JP2013206341A - Touch panel, touch panel controller, and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch panel capable of detecting a touch position up to the edge of a touch area for performing a touch operation and narrowing a width of a frame area where a touch position formed on an outer peripheral edge of the touch area cannot be detected. Is realized.
A panel main body portion 100b is formed by connecting unit detecting portions for detecting a touch operation in a two-dimensional arrangement so that a touch area 101 is formed, and the outermost periphery of the touch area 101 in the panel main body portion 100b. The plane patterns of the outermost unit detection units (triangular pad units) 17 and 18 that are unit detection units located in the inner unit detection unit (diamond pad unit) that is a unit detection unit other than the outermost unit detection unit in the panel main body unit ) Unlike the planar patterns 15 and 16, the plurality of outermost peripheral unit detection units (triangular pad units) 17 and 18 arranged along the side of the touch area 101 are electrically connected to each side.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel, a touch panel controller, and an information processing apparatus, and in particular, enables detection of a touch position up to the edge of a touch area for performing a touch operation, and a touch position formed on an outer peripheral edge of the touch area. The present invention relates to a touch panel in which the width of a frame area that cannot be detected is narrowed, a touch panel controller that drives and controls such a touch panel, and an information processing apparatus including such a touch panel.

  A display device that displays an image includes a touch panel, and an operator can input information by performing a touch operation with a finger or a pen on a display surface in which the touch areas of the touch panel are arranged to overlap. There are devices with a touch panel that can be used, and such display devices with a touch panel are conventionally used in mobile electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile terminals.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional system (hereinafter referred to as a touch panel system) in which information can be input by a touch operation in which such a touch panel and a display device are combined, and FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a touch panel system.

  A touch panel system 1 shown in FIG. 7A is a combination of a touch panel 10 and a liquid crystal panel (LCD) 50. The touch panel 10 is placed on the liquid crystal panel 50 and the display surface of the liquid crystal panel 50 is a touch area of the touch panel 10. The touch operation unit 2 arranged in an overlapping manner, a system control unit (system CPU) 80 that supplies a display signal Ds to the liquid crystal panel 50 so that an image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 50, and control from the system control unit 80 The touch panel 10 is driven and controlled based on the signal Crt, and has a touch panel controller 11 that outputs a touch position signal Stp from the touch panel 10 to the system control unit 80. Here, the touch panel controller 11 supplies a drive signal Dr to a drive line (not shown) of the touch panel 10 and detects a detection signal Se generated on the sense line (not shown) by supplying the drive signal Dr. The touch position signal Stp is output.

  FIG. 7B shows a mobile electronic device 1 a equipped with such a touch panel system 1.

  For example, in the mobile electronic device 1a, when the touch panel system 1 is activated by turning on the power and the system control unit 80 supplies a display signal (liquid crystal signal) Ds to the liquid crystal panel 50, the liquid crystal panel 50 includes an input switch or the like. An operation display for performing an input operation on the application is performed. At this time, the drive signal Dr is output from the touch panel controller 11 to the touch panel 10, and the touch panel 10 is in a state where a touch operation is possible.

  In such a state, when the operator performs an input operation such as pressing a switch with a finger according to the operation display as shown in FIG. 7B, the pressed position is detected on the touch panel 10, and the touch panel 10 The touch panel controller 11 outputs a sense signal Se including information on the pressed position.

  The touch panel controller 11 outputs a touch position signal Stp indicating the pressed position in the touch area of the touch panel 10 to the system control unit 80 by signal processing on the sense signal Se. The system control unit 80 determines the switch selected by the operator based on the display content displayed on the liquid crystal panel 50 by the display signal Ds and the position on the liquid crystal panel 50 indicated by the touch position signal Stp. Processing corresponding to the performed operation, for example, the selected application is executed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a touch panel system in a mobile phone, and shows a configuration of a mobile phone equipped with the touch panel system.

  A mobile phone 500 equipped with this touch panel system includes an input operation unit 510 having a touch panel 510a and input buttons 510b, a display unit 550 such as a liquid crystal panel, a camera unit 520 that captures an image of a subject, and audio that performs audio input / output. It has an input / output unit 560, a communication processing unit 540 that transmits and receives data such as character data, voice data, and image data, a storage unit 530 that stores these data, and a control unit 570 that controls the operation of each unit. doing. Here, as with the mobile electronic device 1a shown in FIG. 7B, the touch panel 510a is arranged so that the touch area overlaps the display surface of the display unit 550 such as a liquid crystal panel.

  In the mobile phone 500 equipped with such a touch panel system, when an operator performs an input operation using the touch panel 510a and the input button 510b of the input operation unit 510, the mobile phone 500 uses an input signal corresponding to the input operation. The control unit 570 controls each unit and executes applications such as voice communication, data communication, and image processing.

  By the way, there are various types of such touch panels, for example, a resistive film type that detects a change in resistance of a touched portion, a capacitive type that detects a change in capacitance, an infrared sensor type that detects light blocking, and the like. It has been known.

  As a capacitive touch panel, for example, there is a system disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the touch panel disclosed in Patent Document 1, and particularly shows an electrode structure in the touch panel.

  The touch panel TP extends in the first direction, and has a plurality of detection vertical electrodes (hereinafter referred to as X electrodes) X1 arranged at a predetermined pitch in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. To X4 and a plurality of detection lateral electrodes (hereinafter referred to as Y electrodes) Y1 extending in the second direction intersecting with the X electrodes and arranged at a predetermined pitch in the first direction. Y6. Note that a portion Rt indicated by a dotted frame in FIG. 9 is a touch area for performing a touch operation.

  Here, one end portions of the X electrodes X1 to X4 are connected to terminal portions TX1 to TX4 formed on one side of the substrate P11 via lead wires LX1 to LX4, respectively, and one end of the Y electrodes Y1 to Y6 is connected. Are connected to terminal portions TY1 to TY6 formed on one side of the substrate P11 via lead wires LY1 to LY6, respectively.

  Each of the plurality of X electrodes X1 to X4 is formed by alternately arranging a plurality of thin wire portions P1a and rhombus pad portions P1b having a width wider than the width of the thin wire portions P1a in the first direction. Each of the plurality of Y electrodes is formed by alternately arranging a plurality of thin line portions P2a and rhombus pad portions P2b having a width wider than that of the thin line portions P2a in the second direction. The pad portion P1b of each X electrode and the pad portion P2b of each Y electrode are arranged at a constant interval without overlapping, and the thin wire portion P1a of each X electrode and the thin wire portion P2a of each Y electrode cross three-dimensionally. It arrange | positions through an insulating film (not shown) so that it may do. The thin electrode portion P1a of the X electrode and the pad portion P1b are connected by the same layer, and the fine wire portion P2a of the Y electrode and the pad portion P2b are electrically connected through a contact hole formed in the insulating film.

  In the touch panel having such a configuration, an electrostatic capacity (hereinafter simply referred to as a capacity) is formed between adjacent pad portions of different electrodes. This capacity is applied to the surface of the touch area of the touch panel with a finger or the like. When the conductors are in contact with each other, it decreases. That is, when a voltage (drive signal) is applied to one electrode (eg, Y electrode), a voltage (sense signal) that appears on the other electrode (eg, X electrode) is applied to the surface of the touch area of the touch panel, such as a finger. If the conductor comes into contact, it will fluctuate.

  Therefore, in this touch panel, the input processing unit detects and detects a signal indicating a change in capacitance between the pad portions of different electrodes from the amount of change in voltage appearing on the other electrode when one electrode is driven. The input coordinates, that is, the position where the touch operation is performed on the touch area is calculated based on the capacitance change signal.

  Further, such calculation of the input coordinates is performed based on the drive signal applied to each Y electrode and the sense signal obtained from each X electrode. A method of performing based on the difference between sense signals obtained from the X electrodes is also used.

  In the touch panel disclosed in Patent Document 1, the other end of the Y electrode is connected to each of the inspection units PY1 to PY6, and an inspection film is provided below these inspection units PY1 to PY6 via an insulating film. An electrode KY is disposed, and the inspection electrode KY is connected to a terminal portion TKY formed on one side of the substrate P11. In other words, using a part of the triangular pad around the touch panel that does not contribute to detection of contact with a conductor such as a finger, a detection circuit that detects connection failure (disconnection or increased resistance) of electrodes or wiring is configured. ing.

JP 2011-227740 A

  However, in the conventional touch panel disclosed in Patent Document 1, Y electrodes at both ends to which a drive signal can be applied are Y electrodes Y1 and Y6, and X electrodes at both ends from which a sense signal can be extracted are X electrodes X1 and X4. In the area where the outer triangular pad portions are arranged, a drive signal is applied to the arrangement of the triangular pad portions along the side of the touch area, or from the arrangement of the triangular pad portions. The sense signal cannot be taken out, in other words, the surrounding triangular pad portion does not contribute to detection of contact of a conductor such as a finger, so that the detection sensitivity around the touch panel is lowered and the operability is lowered. there were.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and enables detection of a touch position to the edge of the touch area for performing a touch operation, and is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the touch area. An object of the present invention is to obtain a touch panel capable of narrowing the width of a frame area where a touch position cannot be detected, a touch panel controller for driving and controlling such a touch panel, and an information processing apparatus including such a touch panel.

  A touch panel according to the present invention has a touch area for inputting information by a touch operation, detects a touch position on the touch area, and includes a unit detection unit that detects the touch operation. A plane of the outermost unit detection unit, which is a unit detection unit that is provided at the outermost periphery of the touch region in the panel main body unit, and includes a panel main body unit that is two-dimensionally arranged and connected so as to form a touch region A plurality of outermost unit detection units arranged along the side of the touch area, wherein the pattern is different from the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit which is a unit detection unit other than the outermost unit detection unit in the panel main body unit Are electrically connected, and the above object is achieved.

  In the touch panel according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the plane pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detection unit in the panel main body is smaller than the area of the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit in the panel main body.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit has a line-symmetric shape with a line parallel to an arrangement direction of the plurality of connected outermost unit detection units as a symmetry axis, and the outermost periphery The plane pattern of the unit detection unit is a shape obtained by joining a band shape having the same length as the symmetry axis to the shape obtained by cutting along the symmetry axis of the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit. Is preferred.

  According to the present invention, in the touch panel described above, the unit detection unit constituting the panel main body unit has a coupling capacitance with an adjacent unit detection unit when an operator's finger or a conductive operation member approaches the touch area. It is preferable that the electrode pad portion is configured to change.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, the electrode pad portion is preferably formed by patterning a transparent conductive film.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, the transparent conductive film is preferably an ITO film.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, the electrode pad part is formed by patterning a metal film, and the metal film constituting the electrode pad part has a mesh shape so that light can pass through the electrode pad part. It is preferable.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit is a rhombus shape, and the plane pattern of the outermost unit detection unit is a triangular shape obtained by dividing the rhombus shape into two diagonal lines. It is preferable that it is included.

  In the touch panel according to the present invention, the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit is a gourd shape of the two adjacent inner unit detection units, and the plane pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detection unit is adjacent. It is preferable that the planar pattern of the two outermost peripheral unit detectors includes a shape in which two mountain shapes obtained by dividing the gourd shape into two at the center line along the longitudinal direction are connected.

  The touch panel controller according to the present invention is a touch panel controller that drives and controls the touch panel according to the present invention described above, and a plurality of unit detections in which the panel main body constituting the touch panel is arranged in the first direction in the panel main body. A first signal line formed by connecting the first signal line and a second signal line formed by connecting a plurality of unit detection units arranged in the second direction in the panel main body. The unit detecting unit constituting and the unit detecting unit constituting the second signal line are arranged so that the unit detecting unit of the other signal line is positioned in the gap between the unit detecting units of the adjacent one of the signal lines. A signal line driver for applying a drive signal to the plurality of first signal lines, and a signal line for detecting a response signal generated in the second signal line by applying the drive signal to the first signal line A detection unit, and Is used to detect a touch position with respect to the touch area on the basis of the answer signal, the object is achieved.

  In the touch panel controller according to the present invention, the signal line detector is an outermost signal line that is a second signal line formed by connecting a plurality of outermost unit detectors arranged along the second direction. It is preferable to have a correction processing unit that corrects the response signal obtained from the above.

  In the touch panel controller according to the present invention, the correction processing unit includes a plurality of inner unit detection units whose signal levels are arranged along the second direction, the response signal obtained from the outermost signal line. It is preferable to correct the signal level of the response signal obtained from the inner signal line that is the second signal line connected to the same level.

  According to the present invention, in the touch panel controller, the correction processing unit includes an area of a planar pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detection unit configuring the outermost peripheral signal line and a planar pattern of the inner unit detection unit configuring the inner signal line. It is preferable to correct the signal level of the response signal obtained from the outermost periphery signal line based on the ratio with the area.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display panel that displays an image, a touch panel that is disposed so as to overlap a display surface of the display panel, and that inputs information by a touch operation, and a touch panel controller that drives and controls the touch panel And a signal processing unit that processes input information, the touch panel being the touch panel according to the present invention described above, whereby the above object is achieved.

  The touch panel controller according to the present invention is a touch panel controller that drives and controls the touch panel, and the touch panel includes a unit detection unit that detects a touch operation, and a touch region for inputting information by the touch operation is formed. A plurality of two-dimensional arrangements are made, and a first signal line is formed by connecting a first group of unit detection units among the plurality of unit detection units, and a second of the plurality of unit detection units. And having a panel main body formed by connecting the unit detection units of the second group to form a second signal line, and output from the second signal line of the first and second signal lines A signal determining unit that determines whether the signal is a signal and a signal correcting unit that corrects the level of the signal output from the second signal line are provided, thereby achieving the above object.

  In the touch panel controller according to the present invention, the planar pattern of the unit detection unit configuring the second signal line is smaller than the planar pattern of the unit detection unit configuring the first signal line, and the signal correction unit is It is preferable that the signal level output from the second signal line is corrected to the signal level output from the first signal line.

  In the touch panel controller according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the unit detection unit configuring the second signal line is an outermost unit detection unit located on the outermost periphery of the touch area.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the present invention, a panel main body is provided, in which unit detection units for detecting the touch operation are two-dimensionally arranged so that a touch area for inputting information by the touch operation is formed. The plane pattern of the unit detection unit located at the outermost periphery of the touch area in the unit is different from the plane pattern of the unit detection unit other than the unit detection unit at the outermost periphery in the panel body, and the side of the touch area Since the plurality of outermost unit detection units arranged along the side are electrically connected to each side, it is possible to acquire information on capacitance between adjacent unit detection units up to the end of the touch area, Thereby, the precision of touch recognition can be raised in the wider range of the touch area | region where the unit detection part was arranged.

  Moreover, the touch area is changed by changing the plane shape of the unit detection unit arranged at the outermost periphery of the touch area to the plane shape of the unit detection unit arranged inside the outermost periphery of the touch area. It can be easily adapted to a quadrangular shape that is often used as a shape of a mounted product (for example, a portable terminal).

  In particular, the planar shape of the unit detector arranged on the inner side other than the outermost periphery of the touch area is a rhombus, so that the planar shape of the unit detector arranged on the outermost periphery is a two-dimensional simplest figure. By using a half of a diamond-shaped triangle, the touch area can be formed into a quadrangular shape that is often used as a product shape.

  Also, the unit detectors arranged outside the outermost periphery of the touch area have a rhombus, and the unit detectors arranged at the outermost periphery of the touch area have a triangular shape that is half the rhombus, so that the units arranged in the touch area The arrangement pattern of the detectors is bilaterally symmetric and vertically symmetric, and the translucent electrode is formed by connecting the unit detectors arranged in the horizontal direction and the translucent electrode formed by connecting the unit detectors arranged in the vertical direction. Either of these can be used as a translucent electrode for applying a drive signal or a translucent electrode for extracting a sense signal.

  For this reason, in such a touch panel, it is possible to switch between the translucent electrode for applying the drive signal and the translucent electrode for extracting the sense signal for each capacitance detection process in the touch area, and the touch position can be further increased. Detection accuracy can be increased.

  Furthermore, since the touch panel is disposed on the display surface of a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, the display quality of the display device can be improved by using a light-transmitting conductive member such as an ITO film for the unit detection unit constituting the touch panel. It becomes possible to keep.

  In the present invention, the unit detection part (electrode pad part) is made of a metal material and has a mesh shape so that light can be transmitted. Therefore, a low-resistance translucent electrode can be realized, and as a result, The touch panel can have a structure corresponding to a large-screen display device.

  In the present invention, the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit is a shape in which the plane pattern of two adjacent inner unit detection units is a gourd shape, and the plane pattern of the outermost unit detection unit is 2 adjacent. Since the plane pattern of the two outermost unit detection units includes a shape in which two mountain shapes obtained by dividing the gourd shape into two at the center line along the longitudinal direction, the plane shape of the unit detection unit is It becomes a shape composed of a smooth curve, and it is possible to suppress a change with time of the planar shape of the unit detection unit, and it is possible to suppress deterioration in position detection accuracy due to a change with time of the shape of the unit detection unit.

  In the present invention, when the operator's finger or the conductive operation member comes close to the touch area, the coupling capacitance between the unit detection units constituting the panel main body unit changes with the adjacent unit detection units. Since it comprised as mentioned above, the electrostatic capacitance value between these adjacent unit detection parts can be detected, and touch operation can be recognized. For this reason, multi-touch recognition is possible, and a touch panel applicable to a wide range of products, which is adopted in many smartphones and tablet terminals, can be made more effective.

In addition, in the case of the electrostatic capacitance method, a translucency that detects a change in capacitance between adjacent unit detection units and detects the presence or absence of touch, and extracts a sense signal necessary for detecting the presence or absence of touch. By arranging the electrode and the translucent electrode for applying the drive signal as far as possible outside the touch area, it is possible to detect a touch operation to a wider range.In the case of a capacitive touch panel, an object ( The capacitance between adjacent unit detectors changes when the conductor is brought close to the touch area, and the position and size of the object are determined from the capacitance, but this capacitance is determined by the pattern and size of the unit detector. If the shape of the unit detection unit is different between the unit detection unit located at the end of the touch area and the unit detection unit located at the other part, the detection accuracy of the touch position will be reduced and accurate. It may not be able to detect a touch position. With respect to this point, in the present invention, in the touch panel, a sense signal from the translucent electrode including the unit detection unit located at the end of the touch region is transmitted to the transparent detection unit including the unit detection unit positioned other than the end of the touch region. Since the signal level is corrected to the same level as the sense signal from the photoelectrode, the touch position detection accuracy is the same for the edge of the touch area and the other areas, and the touch position is determined on the entire touch area. It can be determined by the method.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the touch position as far as the edge of the touch area, and to narrow the width of the frame area where the touch position formed on the outer peripheral edge of the touch area cannot be detected. Can be realized, a touch panel controller for driving and controlling such a touch panel, and an information processing apparatus including such a touch panel.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a touch panel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and schematically shows a configuration of a display device (display device with an input device) in which the touch panel is mounted as an input device. FIG. 2 shows an electrode structure of the touch panel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the touch panel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (a) is a crossing portion (FIG. 2) of the first translucent electrode and the second translucent electrode in the touch panel. 3 (b), and FIG. 3 (b) shows an intersecting portion (B2 portion of FIG. 2) between the first light transmitting electrode and the fourth light transmitting electrode, and FIG. The cross-section of the crossing part (C2-C2 'line part of FIG. 2) of the 1st translucent electrode and the 2nd translucent electrode is shown. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a touch panel according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and shows a mesh structure made of a metal material as a configuration of electrodes of the touch panel. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a touch panel according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a configuration of a panel main body portion that forms a touch area. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an electronic information device (information processing apparatus) using the touch panel of the first embodiment as an input operation unit as the second embodiment of the present invention. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a conventional touch panel system. FIG. 7A shows a schematic configuration of the touch panel system, and FIG. 7B shows a mobile electronic device equipped with the touch panel system. ing. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a touch panel system in a conventional mobile phone, and shows a configuration of a mobile phone equipped with the touch panel system. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the touch panel disclosed in Patent Document 1, and shows an electrode structure in the touch panel.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a display device with an input device as a touch panel system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and schematically shows the configuration of the display device with an input device.

  A display device with an input device (hereinafter also simply referred to as a display device) 100a according to the first embodiment is generally a liquid crystal panel 50 as an image generating device and a surface (display surface) on the display generating side of the image generating device. ) And a host that is a display control unit that supplies display data Ds to the liquid crystal panel 50 and drives and controls the liquid crystal panel 50 so that an image is displayed on the display surface. The computer 80 and a drive unit 110 that controls the input device 100 are included.

  Here, in the display device 100a, the liquid crystal panel 50 displays a moving image or a still image, and is controlled by the host computer 80 to display an instruction image corresponding to information input to the input device 100. Yes.

  Therefore, the user can input information by touching the area where the instruction image is displayed on the display surface of the liquid crystal panel 50 of the display device 100a with a finger. The input device 10 is a capacitive touch panel, and includes a touch area 101 for inputting information by a touch operation. The coordinates of the touch area 101 are the coordinates of the display surface 50a of the liquid crystal panel 50. There is a one-to-one correspondence.

  FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the electrodes of the touch panel 100.

  Unit detection units 15 to 18 having a predetermined plane pattern for detecting a touch operation are arranged in a matrix on the input surface of the translucent substrate 3 so that the touch region 101 is formed. Here, these unit detection parts 15-18 comprise the main-body part (panel main-body part) 100b of the touch panel 100, and are unit detection parts located in the outermost periphery of the touch area | region 101 in this panel main-body part 100b. The plane pattern of the outermost unit detection units 17 and 18 is different from the plane pattern of the inner unit detection units 15 and 16 which are unit detection units other than the outermost unit detection unit in the panel main body 100b. A plurality of outermost peripheral unit detectors 17 and 18 arranged along the side are electrically connected for each side.

  Specifically, the plane pattern of the inner unit detectors 15 and 16 has a line-symmetric shape with a line parallel to the arrangement direction of the inner unit detectors as the axis of symmetry. It is a rhombus-shaped large-area electrode pad portion (hereinafter also referred to as a rhombus pad portion) made of a light-transmitting conductive material (for example, an ITO film). In addition, the plane pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detectors 17 and 18 is formed in the shape obtained by cutting along the plane of symmetry of the plane pattern of the inner unit detectors (diamond pad portions) 15 and 16 according to the cut portion. The outermost peripheral unit detection parts 17 and 18 are triangular electrode pad parts (hereinafter also referred to as triangular pad parts) made of a light-transmitting conductive material. . The triangular pad portions 17 and 18 have approximately half the area of the rhombus pad portions 15 and 16.

  In the touch region 101, first translucent electrodes (first signal lines) 11a to 11f extending in the first direction X formed by electrically connecting the rhombus pad portions 15 arranged in the first direction X. Are arranged in a second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X, and the second extending in the second direction Y is formed by electrically connecting the rhombus pad portions 16 arranged in the second direction Y. Two translucent electrodes (first signal lines) 12 a to 12 d are arranged in the first direction X.

  Here, the rhombus pad portion 16 constituting the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12d is formed in the gap region surrounded by the four adjacent rhombus pads 15 constituting the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f. positioned. Moreover, the rhombus pad 15 which comprises 1st translucent electrode 11a-11f is located in the clearance gap area surrounded by four adjacent rhombus pad parts 16 which comprise 2nd translucent electrode 12a-12d. doing. That is, the adjacent rhombus pads 15 and 16 of different translucent electrodes are arranged so that a capacitance is formed between them.

  Further, a third side extending in the first direction X is formed by electrically connecting the triangular pad portions 17 arranged along the first direction X to both side portions parallel to the first direction X of the touch region 101. Transparent electrodes (second signal lines) 13a and 13b are arranged, and triangular pads arranged along the second direction Y are arranged on both side portions parallel to the second direction Y of the touch region 101. Fourth translucent electrodes (second signal lines) 14a and 14b extending in the second direction Y formed by electrically connecting the portions 18 are disposed.

  Here, the gaps between the rhombus pad 15 and the triangular pad 17 on one end side of the first translucent electrodes 11 a to 11 f and the third translucent electrodes 13 a and 13 b and the peripheral edge of the touch region 101 are The triangular pad 18 which comprises the 4 translucent electrode 14a is located, the rhombus pad 15 and the triangular pad 17 of the other end side of 1st translucent electrode 11a-11f and 3rd translucent electrode 13a and 13b. The triangular pad 18 constituting the fourth translucent electrode 14b is located in the gap between the touch panel 101 and the periphery of the touch area 101. Further, in the gaps between the rhombus pad 16 and the triangular pad 18 on one end side of the second translucent electrodes 12 a to 12 d and the fourth translucent electrodes 14 a and 14 b and the peripheral edge of the touch region 101, The triangular pad 17 constituting the translucent electrode 13a is located, and the rhomboid pad 16 and the triangular pad 18 on the other end side of the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12f and the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b, A triangular pad 17 constituting the third translucent electrode 13b is located in the gap between the touch region 101 and the periphery. That is, also in the side edge portion of the touch region 101, the adjacent rhombus pad 15 and the triangular pad 17 and the rhombic pad 16 and the triangular pad 18 of different translucent electrodes form a capacitance therebetween. It is arranged as follows.

  In addition, the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f, the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12d, the third translucent electrodes 13a to 13b, and the fourth translucent electrodes 14a to 14b are translucent. The same layer is formed on the same surface of the conductive substrate 11. For this reason, the 1st translucent electrode 11a-11f and the 3rd translucent electrode 13b cross | intersect with respect to the 2nd translucent electrode 12a-12d and the 4th translucent electrode 14a-14b. There are a plurality of portions 19.

  Therefore, in the touch panel 100 of the first embodiment, the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b are adjacent to the rhombus pad portion 15 in any of the plurality of intersecting portions 19. While the adjacent triangular pad portions 17 are connected to each other by the conductive films constituting these electrodes, the second light transmitting electrodes 12a to 12d and the fourth light transmitting electrode 14a are connected. , 14b have a configuration in which the adjacent rhombus pad portions 16 and the adjacent triangular pad portions 18 are separated from each other.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the intersecting portion. FIG. 3A shows the intersecting portion (the A2 portion in FIG. 2) between the first light transmitting electrode 11a and the second light transmitting electrode 12a. 3 (b) shows an intersecting portion (B2 portion of FIG. 2) between the first light transmitting electrode 11a and the fourth light transmitting electrode 14b, and FIG. 3 (c) 2 shows a cross-sectional structure of a crossing portion (C2-C2 ′ line portion in FIG. 2) between one translucent electrode 11a and a second translucent electrode 12a.

  As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3C, the first translucent electrode 11a is formed at the intersection of the first translucent electrode 11a and the second translucent electrode 12a. Adjacent rhombus pad portions 15 are connected by a conductive film constituting this electrode, and a translucent interlayer insulating film 4a is formed above the portion connecting the rhombus pad portions 15. Further, at the intersecting portion, adjacent rhombus pad portions 16 constituting the second translucent electrode 12a are separated, and these rhombus pad portions 16 are formed as a transparent layer formed as an upper layer of the interlayer insulating film 4a. They are electrically connected by a light relay conductive member 4b. Thereby, the 2nd translucent electrode 12a has the structure where the rhombus pad part 16 arranged in the 2nd direction was electrically connected.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, at the intersection of the first translucent electrode 11a and the fourth translucent electrode 14b, the end of the rhombus pad portion 15 constituting the first translucent electrode 11a. A wiring connection portion 15b is formed by a conductive film constituting this electrode on the part, and a translucent interlayer insulating film 4a is formed above the wiring connection portion 15b of the rhombus pad portion 15. . In the intersecting portion shown in FIG. 3B, adjacent triangular pad portions 18 constituting the fourth translucent electrode 14a are separated, and these triangular pad portions 18 are formed as upper layers of the interlayer insulating film 4a. It is electrically connected by the formed translucent relay conductive member 4b. Thereby, the fourth translucent electrode 14b has a structure in which the triangular pad portions 18 arranged in the second direction are electrically connected.

  In addition, the intersection part of the 1st translucent electrode 11a and the 4th translucent electrode 14a is also shown in FIG.3 (b), and the 1st translucent electrode 11a and the 4th translucent electrode 14b are shown. It has the same structure as the crossing part. Further, the intersecting portion between the other first light transmitting electrode and the second and fourth light transmitting electrodes has the same structure as the structure of the intersecting portion described with reference to FIG.

  Further, the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b are respectively provided with terminal portions T1a disposed on a part of the substrate 3 via lead wires L1a to L1f and L3a and L3b. To T1f and T3a and T3b. Further, the second light transmissive electrodes 12a to 12d and the fourth light transmissive electrodes 14a and 14b are respectively terminal portions T2a disposed on a part of the substrate 3 via lead wires L2a to L2d and L4a and L4b. To T2d and T4a and T4b.

  In the panel main body 100b, drive signals are applied to these terminal portions T1a to T1f and T3a and T3b, and sense signals are output from the terminal portions T2a to T2d and T4a and T4b.

  In the panel main body 100b having such a configuration, a drive signal is applied to the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b including the triangular pad portions 17 arranged along both vertical side edges of the touch region 101, and A sense signal can be taken out from the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b composed of the triangular pad portions 18 arranged along both lateral edges. As a result, the touch position can be detected to the edge of the touch area 101, and the width of the frame area where the touch position formed at the outer peripheral edge of the touch area cannot be detected can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, the drive part 110 which comprises the display apparatus 100 of this Embodiment 1 is demonstrated.

  The drive unit 110 sequentially applies a drive signal Dr to the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b, and the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12d and the fourth translucent electrodes 12a to 12d. The sense signal Se is extracted from the translucent electrodes 14a and 14b. Here, the drive signal Dr has the number of drive voltages Dk (k: 0 to (m−1) (m is the number corresponding to the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b). The sense signal Se is the number of detection voltages Sj (j: 0 to (n−1)) corresponding to the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12f and the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b. (N is an integer).

  For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the translucent electrodes in the vertical direction in the panel main body 100b are ones at both ends (third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b) and the other (the first translucent electrodes). Since there are a total of 8 rows of the conductive electrodes 11a to 11f), m is 8, and the translucent electrodes in the horizontal direction in the panel main body 100b are the ones at both ends (fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b), Since there are a total of 6 rows with the other ones (second translucent electrodes 12a to 12d), n is 6, but in an actual touch panel, more translucent electrodes are provided. Needless to say.

  Specifically, the drive unit 110 includes the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11a so that the sense signal Se can be extracted from the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12d and the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b. A drive line drive unit 60 that sequentially applies a drive voltage Dk (k: 0 to m−1) as a drive signal Dr to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b, and controls the drive line drive unit 60. And a controller 61.

  In addition, the drive unit 110 amplifies the sense voltage Sj (j: 0 to n−1) as the sense signal Se output from the touch panel 100, and the sense signal Se amplified by the amplifier circuit 71. A signal selection unit 72 that sequentially selects and outputs the signal and an A / D conversion unit 73 that AD converts the sense signal selected by the signal selection unit 72 are provided. The drive unit 110 detects the digital sense signal output from the A / D conversion unit 73, obtained from the translucent electrode located at the end of the touch area of the panel body 100b, and detects the detected digital From the end detection unit 77 that outputs information indicating that the sense signal is from the translucent electrode at the end, and from the translucent electrode located at the end of the touch area of the panel body 100b The touch level correction processing unit 74 corrects the obtained digital sense signal so as to have the same signal level as the digital sense signal obtained from the translucent electrode other than the end portion.

  The driving unit 110 decodes the digital sense signal output from the touch level correction processing unit 74 and displays capacitance information indicating the capacitance value of the adjacent pad unit (specifically, the capacitance value in the touch region 101). And a touch position detection unit 76 that detects the touch position based on the capacity information and outputs coordinate information indicating the touch position to the host computer 80 as touch position information Dt. Have.

  Here, the drive line drive unit 60 is configured to sequentially apply the drive signal Dr to the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b. Reference numeral 60 denotes a drive signal Dr including a drive voltage Dk corresponding to an independent code string corresponding to each of the first translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b. In this case, in the decoding processing unit 75, the decoding process of the sense signal Se composed of the sense voltage Sj is performed based on the code string corresponding to the driving voltage Dk of the drive line driving unit 60. Done.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the drive unit 110 configured as described above, when the drive line drive unit 60 controlled by the controller 61 applies the drive signal Dr to the drive terminal units T1a to T1f, T3a, and T3b of the touch panel 100, the first drive signal Dr is used. The translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b are driven, and thereby the senses generated in the second translucent electrodes 12a to 12f and the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b are driven. The voltage is output as a sense signal from the sense terminal portions T2a to T2d, T4a, and T4b to the amplifier circuit 71.

  The amplifier circuit 71 amplifies the input sense signal and outputs it to the signal selection unit 72. The signal selector 72 selects the sense signal from the amplifier circuit 71 and sequentially outputs it to the A / D converter 73. The A / D converter 73 digitizes the sense signal and outputs it to the edge detector 77. The edge detection unit 77 detects sense signals from the fourth translucent electrodes 14 a and 14 b located at both ends of the touch area 101, and the detected digital sense signal is located at the edge of the touch area 101. Information indicating that it is from the fourth translucent electrodes 14 a and 14 b is added and output to the touch level correction processing unit 74. The touch level correction processing unit 74 outputs the digital sense signal obtained from the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b located at the end of the touch area of the panel body 100b to the second translucent electrode other than the end. The signal level is corrected to be the same as the digital sense signal obtained from 12a to 12d. In the touch level correction processing unit 74, the digital sense signals obtained from the second light transmissive electrodes 12a to 12d located outside the edge of the touch area are output to the decoding processing unit 75 without being corrected.

  The decoding processing unit 75 detects a capacitance value between adjacent pad units on the touch panel and outputs the detected capacitance value to the touch position detection unit 76 by decoding the digitized sense signal. The touch position detection unit 76 creates touch position information Dt indicating the touch position in the touch area based on the detected capacitance value between adjacent pad units, and outputs the touch position information Dt to the host computer 80. The host computer 80 determines the operation content of the operator based on the touch position information Dt and the display information, and outputs the display data Ds of the liquid crystal panel 50 so that an image corresponding to the operation content is displayed.

  Here, in a state where the touch operation is not performed on the touch panel 100, the capacitance value between adjacent pad portions is uniform over the entire surface of the touch area. That is, the capacitance values distributed in a matrix in the touch area are constant.

  In such a state, when a finger as a conductor touches any part of the touch panel, the translucent electrode has a capacity even between the translucent electrode and the finger, and a drive signal is applied at the touch position. The capacitance value between the pad portion and the pad portion of the translucent electrode from which the sense signal is extracted decreases. The position touched by the finger is detected by taking out this decrease as a sense signal.

  The sense signal correction processing will be specifically described below.

  Here, the edge detection unit 77 detects a sense signal output from the A / D converter 73 based on the information on the number of translucent electrodes 12a to 12d, 14a, and 14b for extracting a preset touch panel sense signal. It is possible to recognize which sense signal is the sense signal from the fourth translucent electrodes 14 a and 14 b located at the end of the touch region, and output the sense signal to the touch level correction processing unit 74. At this time, information (sense position information) indicating whether or not the sense signal is a sense signal from the translucent electrodes 14a and 14b located at the end of the touch region 101 is output together with the sense signal.

  Then, based on the position information of the sense line, the touch level correction processing unit receives the input sense signal from the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b, that is, the area of the pad unit 18 is different from that of the other translucent electrode. It detects that the signal is a sense signal from the translucent electrodes 14a and 14b located at the end of the touch region, which is about half the area of the photoelectrodes 12a to 12d (pad portion 16), The level of the sense signal from the translucent electrode provided with the pad is corrected so as to be equal to the level of the sense signal from the other translucent electrode. This correction is based on the level of the sense signal from the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b, and a value proportional to the area ratio of the rhombus pad portion and the triangular pad portion is obtained from the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b. This is done by calculating backward as the correction level of the sense signal.

  The host computer 80 determines the input information based on the touch position information, determines the input information, and performs processing according to the input information.

  The host computer also sends display data to the liquid crystal panel 50 to control the display on the liquid crystal panel.

  As described above, it is possible to detect which part of the touch panel the finger touches.

  Hereinafter, the function and effect will be described.

  In the first embodiment, a plurality of triangular pad portions 17 arranged along the vertical side edge (X direction) of the touch area 101 of the touch panel are connected to form the third translucent electrodes 13a and 13b. Since the plurality of triangular pad portions 18 arranged along the lateral side edge (Y direction) of the touch region 101 are connected to form the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b, up to the end portion of the touch region 101, Capacitance information between adjacent pad portions can be acquired, thereby improving the accuracy of touch recognition in a wider range of the touch area 101 in which the pad portions are arranged.

  Further, the planar shape of the pad portion 17 constituting the third and fourth translucent electrodes 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, and 14 b disposed on the outermost periphery of the touch region 101 is disposed on the inner side of the outermost periphery of the touch region 101. The touch area 101 is changed to the planar shape of the pad portions 15 and 16 constituting the first and second translucent electrodes 11a to 11f and 12a to 12d, and a product (for example, a touch panel is mounted) It can be easily adapted to a quadrangular shape that is often used as a shape of a portable terminal.

  In particular, if the shape of the pad portions of the first and second translucent electrodes disposed inside the touch region 101 other than the outermost periphery is a rhombus, the third and fourth translucency disposed on the outermost periphery. The shape of the pad portion of the electrode is a two-dimensional simplest figure, which is a half of a rhombus, thereby making the touch region 101 a rectangular shape that is often used as a product shape. be able to.

  Moreover, the pad part arrange | positioned inside the outermost periphery of the touch area | region 101 is made into a rhombus, and the pad part arrange | positioned at the outermost periphery of the touch area | region 101 is made into the triangular shape of the half of a rhombus, and touch area | region 101 is made. The arrangement pattern of the arranged pad portions is bilaterally symmetric and vertically symmetrical, and a drive signal is applied to both the translucent electrode extending in the horizontal direction and the translucent electrode extending in the vertical direction. It can be used as either a translucent electrode or a translucent electrode for extracting a sense signal.

  For this reason, in such a touch panel, the translucent electrode to which the drive signal is applied and the translucent electrode from which the sense signal is extracted can be switched for each capacitance detection process in the touch region 101.

  Furthermore, since the touch panel is disposed on the display surface of a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, the display quality of the display device can be maintained by using an ITO film for the pad portion of the translucent electrode constituting the touch panel. It becomes possible.

  In the touch panel according to the first embodiment, the pad portions 15 and 17 constituting the translucent electrode to which the drive signal is applied are adjacent to the pad portions 16 and 18 constituting the translucent electrode for extracting the sense signal. Since this is a capacitance method that recognizes touch operations by detecting the capacitance values between these pads, it can recognize multi-touch and is used in many smartphones and tablet devices. A touch panel applicable to a wide range of products can be made more effective.

  Further, in the case of the electrostatic capacity method, a translucent electrode that detects a change in capacitance between adjacent pad portions and detects the presence or absence of a touch, and extracts a sense signal necessary for detecting the presence or absence of a touch. In addition, by arranging the translucent electrode for applying the drive signal as far as possible outside the touch region 101, it is possible to detect the touch operation in a wider range.

  Further, in the case of a capacitive touch panel, the capacitance between adjacent pad portions changes when an object (conductor) is brought close to the touch area 101, and the position and size of the object are determined from the capacitance. Since this capacitance is affected by the pattern and size of the pad portion of the translucent electrode, the shape of the pad portion of the translucent electrode is changed between the pad portion located at the end portion of the touch region 101 and other portions. If the pad portion is different, the detection accuracy of the touch position is lowered, and the touch position may not be detected accurately.

  In the touch panel according to the first embodiment, the second translucent electrode positioned at the end other than the end of the touch region 101 is transmitted from the fourth translucent electrodes 14 a and 14 b positioned at the end of the touch region 101. Since the correction is performed so that the signal level is the same as the sense signal from 12a to 12d, the detection accuracy of the touch position is set to the same level at the end of the touch area 101 and the other areas, and the touch position is the same over the entire touch area. It can be determined by a determination method.

  In the first embodiment, the end detection unit 77 and the touch level correction processing unit 74 are provided at the subsequent stage of the A / D conversion unit 73, and this sense signal is applied to the end of the touch area with respect to the digitized sense signal. The edge detection unit performs a determination process for determining whether or not the light transmission electrode is located and a correction process for correcting a sense signal from the light transmission electrode located at the edge of the touch area. 77 and the touch level correction processing unit 74 may be provided before the A / D conversion unit 73, and the determination process and the correction process may be performed on the analog sense signal before digitization.

  In the first embodiment, the sense signal from the translucent electrode located at the end of the touch area is corrected. However, a large change in capacity is generated when the touch operation is performed on the touch panel. In a touch panel or the like based on the assumption that a conductive touch member is used, the sense signal from the translucent electrode located at the end of the touch area may be used as it is for the decoding process without being corrected.

Furthermore, in Embodiment 1 above, each translucent electrode constituting the touch panel is made of ITO (translucent conductive material) so that the display surface of the liquid crystal panel below the touch panel can be seen from above the touch panel. Conductive metal oxide film such as Indium Tin Oxide) is used, but ITO generally has a high surface resistance of 50Ω / mm ^{2 to} 100Ω / mm ^2, and is necessary to operate as a touch panel when the screen becomes large. It becomes difficult to charge and discharge certain translucent electrodes.
(Modification 1 of Embodiment 1)
Therefore, in a touch panel used in a display device having a large screen (generally 20 inches or more), it is desirable to use a metal such as Cu or Ag having a low surface resistance as a material for the light-transmitting electrode.

  However, since the metal material is not a light-transmitting conductive material such as ITO, the pad portion of the electrode to which the drive signal is applied or the electrode from which the sense signal is extracted has a mesh structure, thereby reducing the resistance. A translucent electrode made of a metal material can be formed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the touch panel having such a configuration as a touch panel according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, and the first translucent electrodes 11a and 11b in the touch region 101 shown in FIG. The portion corresponding to the intersection with the second translucent electrodes 12a and 12b is shown.

  In the touch panel according to this modification, the pad portion of the translucent electrode in the touch panel of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a mesh structure made of a metal material.

  Here, the translucent electrodes 11a ′ and 11b ′ are equivalent to the first translucent electrodes 11a and 11b in the touch region 101 shown in FIG. 2, and these translucent electrodes 11a ′ and 11b ′. The rhombus pad portion 15 ′ forming a mesh structure has a mesh structure made of a metal material. The translucent electrodes 12a ′ and 12b ′ are equivalent to the second translucent electrodes 12a and 12b in the touch region 101 shown in FIG. 2, and the translucent electrodes 12a ′ and 12b ′ are equivalent to the second translucent electrodes 12a ′ and 12b ′. The rhombus pad portion 16 ′ that is formed has a mesh structure made of a metal material.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, the touch panel according to this modified example includes the third translucent electrode and the fourth translucent electrode located at the end of the touch region 101 illustrated in FIG. 2. Instead of the triangular pad portions 17 and 18 made of a photoconductive material, a triangular pad portion having a mesh structure made of a metal material is provided.

  In this way, by configuring the pad portion of the translucent electrode constituting the touch panel from a metal material as a mesh structure, a low-resistance translucent electrode can be realized, and the touch panel has a structure corresponding to a large-screen display device. It can be.

  Furthermore, in the said Embodiment 1, the pad part of translucent electrodes other than the translucent electrode located in the edge part of a touch area | region is made into a rhombus shape, and the pad part of the translucent electrode located in the edge part of a touch area | region is used. Although a substantially triangular shape is shown, the planar shape of the pad portion constituting the translucent electrode is not limited to these shapes.

For example, instead of the rhombus pad portion 15 of the first light transmitting electrodes 11a to 11f and the rhombus pad portion 16 of the second light transmitting electrodes 12a to 12d shown in FIG. Instead of the triangular pad portion 17 of the three translucent electrodes 13a and 13b, an elliptical substantially right half and a substantially left half pad portion may be used, and the fourth translucent electrodes 14a and 14b Instead of the triangular pad portion 18, an elliptical substantially lower half pad portion and substantially upper half pad portion may be used.
(Modification 2 of Embodiment 1)
Further, the pad portions of the first and second translucent electrodes shown in FIG. 2 are replaced with pad portions in which the planar shape of two adjacent pad portions forms a gourd shape, and the third and fourth pads shown in FIG. The planar shape of two adjacent pad portions of the pad portion of the translucent electrode is a shape in which two mountain shapes obtained by dividing the gourd shape into two at the center line along the longitudinal direction (two mountain shapes) Shape).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the touch panel having such a configuration as a touch panel according to the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the configuration of the panel main body forming the touch region.

  The touch panel according to the second modification of the first embodiment is obtained by replacing the panel main body 100b of the touch panel of the first embodiment with a panel main body 200b having a different shape of the pad portion of the translucent electrode.

  That is, the panel main body 200b of the touch panel of the second modification includes first translucent electrodes (first signal lines) 21a to 21f formed by connecting a plurality of pad portions 25 arranged in the X direction, Third light transmitting electrodes (second signal lines) 23a and 23b formed by connecting a plurality of pad portions 27 arranged in the X direction are connected to a plurality of pad portions 26 arranged in the Y direction. Second translucent electrodes (first signal lines) 22a to 22d and fourth translucent electrodes (second signal lines) 24a and 24b composed of pad portions 28 arranged in the Y direction. Have.

  Here, the third translucent electrodes 23a and 23b are arranged along the side edges parallel to the X direction of the touch area 201 of the touch panel, and the fourth translucent electrodes 24a and 24b It is arranged along the side edge parallel to the Y direction of the touch area 201 of the touch panel, and the shape of each pad part is the center of the two adjacent pad parts along the gourd shape along the longitudinal direction. It forms a shape in which two chevron shapes obtained by dividing the line into two by a line (double mountain shape).

  The first translucent electrodes 21a to 21f are arranged at positions other than the end portion of the touch area 101 extending along the X direction of the touch area 201 of the touch panel. The conductive electrodes 22a to 22d are arranged at positions other than the end portion of the touch region 201 extending along the Y direction of the touch region 201 of the touch panel, and the shape of each pad portion is two adjacent The planar shape of the pad portion is a gourd shape.

  In the touch panel according to the second modification of the first embodiment having such a configuration, since the planar shape of the pad portion constituting the translucent electrode is formed of a smooth curve, the plane of the pad portion constituting the translucent electrode is configured. The shape change with time can be suppressed, and the deterioration of the position detection accuracy due to the change with time of the shape of the pad portion can be suppressed.

  In addition, by making the shape of the pad portions constituting the first light transmitting electrodes 21a to 21f and the second light transmitting electrodes 22a to 22d into a shape in which the adjacent ones form a gourd shape, the touch region 201 is formed. The arrangement pattern of the arranged pad portions is bilaterally symmetric and vertically symmetric, and the translucent electrode that applies a drive signal to both the translucent electrode extending in the horizontal direction and the translucent electrode extending in the vertical direction; There is an effect that it can be used as either a translucent electrode for extracting a sense signal.

Also in the touch panel of the second modification, the pad portions of the first and second translucent electrodes arranged on the inner side other than the outermost periphery of the touch region 201 are adjacent to each other in a gourd shape. By using a shape, the shape of the pad portions of the third and fourth translucent electrodes arranged on the outermost periphery is a shape in which the planar shape of two adjacent pad portions is a double mountain shape, The touch area 201 can be formed into a quadrangular shape that is often used as a product shape.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an electronic information device (information processing apparatus) using any one of the touch panels of the first embodiment and the first and second modifications thereof as an input operation unit as the second embodiment of the present invention. It is.

  An electronic information device 90 according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 uses the touch panel system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and any one of modifications 1 and 2 thereof. The controller is provided as an input operation unit 90a for inputting information by an operator. The electronic information device 90 includes a memory unit 92 such as a recording medium for recording input information input from the input operation unit 90a. A display unit 93 such as a liquid crystal display device that displays the input information on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display screen, a communication unit 94 such as a transmission / reception device that performs communication processing using the input information, and prints the input information. And at least one of an image output unit 95 that performs printing (printing out). Here, the display unit 93 includes the liquid crystal display panel 50 and the host computer 80 of the touch panel system. In addition, the electronic information device 90 may include an imaging unit 91 that captures an image of a subject. In this case, a memory unit 92 such as a recording medium records image data obtained by the imaging unit 91 for recording. Data is recorded after predetermined signal processing, and the display unit 93 displays the image data on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display screen after performing predetermined signal processing for display. The communication unit 94 displays the image data. After performing predetermined signal processing for communication, communication processing for the image data may be performed, and the image output unit 95 may print (print) and output (print out) the image data.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been illustrated using preferable embodiment of this invention, this invention should not be limited and limited to this embodiment. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be construed only by the claims. It is understood that those skilled in the art can implement an equivalent range based on the description of the present invention and the common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments of the present invention. Patents, patent applications, and documents cited herein should be incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if the contents themselves were specifically described herein. Understood.

  In the fields of a touch panel, a touch panel controller, and an information processing device, the present invention enables detection of a touch position up to the edge of the touch area and a frame area that cannot detect the touch position formed on the outer peripheral edge of the touch area. A touch panel with a narrow width, a touch panel controller for driving and controlling such a touch panel, and an information processing apparatus including such a touch panel can be realized.

3 Translucent substrate 4a Interlayer insulating film 4b Relay conductive member 11a-11f, 21a-21f First translucent electrode 11a ', 11b', 12a ', 12b' Translucent electrode 12a-12d, 22a-22d Second Translucent electrodes 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b Third translucent electrodes 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b Fourth translucent electrodes 15 ', 16', 25-28 Pad portions 15b Wiring connection portions 15, 16 Diamond pad (inner unit detector)
17, 18 Triangular pad (outermost unit detection part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Crossing part 50 Liquid crystal panel 50a Display surface 71 Amplifying circuit 72 Signal selection part 73 A / D conversion part 74 Touch level correction | amendment process part 75 Decoding process part 76 Touch position detection part 77 End part detection part 80 Host computer 90 Electronic information equipment 90a Input output unit 91 Imaging unit 92 Memory unit 93 Display unit 94 Communication unit 95 Image output unit 100 Touch panel 100a Display device with input device (display device)
100b Panel body 101, 201 Touch area 110 Drive unit Dk Drive voltage Dr Drive signal Ds Display data Dt Touch information L1a to L1f, L2a to L2d, L3a, L3b, L4a, L4b Lead-out wiring T1a to T1f, T3a, T3b Drive terminal Part T2a to T2d, T4a, T4b sense terminal part Se sense signal Sj detection voltage

Claims (17)

A touch panel having a touch area for inputting information by a touch operation and detecting a touch position on the touch area,
A panel main body formed by two-dimensionally arranging and connecting unit detection units for detecting the touch operation so as to form the touch region;
An inner unit detection unit that is a unit detection unit other than the outermost unit detection unit in the panel main body unit is used as a plane pattern of the outermost unit detection unit that is a unit detection unit located on the outermost periphery of the touch area in the panel main unit unit Different from the plane pattern of
A touch panel in which a plurality of outermost peripheral unit detection units arranged along the side of the touch area are electrically connected. The touch panel according to claim 1,
The flat pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detection unit in the panel main body is a touch panel whose area is smaller than the area of the flat pattern of the inner unit detection unit in the panel main body. The touch panel according to claim 2,
The plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit is a line-symmetric shape with a line parallel to the arrangement direction of the connected outermost unit detection units as a symmetry axis,
The plane pattern of the outermost unit detection unit is a shape obtained by joining a strip shape having the same length as the symmetry axis to the shape obtained by cutting along the symmetry axis of the plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit. Is a touch panel. The touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The unit detection part constituting the panel body part is
A touch panel, which is an electrode pad portion configured such that when an operator's finger or a conductive operation member comes close to the touch area, a coupling capacitance between adjacent unit detection units changes. The touch panel according to claim 4,
The electrode pad portion is a touch panel formed by patterning a transparent conductive film. The touch panel according to claim 5,
The touch panel, wherein the transparent conductive film is an ITO film. The touch panel according to claim 4,
The electrode pad portion is formed by patterning a metal film, and the metal film constituting the electrode pad portion has a mesh shape so that light can pass through the electrode pad portion. The touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit is a rhombus shape,
The flat pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detection unit includes a triangular shape obtained by dividing the rhombus shape into two by its diagonal line. The touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The plane pattern of the inner unit detection unit is a gourd shape of two adjacent inner unit detection unit plane patterns,
The planar pattern of the outermost peripheral unit detection unit is a series of two chevron shapes obtained by dividing the flat pattern of two adjacent outermost peripheral unit detection units by a center line along its longitudinal direction. A touch panel that includes a shape. A touch panel controller for driving and controlling the touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The panel main body constituting the touch panel is
A first signal line formed by connecting a plurality of unit detection units arranged in the first direction in the panel main body;
A second signal line connecting a plurality of unit detection units arranged in the second direction in the panel body,
The unit detection unit constituting the first signal line and the unit detection unit constituting the second signal line are connected to the unit detection unit of the other signal line in the gap between the unit detection units of one adjacent signal line. A structure that is arranged to be positioned,
A signal line driver that applies a drive signal to the plurality of first signal lines;
A signal line detection unit that detects a response signal generated in the second signal line by applying a drive signal to the first signal line;
A touch panel controller that detects a touch position with respect to the touch area based on the response signal. The touch panel controller according to claim 10,
The signal line detector corrects a response signal obtained from the outermost signal line, which is a second signal line formed by connecting a plurality of outermost unit detectors arranged along the second direction. A touch panel controller having a processing unit. The touch panel controller according to claim 11,
The correction processing unit is a second signal line obtained by connecting a plurality of inner unit detection units whose response levels are arranged along the second direction with respect to the response signal obtained from the outermost signal line. A touch panel controller that corrects the signal level to be the same as the signal level of the response signal obtained from the inner signal line. The touch panel controller according to claim 12,
The correction processing unit
Obtained from the outermost periphery signal line based on the ratio of the area of the planar pattern of the outermost periphery unit detection part constituting the outermost periphery signal line and the area of the planar pattern of the inner unit detection part constituting the inner signal line. Touch panel controller that corrects the signal level of the response signal. A display panel that displays an image, a touch panel that is arranged so as to overlap the display surface of the display panel, and that performs input of information by touch operation, a touch panel controller that drives and controls the touch panel, and processes input information An information processing apparatus comprising a signal processing unit,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is the touch panel according to claim 1. A touch panel controller for driving and controlling the touch panel,
The touch panel
A plurality of unit detection units for detecting a touch operation are arranged two-dimensionally so as to form a touch area for performing input of information by a touch operation, and a unit of the first group among the plurality of unit detection units A panel main body formed by connecting a detection unit to form a first signal line and connecting a second group of unit detection units among the plurality of unit detection units to form a second signal line And have
A signal discriminating unit for discriminating that the signal is output from the second signal line of the first and second signal lines;
A touch panel controller comprising: a signal correction unit that corrects a level of a signal output from the second signal line. The touch panel controller according to claim 15,
The plane pattern of the unit detector that constitutes the second signal line is smaller than the plane pattern of the unit detector that constitutes the first signal line,
The signal correction unit is a touch panel controller that corrects a signal level output from the second signal line to be a signal level output from the first signal line. The touch panel controller according to claim 16,
The unit detection part which comprises the said 2nd signal line is a touch panel controller which is an outermost periphery unit detection part located in the outermost periphery of the said touch area | region.