Panel-type input device, method of manufacturing panel-type input device, and electronic apparatus having panel-type input device

• US 20090201268A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited), Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Iwata, Hideki, Kashikawa, Takahiro, Endo, Michiko, Takei, Fumio
• Granted Patent: US 8,847,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/22 by investigating capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A panel-type input device including a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of the substrate, the conductive coat of each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer. The conductive coat of each electrode plate includes a detecting area adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to the detecting area, the inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of the detecting area. A parallel electrode pair adapted to apply a voltage to the conductive coat is formed in the detecting area, and conductors connected to the parallel electrode pair are formed in the inoperative area. The inoperative area insulates the conductors from the detecting area.

Claims

1. A panel-type input device comprising:

a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of said substrate, said conductive coat of said each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer, said pair of electrode plates being assembled with each other in a relative arrangement such that conductive coats of said electrode plates are opposed to and spaced from each other while permitting a conductive contact between said conductive coats;

wherein said conductive coat of said each electrode plate comprises a detecting area adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to said detecting area, said inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of said detecting area;

wherein a parallel electrode pair adapted to apply a voltage to said conductive coat is formed in said detecting area, and conductors connected to said parallel electrode pair are formed in said inoperative area; and

wherein said inoperative area insulates said conductors from said detecting area.

2. The panel-type input device of claim 1, wherein said conducting polymer forming said conductive coat contains an additive adapted to be denatured into either one of an oxidizing substance and a basic substance by ultraviolet light irradiation.

3. The panel-type input device of claim 1, wherein said pair of electrode plates are transparent.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display unit; and

the panel-type input device of claim 3, said panel-type input device being mounted on a screen of said display unit.

17. A method of manufacturing the panel-type input device of claim 1, comprising:

providing a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of said substrate, said conductive coat of said each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer;

setting a mask having a shielding portion and a transmitting portion over said conductive coat of said each electrode plate; and

irradiating said conductive coat with ultraviolet light through said transmitting portion of said mask, or alternatively, contacting said conductive coat with a conductivity controlling agent containing either one of an oxidizing substance and a basic substance through said transmitting portion of said mask, so as to increase a surface resistivity of one region of said conductive coat corresponding to said transmitting portion to an extent higher than a surface resistivity of another region of said conductive coat corresponding to said shielding portion, and to form said detecting area and said inoperative area in said conductive coat of said each electrode plate.

4. A panel-type input device comprising:

a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of said substrate, said conductive coat of said each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer, said pair of electrode plates being assembled with each other in a relative arrangement such that conductive coats of said electrode plates are opposed to and spaced from each other while permitting a conductive contact between said conductive coats;

wherein said conductive coat of said each electrode plate comprises a plurality of detecting areas adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to said plurality of detecting areas, said inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of said plurality of detecting areas and insulating said plurality of detecting areas from each other; and

wherein said plurality of detecting areas of said conductive coat of said each electrode plate extend parallel to each other, and respective sets of said plurality of detecting areas of said conductive coats of said pair of electrode plates extend in directions intersecting with each other.

5. The panel-type input device of claim 4, wherein said conducting polymer forming said conductive coat contains an additive adapted to be denatured into either one of an oxidizing substance and a basic substance by ultraviolet light irradiation.

6. The panel-type input device of claim 4, wherein said pair of electrode plates are transparent.

15. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display unit; and

the panel-type input device of claim 6, said panel-type input device being mounted on a screen of said display unit.

18. A method of manufacturing the panel-type input device of claim 4, comprising:

providing a pair of electrode plates, each electrode plate having a substrate and a conductive coat provided on a surface of said substrate, said conductive coat of said each electrode plate being formed from a conducting polymer;

setting a mask having a shielding portion and a transmitting portion over said conductive coat of said each electrode plate; and

irradiating said conductive coat with ultraviolet light through said transmitting portion of said mask, or alternatively, contacting said conductive coat with a conductivity controlling agent containing either one of an oxidizing substance and a basic substance through said transmitting portion of said mask, so as to increase a surface resistivity of a region of said conductive coat corresponding to said transmitting portion to an extent higher than a surface resistivity of another region of said conductive coat corresponding to said shielding portion, and to form said plurality of detecting areas and said inoperative area in said conductive coat of said each electrode plate.

7. A panel-type input device comprising:

a pair of conductive coats disposed oppositely to and insulated from each other, each conductive coat being formed from a conducting polymer;

wherein said each conductive coat comprises a plurality of detecting areas adapted to detect a touch input and an inoperative area disposed adjacent to said plurality of detecting areas, said inoperative area having a surface resistivity higher than a surface resistivity of said plurality of detecting areas and insulating said plurality of detecting areas from each other; and

wherein said plurality of detecting areas of said each conductive coat extend parallel to each other, and respective sets of said plurality of detecting areas of said pair of conductive coats extend in directions intersecting with each other.

8. The panel-type input device of claim 7, wherein said pair of conductive coats are provided on mutually opposing surfaces of a pair of substrates disposed oppositely to each other;

and wherein an insulating layer is interposed between said pair of conductive coats.

9. The panel-type input device of claim 8, wherein an auxiliary conductive layer formed from an inorganic conducting substance is provided between said plurality of detecting areas of each of said pair of conductive coats and each of said mutually opposing surfaces of said substrates.

10. The panel-type input device of claim 7, wherein said pair of conductive coats are provided on opposite surfaces of a single substrate.

11. The panel-type input device of claim 10, wherein an auxiliary conductive layer formed from an inorganic conducting substance is provided between said plurality of detecting areas of said pair of conductive coats and said opposite surfaces of said single substrate.

12. The panel-type input device of claim 7, wherein said conducting polymer forming said conductive coat contains an additive adapted to be denatured into either one of an oxidizing substance and a basic substance by ultraviolet light irradiation.

13. The panel-type input device of claim 7, wherein said pair of conductive coats are transparent.

16. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display unit; and

the panel-type input device of claim 13, said panel-type input device being mounted on a screen of said display unit.

19. A method of manufacturing the panel-type input device of claim 7, comprising:

providing a pair of conductive coats, each conductive coat being formed from a conducting polymer;

setting a mask having a shielding portion and a transmitting portion over said each conductive coat; and

irradiating said conductive coat with ultraviolet light through said transmitting portion of said mask, or alternatively, contacting said conductive coat with a conductivity controlling agent containing either one of an oxidizing substance and a basic substance through said transmitting portion of said mask, so as to increase a surface resistivity of a region of said conductive coat corresponding to said transmitting portion to an extent higher than a surface resistivity of another region of said conductive coat corresponding to said shielding portion, and to form said plurality of detecting areas and said inoperative area in said each conductive coat.