JP2009230341A - Input device, electro-optical device, and electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device wherein the designability is improved, and a flexible member is easily adhered to the panel front surface of an input panel while improving visibility. <P>SOLUTION: This input device includes: an input panel 3; a cover member 2 in which an opening 2a is formed on a main external surface 2b; a flexible member 4 having translucency unified with the cover member 2 in a state where the opening 2a is covered from the main external surface 2b side, and the whole external peripheral region of the cover member 2 is covered; and an adhesive layer 6 which is arranged on the same face as the main external surface 2b in the cover member 2 and adheres a panel front surface 3b of the input panel 3 and a flexible member 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

In recent years, with the spread of small information electronic devices (hereinafter referred to as electronic devices) such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and palmtop computers, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is equipped with a touch panel (input device) as a transparent input unit. The electro-optical device is widely used (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-43450 A

  By the way, when an electro-optical device provided with a touch panel is used as a display unit of an electronic device, it is necessary to expose the touch panel to the surface of the casing, and thus the frame portion of the touch panel is usually held and supported by the casing. In the PDA 100 shown in FIG. 8 adopting such a structure, a step 103a is formed between the cover member 101 and the operation surface of the touch panel 104, and an integrated design with the cover member 101 cannot be adopted. As a result, the degree of freedom in design is reduced.

Moreover, since an input instrument, a finger, etc. are pressed and slid on the operation surface (panel front surface) of the touch panel 104, a film is adhered (adhesive) to protect the panel front surface. However, unless the bonding operation of the film is performed with high accuracy, an air layer exists between the front surface of the panel and the film, and the visibility may be lowered.
Therefore, the present invention has been made by paying attention to the unsolved problems of the above conventional example, and can improve the design and can be easily applied to the front surface of the input panel while improving the visibility. An object of the present invention is to provide an input device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus that can adhere a flexible member.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device of the present invention includes an input panel, a cover member having an opening corresponding to the input area of the input panel, and the opening of the cover member from the main outer surface side. A light-transmitting flexible member that covers a wider area and is integrated with the cover member, and one main surface of the input panel on the flexible member from the side opposite to the main outer surface side of the cover member And an adhesive layer for adhering.

  With such a configuration, the flexible member is integrated in a state where the opening of the cover member corresponding to the input area of the input panel is covered from the main outer surface side. Can be eliminated, and an input device with excellent design can be realized. Further, by eliminating the step, dust does not accumulate and the aesthetic appearance is not lost, and water drops do not enter and cause a failure.

In the input device of the present invention, it is preferable that the flexible member is integrated so as to cover the entire outer periphery from the main outer surface side of the cover member. With such a configuration, the flexible member covering the entire outer periphery of the cover member can prevent the cover member from being damaged by an impact such as dropping.
In the input device of the present invention, it is preferable that the input panel is disposed in the opening of the cover member and that the thickness of the input panel is within the thickness of the cover member. With such a configuration, the entire input device is thinned, and a thin input device can be provided.

In the input device of the present invention, the flexible member is preferably a film. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent an increase in operating pressure on the input panel. Moreover, the light transmittance which permeate | transmits an input panel can be made high.
Further, in the input device of the present invention, the cover member has an outer surface in which the outer peripheral end portion on the main outer surface side of the cover member is rounded, and has a curved surface continuous in the thickness direction of the cover member. It is preferable. With such a configuration, there is no corner on the outer periphery of the cover member, and therefore the flexible member covering the cover member is not easily damaged even if it falls or a foreign object collides.

  Further, in the input device of the present invention, the integrated cover member and flexible member are arranged so that the flexible member is disposed along the mold surface in the mold, and the melt becomes a material of the cover member in the mold. It is preferably formed by insert molding in which a material is filled. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to bond the flexible member and the cover member in the assembling work of the input device, and the assembling work of the input device is simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the input device of the present invention, it is preferable that the adhesive layer is a double-sided adhesive having a high light transmittance. With such a configuration, even when an impact force is input from the flexible member side, the double-sided adhesive absorbs the impact, and the impact force is difficult to transmit to the front surface of the input panel. Moreover, even if the front panel of the input panel is cracked due to a drop or a collision with a foreign object, the input panel can be prevented from scattering by the flexible member, and an input device with excellent safety can be realized. .

Further, the electro-optical device of the present invention preferably includes the input device having the above-described configuration and an electro-optical panel disposed on the other main surface of the input panel constituting the input device.
With such a configuration, an electro-optical device capable of obtaining an excellent design by the input device according to the present invention, obtaining a clear image display via the input panel, and accurately performing an input operation. Can be provided.

Furthermore, the electronic apparatus of the present invention preferably includes the electro-optical device having the above-described configuration.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an electronic device that is excellent in design.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment: input device)
1 to 4 show an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the input device, FIG. 2 is a view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line CC in FIG. 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the input device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cover member 2 in which a rectangular opening 2 a is formed, and an analog resistive touch panel disposed in the cover member 2. 3 and a film 4 that is integrated with the opening 2a so as to cover the entire outer periphery of the cover member 2 and is bonded to the surface of the touch panel 3 facing the opening 2a.

  The cover member 2 is a member made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and has a substantially rectangular appearance in plan view as shown in FIG. The cover member 2 has an opening 2 a corresponding to the input area 3 a of the touch panel 3, and has an outer surface with a chamfered outer peripheral edge on the main outer surface 2 b side. It is formed as a curved surface 2c continuous in the thickness direction.

The film 4 is a film material that can obtain good transmittance such as polyethylene such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polypropylene, and the like.
The film 4 is integrally formed with the cover member 2 in advance, covering the opening 2a of the cover member 2 from the main outer surface 2b side and covering the main outer surface 2b and the curved surface 2c.
A light shielding film 5 is formed on the inner surface of the film 4 by printing, for example. The light shielding film 5 is a colored film formed by applying, for example, a black material or a white material, and has a rectangular opening 5a in a plane area corresponding to the input area 3a of the touch panel 3 as shown in FIG. Is forming. For this reason, the planar area other than the input area 3 a of the touch panel 3 is shielded by the light shielding film 5.

The touch panel 3 is disposed in the opening 2 a of the cover member 2 and is disposed so that the thickness of the input panel 3 is contained within the thickness of the cover member 2.
The touch panel 3 is a sealing member bonded in an annular manner between the front side substrate 3b and the back side substrate 3c facing each other with a predetermined gap and between the peripheral portions of the front side substrate 3b and the back side substrate 3c. 3d.

  In the front side substrate 3b, a planar electrode 3e having a uniform planar shape made of a transparent conductive material is disposed on the inner surface (the surface on the back side substrate 3c side) of the substrate body which is a transparent substrate. Is electrically connected to the terminal portion 3f via a conductive material (not shown). The back side substrate 3c has a flat planar electrode 3g and a buffer material 3h made of a transparent conductive material disposed on the inner surface of the substrate body (the surface on the front side substrate 3b side) which is a transparent substrate. The planar electrode 3g is electrically connected to the terminal portion 3f. The terminal portion 3f is electrically connected to an external input control circuit via the flexible substrate 3i.

  Here, the inner surface of the film 4 covering the opening 2a of the cover member 2 and the outer surface of the front side substrate 3b of the touch panel 3 facing the opening 2a are bonded (adhesive) with an elastic double-sided tape 6. ) The double-sided tape 6 is a member having a rectangular shape substantially the same shape as the opening 2a, having a pair of adhesive layers on both sides of the tape base material, ensuring high light transmittance in the visible light range, and excellent in transparency. For example, an acrylic adhesive material is used. In the double-sided tape 6, one adhesive layer is adhered to the entire inner surface of the film 4, and the other adhesive layer is adhered to the entire outer surface of the front substrate 3 b of the touch panel 3.

Then, the input device 1 in which the inner surface of the film 4 and the outer surface of the front substrate 3b are adhered with the double-sided tape 6 is housed in the chamber of the autoclave device, and the chamber is brought into a predetermined heating / pressurizing state. Thereby, the air bubbles which have entered the adhesive layer of the double-sided tape 6 interposed between the inner surface of the film 4 and the outer surface of the front side substrate 3b are removed.
Next, an input operation of the input device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  When a predetermined part on the film 4 covering the opening 2a of the cover member 2 is pressed with the input device 24 or a finger, the planar electrode 3e of the front side substrate 3b of the touch panel 3 and the planar shape of the rear side substrate 3c. The electrode 3g comes into contact, and the voltage value of the planar electrode 3g is measured by the input control circuit through the planar electrode 3e. Further, when the film 4 covering the opening 2a moves in a predetermined direction while being pressed, the input control circuit causes the X direction of the pressing portion moved in the predetermined direction based on a voltage value input from the planar electrode 3g as needed. The position coordinate value and the position coordinate value in the Y direction are detected.

Next, the manufacturing procedure of the film 4 and the cover member 2 integrated in advance will be described with reference to FIG.
The film 4 and the cover member 2 use a mold 9 having a first plate 7 and a second plate 8 that are relatively close to each other so that the mold 4 can be opened. It is integrally formed by insert molding by filling a molten material made of synthetic resin such as resin.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the first plate 7 includes a first cavity mold surface 7a having the same shape as the opening 2a and the inner surface side of the cover member 2 to be formed, and an upper portion on the first cavity mold surface 7a. A gate portion 7b that is open from the top is formed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a second cavity mold surface 8a having the same shape as the outer peripheral side of the cover member 2 to be formed is formed on the second plate 8, and this second cavity mold surface. The film 4 is arrange | positioned along 8a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the mold 9 is closed, and the cavity 10 is defined by the first and second cavity mold surfaces 7a and 8a. Next, a molten material made of synthetic resin is filled into the cavity 10 via the gate portion 7b.
The molten material filled in the cavity 10 is cooled while being integrated with the film 4 disposed along the second cavity mold surface 8a, and an opening 2a is formed in the main outer surface 2b, and the main outer surface 2b. The cover member 2 in which the outer surface 2c is continuous as a convex curved surface from the peripheral edge of the cover member 2 is molded, and the film 4 is integrally formed with high accuracy over the entire outer periphery of the cover member 2.

  Here, the input panel of the present invention corresponds to the touch panel 3, the flexible member of the present invention corresponds to the film 4, the front panel of the input panel of the present invention corresponds to the front substrate 3b, and the adhesive of the present invention. The layer and the double-sided adhesive correspond to the double-sided tape 6, one main surface of the input panel of the present invention corresponds to the front side substrate 3b of the touch panel 3, and the other main surface of the input panel of the present invention is the back side of the touch panel. It corresponds to the substrate 3c.

  Therefore, according to the input device 1 of the present embodiment, the film 4 is integrated in a state where the opening 2a corresponding to the input area 3a of the touch panel 3 of the cover member 2 is covered from the main outer surface 2b side. The step between the input operation surface 3 and the outer cover member 2 is eliminated. Thereby, the freedom degree of design improves compared with the past, and the input device 1 which has the outstanding design property can be obtained.

  In addition, when there is a step between the touch panel and the housing as in the conventional device, dust accumulates at the step, or when water drops adhere, water drops easily enter the housing from the gap of the step portion. Although a problem arises, in the present embodiment, there is no step between the input operation surface of the touch panel 3 and the cover member 2, and dust accumulates to impair the aesthetic appearance, or water droplets may invade and cause a failure. Therefore, the input device 1 having excellent reliability can be obtained.

Further, since the film 4 covers the front side substrate 3b of the touch panel 3, it is possible to prevent an increase in the operating pressure on the front side substrate 3b and to increase the light transmittance through the touch panel 3. Can do.
Moreover, since the touch panel 3 is set to a thickness substantially the same as the thickness of the cover member 2 and is disposed inside the cover member 2, the entire input device 1 is prevented from becoming thick, and the thin input device 1 is Can be provided.

Further, the cover member 2 has an outer surface in which the outer peripheral edge on the main outer surface 2b side is chamfered, and is formed as a curved surface 2c continuous in the thickness direction of the cover member 2. The film 4 covering 2 is not easily damaged even if it falls or a foreign object collides.
In addition, since the front substrate 3b and the film 4 of the touch panel 3 are bonded (adhered) with an elastic double-sided tape 6, even if an impact force is input from the film 4 side, the double-sided tape 6 absorbs the impact and It is difficult for the impact force to be transmitted to the side substrate 3b.

Further, even if the front substrate 3b is broken due to a drop or collision of a foreign object, the front substrate 3b can be prevented from being scattered by the film 4, and the input device 1 having excellent safety can be realized. .
In the input device 1, the double-sided tape 6 existing between the film 4 and the front substrate 3 b is a pressure-sensitive adhesive material that secures high light transmittance in the visible light region and is excellent in transparency. Since air bubbles in the adhesive layer are removed by performing autoclave treatment after the front side substrate 3b is adhered, air is interposed between the film 4 and the double sided tape 6, and between the front side substrate 3b and the double sided tape 6. There is no layer, brightness and light transmittance are improved, and clear visibility without reflection of external light can be obtained.

Furthermore, since the film 4 and the cover member 2 are members integrated in advance, the bonding operation of the film 4 and the cover member 2 in the assembling work of the input device 1 becomes unnecessary, and the assembling work of the input device 1 is reduced. Can do.
Furthermore, the film 4 and the cover member 2 are inserts in which the film 4 is disposed along the second cavity mold surface 8a of the cavity 10 of the mold 9 and the mold 9 is filled with a molten material made of synthetic resin. Since the film 4 covering the entire outer periphery of the cover portion 2 and the cover portion 2 can be easily integrally formed only by forming, the manufacturing cost of the input device 1 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment: Touch Panel Integrated Display and Electronic Device)
6 and 7 show an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) 11, and FIG. FIG. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the PDA 11 includes a function key 13 constituting an operation unit and a touch panel integrated display 14 in a housing 12.
The touch panel integrated display 14 includes the input device 1 shown in FIG. 2 and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 15 disposed on the back side of the touch panel 3 of the input device 1.

The LCD 15 is obtained by bonding and integrating a front side substrate 17 and a back side substrate 18 that are opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer 16 interposed therebetween, by a sealing material 19 provided in an annular shape between the peripheral portions of the two substrates.
The front substrate 17 has a configuration in which a liquid crystal alignment control layer including a front electrode 17b made of a transparent conductive material and an alignment film (not shown) is formed on the surface of the substrate body 17a, which is a transparent substrate, on the liquid crystal layer 16 side. Yes. The back substrate 18 has a configuration in which a liquid crystal alignment control layer having a back electrode 18b made of a transparent conductive material, an alignment film (not shown), and the like is formed on the surface of the substrate body 18a, which is a transparent substrate, on the liquid crystal layer side. . Between the front substrate 17 and the back substrate 18, granular spacers 20 that maintain a constant distance as a cell gap between the substrates are distributed.

  The front substrate 17 is provided with a protruding portion 21 that protrudes to the outer peripheral side of the rear substrate 18. A wiring pattern (not shown) is formed on the projecting portion 21, and the front electrode 17b of the front substrate 17 and the back electrode 18b of the rear substrate 18 are electrically connected to the wiring pattern. . A liquid crystal driving IC 24 as an electronic component that electrically drives the LCD 15 is mounted on the wiring pattern of the overhanging portion 21.

And between the front side board | substrate 17 and the back side board | substrate 3c of the touch panel 3, it optically adheres with the adhesive material 23 containing a translucent elastic body.
Although omitted in FIG. 7, polarizing plates are respectively provided on the outer surface side of the front substrate 17 and the outer surface of the rear substrate 18 of the LCD 15. Either one of the pair of polarizing plates may be formed on the liquid crystal layer 16 side of the substrate body 17a or the substrate body 18a. Further, an illuminating device as a backlight is disposed outside the back substrate 18.

The PDA 11 of this embodiment directly displays the position on the touch panel 3 while viewing the identification information printed in the vicinity of the function key 13 and the screen display of the LCD 15 arranged at the lower part of the touch panel 3, thereby inputting data. Etc. are performed.
Here, the back surface of the input panel of the present invention corresponds to the back substrate 3c, and the electro-optical panel of the present invention corresponds to the LCD 15.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional PDA 100 shown for comparison. The PDA 100 in FIG. 8 includes a cover member 101, a function key 102, and a touch panel 104 disposed in the opening of the cover member 101. An LCD (not shown) is disposed below the touch panel 104.
8 has a structure in which the touch panel 104 is pressed and supported by the frame portion 103 formed on the cover member 101, a step 103 a is formed between the operation surface of the touch panel 104 and the frame portion 103. Due to the stepped portion 103a, the operation surface of the touch panel 104 and the surrounding frame portion 103 are clearly partitioned, and the design of the cover member 101 is limited.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the input device 1 is provided as an input and display device, and there is no step between the touch panel 3 and the cover member 2, and the PDA 11 having an excellent design can be provided. .
In addition, the touch panel integrated display 14 constituting the PDA 11 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the input device 1 and the LCD 15 are optically bonded by a translucent adhesive 23, so that the visibility is improved and the display is operated brightly. Therefore, the PDA 11 having high reliability can be provided.

  The electronic device of the present invention can be mounted not only on the PDA 11 but also on various electronic devices. For example, mobile phones, electronic books, personal computers, digital still cameras, liquid crystal televisions, viewfinder type or monitor direct view type video tape recorders, car navigation devices, pagers, electronic notebooks, calculators, word processors, workstations, video phones, POS There are household electronic devices such as terminals, printing devices, stoves, washing machines, etc. The above-mentioned input device is suitably used as an input means for various electronic devices, and the above-mentioned LCD is suitably used as an image display means for various electronic devices. be able to.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the input device of this invention. It is an AA arrow line view of FIG. It is a BB line arrow directional view of FIG. It is CC line arrow line view of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the shaping | molding die which forms the integrated cover member and flexible member of this invention by insert molding. It is a schematic plan view which shows the electronic device of this invention. FIG. 7 is a view taken along line DD in FIG. 6. It is a schematic plan view which shows the conventional electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input device, 2 ... Cover member, 2a ... Opening part, 2b ... Main outer surface, 2c ... Curved surface, 3 ... Touch panel, 3a ... Input area, 3b ... Front side substrate, 3c ... Back side substrate, 3d ... Seal member 3e ... planar electrode, 3f ... terminal portion, 3g ... planar electrode, 3h ... buffer material, 3i ... flexible substrate, 4 ... film, 5 ... light-shielding film, 5a ... opening, 6 ... double-sided tape, 7 ... first 1 plate, 7a ... cavity mold surface, 7b ... gate part, 8 ... first plate, 8a ... cavity mold surface, 9 ... molding mold, 10 ... cavity, 12 ... housing, 13 ... function key, 14 ... touch panel integrated type Display, 15 ... Liquid crystal device, 16 ... Liquid crystal layer, 17 ... Front side substrate, 17a ... Substrate body, 17b ... Front side electrode, 18 ... Back side substrate, 18a ... Substrate body, 18b ... Back side electrode, 19 ... Sealing material 20 ... Pacer, 21 ... protruding portion, 22 ... liquid crystal driving IC, 23 ... adhesive, 24 ... input device

Claims (9)

An input panel;
A cover member having an opening corresponding to the input area of the input panel;
A transparent member that covers the opening of the cover member from a main outer surface side in a region wider than the opening and is integrated with the cover member;
An adhesive layer for bonding one main surface of the input panel to the flexible member from the side opposite to the main outer surface side of the cover member;
An input device comprising:   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is integrated so as to cover the entire outer periphery of the cover member from the main outer surface side.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input panel is disposed in the opening of the cover member, and the thickness of the input panel is accommodated within the thickness of the cover member.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a film.   The cover member has an outer surface in which an outer peripheral end portion on the main outer surface side of the cover member is chamfered, and has a curved surface continuous in the thickness direction of the cover member. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The integrated cover member and flexible member are formed by disposing the flexible member along the mold surface in the mold and filling the mold with a molten material to be the cover member material. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is formed by insert molding.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is a double-sided adhesive having a high light transmittance.   An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and an electro-optical panel disposed on the other main surface of the input panel constituting the input device. An electro-optical device.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 8.

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