JP3016980B2 - Liquid crystal panel and information input device using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel having a photodetector for reading an image, and an information input device for inputting an image, a character and the like using the liquid crystal panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing system such as a workstation or a personal computer, a keyboard or the like is generally used as an input device. In recent years, in addition to a keyboard, an image such as a figure or a text is read and provided as image information. Some include an image scanner as an input device.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a handy type OA (Office Automation) image scanner 31 is used.
Scans a line-shaped input unit to obtain a document 32
Enter the image of. That is, the image scanner 31
Represents a tungsten lamp, an LED (L
illumination light source 33 such as ight emitting mirror, lens 35,
And an input unit including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 34 and the like. In such a configuration, the illumination light source 3
3 irradiates the original 32 with linear light, thereby condensing reflected light obtained from the original 32 with a lens 35, detecting the reflected light with a CCD 34, performing signal processing for each line, and performing image processing. Is to be entered. And 1
A signal input for each line is transmitted to the information processing system, input information is stored, and processing such as display, editing, and printout is performed.

[0004]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional image scanner only performs input of an image, the input image cannot be recognized. There is a problem that the display means provided in the information processing system is indispensable.

In the above-described conventional image scanner,
Since it is necessary to scan a line-shaped input unit, there is also a problem that it is difficult to collectively process the entire screen and it takes time to input an image.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal panel including two opposing substrates having liquid crystal interposed therebetween, and reflecting reflected light from a document. by detecting the light shielding member photodetector element for reading an image of a document that is provided, in a liquid crystal panel having a display unit for displaying the image read by the light detecting element, the upper <br/> Symbol photodetector Is one of the bases covered by the light blocking member.
With other plate side is shielded, the light emitted to transmit the <br/> display unit than the other substrate side, the one of the radicals
It is characterized in that it is arranged such that reflected light from a document placed on the plate side is incident.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect, wherein the light-shielding member is formed in a lattice shape while the display portion is formed in a lattice shape. It is characterized in that it is formed of an interstitial region of a light shielding member formed in a shape.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information input device, wherein the liquid crystal panel according to the first or second aspect is used to specify an effective range of an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel. To this end, a control means for displaying a rectangular display on the liquid crystal panel and making an image in a specified range an effective image is provided.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light shielding member is provided with a light detecting element for reading the image of the original by detecting the reflected light from the original, and the image read by the light detecting element is provided. , On the display unit. Therefore, not only the display function on the liquid crystal panel,
Since an image input function can be added, there is no need to separately provide a display device and an input device, and the configuration can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the light-shielding member is formed in a lattice shape, for example, as in a simple matrix liquid crystal panel or an active matrix liquid crystal panel, and the display portion is formed in a grid-like light - shielding member. The entire image corresponding to the size of the liquid crystal panel is input collectively by the photodetector provided on the lattice-shaped light shielding member. be able to.
Therefore, the input time of the image can be reduced as compared with the case where the image is input by the input unit provided in a line.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the liquid crystal panel is used as an information input device, and the effective image is surrounded by the rectangular display displayed on the liquid crystal panel, thereby specifying the effective range of the image. Means. In the conventional image scanner, since the size of the linear input unit is fixed, it is difficult to input a partial image of a narrow area, and the designation of the effective range of the image is performed after transmitting the image information.
Although this had to be done on the information processing system side connected to the image scanner, this information input device
By specifying the effective range of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel by enclosing it in a rectangular display, it is possible to specify a necessary effective image, and it is possible to perform a partial process on the input image.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image input device as the information input device according to the present embodiment is configured by incorporating a liquid crystal panel 2 in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 1.
On an upper surface of the housing 1, a function key group 3 for designating a range of an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 2, adjusting display brightness, giving an instruction to execute each process, and the like is provided. Further, in the liquid crystal panel 2, photodiodes (hereinafter referred to as PDs) 5 described later are provided on the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 at predetermined intervals as photodetectors. When the image input device 22 having such a configuration is placed on a document M described later,
An image in an area corresponding to the liquid crystal panel 2 is read by the PD 5 and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 2 . On SL liquid crystal panel 2, as shown in FIG. 1, TFT
(Thin Film Transistor) element 8 and ITO (Indium-ti
n oxide) upper glass substrate 4a on which a film 7a and the like are formed;
It includes the PD 5, a black matrix (hereinafter, referred to as BM) 6 as a light shielding member , and a lower glass substrate 4b on which an ITO film 7b and the like are formed. These upper glass substrate 4a, lower glass substrate 4b , Between the liquid crystal 10
Is sandwiched.

A method of manufacturing the liquid crystal panel 2 having the above configuration will be described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, an X electrode 14, a PD 5 composed of an n layer 16 and a p layer 17, and a Y electrode 15 are formed on the lower glass substrate 4b. First, for example, a metal such as Cr or Al
A metal thin film of 00 ° is formed as the X electrode 14 by sputtering, and is patterned into a stripe by photolithography. Next, a-Si is formed as the n layer 16 of the PD 5 by plasma CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) with a film thickness of 1 μm, and is patterned into a dot shape by photolithography. On top of that, as in the case of the n-layer 16, a-Si is formed with a film thickness of 1 μm and patterned into a dot shape to form the p-layer 17.

Thereafter, an SiO ₂ film is formed to a thickness of 5000 ° to form an insulating film (not shown). A through hole is formed on the p layer 17, and a metal thin film of Cr, Al, or the like is formed thereon to a thickness of 5000 ° to form a Y electrode 15, and the Y electrode 15 is orthogonal to the X electrode 14. Pattern in stripes. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the PD 5 composed of the n-layer 16 and the p-layer 17 is formed in a dot-like manner in a region where the X electrode 14 and the Y electrode 15 intersect (region indicated by oblique lines in the drawing). Formed.

Next, an SiO ₂ film is formed to a thickness of 5000 ° by sputtering to form an insulating film (not shown). On top of that, as shown in FIG. 1, a Cr metal film is formed in a lattice shape to cover the X electrode 16 and the Y electrode 17 by sputtering at a thickness of 4000 ° as a BM 6 serving as a non-display portion. An ITO film 7b is formed on the entire surface of the substrate as a transparent conductive film by sputtering to a thickness of 500 °. Finally, a polyimide alignment film (not shown) for aligning the liquid crystal is formed with a thickness of 800 °.

On the other upper glass substrate 4a, a TFT element 8 for driving liquid crystal and each picture element are formed. T
In order to fabricate the FT element 8, first, a metal such as Ta or Al is formed as a gate electrode by sputtering at a thickness of 5000 °, and then a 4000 ° thick CVD film is formed as a gate insulating film. On top of that, a-S
An i-semiconductor layer is formed by plasma CVD at a film thickness of 500 °, and n ⁺ a-Si is further formed by plasma CVD at a film thickness of 1500 °
It is formed by VD.

Thereafter, Si as an etching stopper
An O ₂ insulating film is formed with a thickness of 5000 ° by plasma CVD and patterned into a predetermined shape by photolithography. Further, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed of Ti, Mo, Al, or the like. Thereafter, an ITO film 7a is formed as a transparent conductive film serving as a display portion by sputtering at a thickness of 500 °, and a picture element pattern is formed by photolithography. Lastly, a polyimide alignment film (not shown) for aligning the liquid crystal is formed with a film thickness of 800 ° similarly to the lower glass substrate 4b.

A seal resin (not shown) is printed on one of the two glass substrates 4a and 4b obtained as described above, the two glass substrates 4a and 4b are attached to each other, and a liquid crystal is injected. P that detects reflected light from the original
A liquid crystal panel 2 having D5 built in the non-display portion is obtained.

The ITO film 7a of the picture element pattern formed on the upper glass substrate 4a and the PD 5 formed on the lower glass substrate 4b are bonded to both glass substrates 4a and 4b as described above. Sometimes they are patterned so that their positions do not overlap. Therefore, when the two glass substrates 4a and 4b are bonded to each other, as shown in FIG. 4, the glass substrates 4a and 4b are formed on the upper glass substrate 4a between the non-display portions BM6 formed in a lattice on the lower glass substrate 4b. An ITO film 7a serving as a display section is located.

The liquid crystal panel 2 manufactured as described above
Then, a peripheral circuit for reading the current detected by the PD 5 is added to form a module, and this module is incorporated in the housing 1 shown in FIG. 2, whereby the image input device 22 is completed. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when the image input device 22 is set on a document M for inputting an image, and light is emitted from the backlight (not shown) provided around the liquid crystal panel 2 toward the document M, The reflected light from the original corresponding to the density is received by the PD 5. still,
Since the PD 5 is covered and shielded from light except the lower surface thereof by the BM 6, the light emitted from the backlight does not enter the PD 5, and only the reflected light from the document M enters. ing.

The image input device 22 includes:
As shown in FIG. 5, in order to input an electric signal detected by the PD 5 to the control unit, a signal processing unit 11 as the peripheral circuit for performing predetermined processing on the electric signal, a memory 18 for storing a read image, and a reading unit A liquid crystal driving unit 19 for generating a signal to be input to the TFT element in order to display an image on a liquid crystal display, the function key group 3 and the signal processing unit 11
A control unit (control unit) 12 that controls the memory 18 and the liquid crystal drive unit 19 in accordance with the input from the printer and transmits the read image to a connected printer 20 or the like.

In the above configuration, when an image is read by the image input device 22, the image input device 22 is set on the document M. As a result, the light from the backlight passes through the ITO film 7a located between the BMs 6 formed in a lattice and is irradiated onto the document M. As a result, the light from the backlight is reflected according to the dark portion and the bright portion of the document, and the intensity of each reflected light is detected by the PD 5 added in a dot shape over the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel 2 as described above. Is done. That is, the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel detects the reflected light from the document at once. In the PD 5, a current corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light is detected, and this current is sent to the signal processing unit 11 as an electric signal. The electric signal is converted in the signal processing unit 11 and then stored in the memory 18 as input information. Further, the control unit 12 responds to the input information by using the TFT element 8 formed on the upper glass substrate 4a.
To apply voltage to the source electrode and drain electrode of
The liquid crystal driving unit 19 is driven to display an image as input information on the liquid crystal panel 2 as shown in FIG.

Here, when all of the input information, that is, the entire image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 2 is required, the input information stored in the memory 18 is connected to the image input device 22 as it is. To the printer 20 to print out.

On the liquid crystal panel 2, a rectangular display 21 for designating a necessary image range from the entire display is displayed. Therefore, when performing partial processing on a part of the displayed image instead of the entire screen, the function key group 3 is operated to display the rectangular display 2.
The necessary effective image is surrounded by 1 and an image range is designated.
As a result, only the necessary information is output to the printer 20, and the printout is performed.

When editing or the like is performed using an input image, an image in which an input or an effective range is designated is temporarily transmitted to an information processing system or the like, where the image is combined with characters, other images, and the like. It is also possible to print out.

As described above, since the image obtained by reading the entire surface of the original at once by the PD 5 is immediately displayed on the liquid crystal panel 2, the input time is shorter than the conventional case where the image is input line by line. Can be shortened, and the image can be read accurately while checking the input state. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a display device, and the configuration can be simplified, erroneous input can be reduced, and workability at the time of reading an image can be improved. Furthermore, by operating the rectangular display 21 with the function key group 3 and adding a function of designating a necessary effective range of the image, partial processing of the image becomes possible, and operability can be improved. .

[0029]

As described above, the liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect of the present invention has two opposing substrates on which liquid crystal is interposed, and detects reflected light from the original to form the original. a light shielding member photodetector element for reading an image that is provided, in a liquid crystal panel having a display unit for displaying the image read by the light detecting element, the upper Symbol light detecting element, the light shielding part
And the other side is covered with
To, the irradiated so as to transmit the display unit from the other substrate side light, a configuration in which the reflected light from the document placed on one substrate side of the are arranged so as to be incident.

Therefore, by providing the light detecting element on the light shielding member , not only the display function but also the image input function can be added to the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the input means and the display means are provided separately. There is no need, and an effect is obtained that the configuration can be simplified.

In the liquid crystal panel according to the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect, the light shielding member is formed in a lattice shape, and the display unit is formed in a lattice shape. Of the interstitial region of the light shielding member .

Therefore, the entire image of the document can be input collectively by the photodetector provided on the lattice-shaped light-shielding member , so that the input time can be reduced as compared with the case where the linear input section is used. This has the effect of reducing the length of time.

An information processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention uses the liquid crystal panel according to the first or second aspect and specifies an effective range of an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel.
In the configuration, a rectangular display is displayed on the liquid crystal panel, and control means for setting an image in a specified range as an effective image is provided.

Therefore, by using the liquid crystal panel as described above as an information input device, it is possible to input an image and display the input image with a single device, and it is more effective to display a rectangular image. Since an image can be specified, it is possible to perform partial processing, and it is possible to improve the operability as an information input device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration inside a liquid crystal panel of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the image input device.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view, respectively, showing a PD formed on a lower glass substrate in a process of manufacturing the image input device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of a liquid crystal panel in the image input device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image input device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which an image input to the image input device is displayed on a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where a document is scanned by a conventional image scanner.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of the conventional image scanner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 liquid crystal panel 5 photodiode (photodetector) 6 black matrix (non-display part) 7a ITO film (display part) 12 control part (control means) 21 rectangular display 22 image input device (information processing device) M original

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-44796 (JP, A) JP-A-58-210765 (JP, A) JP-A-62-69554 (JP, A) JP-A-6-22250 (JP) , A) JP-A-7-115574 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02F 1/13 505 G02F 1/133 G02F 1/135 G02F 1/1333 G09G 3 / 36 G06F 15/64

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A has two substrates facing the liquid crystal is sandwiched by detecting the reflected light from the document, and the light blocking member photodetector element for reading an image of a document that is provided, the light in the liquid crystal panel having a display unit for displaying the image read by the detecting element, the upper Symbol light detecting element, one covered by the light shielding member
All parts other than the board are shielded from light , and
Serial of light emitted to transmit the display unit, one of the
A liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal panel is arranged such that reflected light from a document placed on a substrate side is incident thereon. 2. The light-shielding member is formed in a lattice shape.
2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the display section is formed of an interstitial region of a light shielding member formed in a lattice shape. 3. A liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein a rectangular display is displayed on the liquid crystal panel to specify an effective range of an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel, and an image in the specified range is displayed. An information input device, comprising: a control unit for setting an image as an effective image.