Transparent touch panel and electronic apparatus

• US 20060192767A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gunze Limited
• Original Assignee: Gunze Limited
• Inventors: Murakami, Seiichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,363,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A transparent touch panel comprises a transparent first substrate (110) and a second substrate (130) that each has a transparent electro-conductive layer (111, 131) on one surface and that are arranged with a predetermined interval between each other such that the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) are facing each other. Each of the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) has a pair of electrodes (112, 112) and (132, 132) disposed on each end. Lead-out terminals (114, 114) and (134, 134) are connected to each electrode (112, 132) through surrounding circuits (113, 133) formed on the peripheral edges of the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130). Lead-out terminals (114, 134) are arranged on each of the opposing surfaces of the transparent first substrate (110) and of the transparent second substrate (130), and a plurality of holding members (80, 80), (81, 81) for holding the edges of the transparent first substrate (110) is provided. Each holding member (80, 81) is formed of an electro-conductive material. That portion of the holding member that is inserted between the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130) is disposed so as to be in contact with each lead-out terminal (114, 134). The transparent touch panel can be reduced in size and cost.

Claims

1. A transparent touch panel comprising;

a transparent first substrate and a second substrate each having a transparent electro-conductive layer on one surface thereof, the transparent first substrate and the second substrate being arranged with a predetermined interval between each other in such a manner that the transparent electro-conductive layers are facing each other, and each transparent electro-conductive layer having a pair of electrodes disposed on each end;

a plurality of lead-out terminals being connected to the electrodes through surrounding circuits formed on the peripheral edges of the first substrate and the second substrate, the lead-out terminals each being arranged on the opposing surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate; and

a plurality of holding members for holding the peripheral edges of the transparent first substrate, the holding members being formed of an electro-conductive material and formed so that each of the portions inserted between the transparent first substrate and the second substrate is in contact with each lead-out terminal.

2. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the portions of the holding members inserted between the transparent first substrate and the second substrate is 0.5 to 2 times the space between the transparent first substrate and the second substrate.

3. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate has a notched portion so that the portion/portions in contact with the holding members has/have flexibility.

4. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the transparent first substrate has a plurality of groove portions in the surface opposite to the surface on which the transparent electro-conductive layer is formed, and the holding members are held in groove portions.

5. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the transparent first substrate is a fixed substrate.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising the transparent touch panel of claim 1 and a display apparatus having connecting terminals, the transparent touch panel being disposed on the display surface side of the display apparatus, and the holding members being in contact with the connecting terminals.