further, at this time, when the control circuit switches the electrodes to which the voltage is applied and a voltage of 5 V is applied to the lower electrodes 18 and 17B as shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. When the voltage V3 is detected, the voltage V3 detected from the upper electrodes 16 and 15 is, for example, a voltage of 3.5 V, and the control circuit detects the pressing operation position of the arrow C in the front-rear direction.

  After that, when the position of the arrow D is also pressed, the voltage V3 detected from the upper electrode 16 is more than the above 3.5V because the resistance between the arrows C and D of the lower electrode 17B is in parallel. Changes to a small voltage value, for example, a voltage of 3.2V is detected, and at the same time, when the two locations indicated by arrows C and D are pressed, a lower voltage V4, for example, 2.2V is applied from the upper electrode 15. Is detected.

  That is, when the voltage value V3 detected from the upper electrode 16 and the voltage value V4 detected from the upper electrode 15 are different from each other, a pressing operation has been performed at two locations on the upper conductive layer 12. Can be detected by the control circuit.

  Then, from these voltage values, the control circuit subtracts the voltage value 0. 0 from the voltage 3.5 V from the upper electrode 16 when only the arrow C is pressed, and the voltage 3.2 V when the arrow D is also pressed. 3V is subtracted from the voltage 2.2V when both the arrows C and D from the upper electrode 15 are pressed, and a voltage 1.9V which is the pressing operation position in the front-rear direction of the arrow D is calculated.

  That is, even when two locations on the upper substrate 11 above the same lower conductive layer 14B are pressed, the control circuit can detect a plurality of pressed positions by performing the above-described calculation. 14 can be formed in a small number with a somewhat large width dimension.

  That is, a substantially rectangular upper conductive layer 12 is formed on the lower surface of the upper substrate 11, and a plurality of substantially strip-shaped lower conductive layers 14 facing the upper conductive layer 12 with a predetermined gap are formed on the lower substrate 13. By providing a pair of upper electrodes 15 and 16 extending in the same direction as the lower conductive layer 14 at both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 and a lower electrode 18 connecting them to one end of the plurality of lower conductive layers 14, A plurality of pressed positions can be detected only by detecting the voltages of both ends of the layer 12 and the plurality of lower conductive layers 14.

  In addition, as described above, since the plurality of lower conductive layers 14 can be formed with a relatively large width dimension and a small number, it is possible to perform various operations with a simple configuration, and to connect and position devices to the control circuit. The detection calculation process can also be simplified.

  Further, by forming the lower conductive layer 14 to have a somewhat large width in this way, when the operation of pressing the upper surface of the upper substrate 11 and moving the finger as it is in the left-right direction is performed, Although the voltage detected by the control circuit changes stepwise at the gaps in the conductive layer 14, the voltage changes gently within the width of the lower conductive layer 14 one by one. Detection can be performed.

  As shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. 7, for example, when an operation is performed in which the finger is traced to the position of the arrow F while being pressed while the position of the arrow E is pressed, as described above. The control circuit sequentially switches the voltage application to each electrode, and the control circuit detects the pressing position in the left and right direction by the voltage of the lower electrodes 17A, 17B and 17C, and the pressing position in the front and rear direction by the voltage of the upper electrode 16 and 15. Thus, for example, it is detected that the finger has moved from point E1 to point E2 and from point E3 to point E4.

  At this time, the lower electrodes 17A, 17B, and 17C are moved while the finger is moving through the gap between the lower conductive layers 14, for example, the gap between the lower conductive layers 14A and 14B or the gap between the lower conductive layers 14B and 14C. In this case, for example, after the voltage is detected from the lower electrode 17A at the position of the point E2, the voltage is detected from the lower electrode 17B at the position of the point E3. It is determined that the finger has moved from the point E2 to the point E3.

  That is, in addition to the detection of a plurality of pressing positions as described above, the control circuit detects the trajectory of the finger even when an operation of pressing the upper surface of the upper substrate 11 and moving the finger as it is is performed. It is configured as possible.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the upper conductive layer 12 is bent by pressing the upper surface of the upper substrate 11 with a finger or a pen has been described. However, the upper substrate 11 and the lower substrate 13 are formed upside down, and the lower substrate The present invention can be implemented even if the lower conductive layer 14 is bent by pressing the substrate 13.

  In contrast to the above, the width of the lower conductive layer 14 is formed as small as about 0.5 to 2 mm so that the number of the upper conductive layer 12 contacting the lower conductive layer 14 varies depending on the pressing force. It is also possible to configure and detect the pressing force by the number of connections of the lower conductive layer 14.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the substantially rectangular upper conductive layer 12 is disposed on the lower surface of the upper substrate 11, and the upper conductive layer 12 is opposed to the upper surface of the lower substrate 13 with a predetermined gap therebetween. A lower conductive layer 14 is formed, and a pair of upper electrodes 15 and 16 extending in the same direction as the lower conductive layer 14 are connected to both ends of the upper conductive layer 12, and these are connected to one end of the plurality of lower conductive layers 14. By providing the electrodes 18, it is possible to detect a plurality of pressing positions only by detecting the voltages at both ends of the upper conductive layer 12 and the plurality of lower conductive layers 14. Can be prevented, and the calculation process of connection to the control circuit and position detection is simplified, and a touch panel that can detect a plurality of pressed positions with a simple configuration and can perform various operations is obtained. It is something that can be done.

  The touch panel according to the present invention has an advantageous effect that it can detect a plurality of pressed positions with a simple configuration and can obtain various operations, and is mainly useful for operation of various electronic devices. is there.

11 Upper substrate 12 Upper conductive layer 13 Lower substrate 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D Lower conductive layer 15, 16 Upper electrode 17, 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 18 Lower electrode 19 Spacer

Claims (1)

An upper substrate having a substantially rectangular upper conductive layer formed on a lower surface thereof, and a lower substrate having a plurality of lower conductive layers opposed to the upper conductive layer and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap on the upper surface; A touch panel in which a pair of upper electrodes extending in the same direction as the lower conductive layer is provided at both ends of the upper conductive layer, and a lower electrode for connecting one end of the plurality of lower conductive layers is provided.

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