TOUCH PANEL AND METHOD OF DETECTING PRESS OPERATION POSITION THEREON

• US 20100207907A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hirotoshi, Hiraoka, Hidetoshi, TANABE, Koji, Matsumoto, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

In a touch panel, one of conductive layers on a bottom of an upper substrate and on a top of a lower substrate is formed of belt-shaped conductive layers. The other is a single conductive layer facing the belt-shaped conductive layers. The single conductive layer is provided with a pair of electrodes in positions corresponding to both ends in a direction where the belt-shaped conductive layers extend. When the upper substrate is pressed while a voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes, the top and lower conductive layers contact with each other. Then, a voltage value corresponding to the pressed position in the direction where the belt-shaped conductive layers extend is generated from any of the belt-shaped conductive layers. From the voltage value and the position of the belt-shaped conductive layer from which the voltage value is generated, a pressed position on the upper substrate can be detected.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a light-transparent upper substrate provided with an upper conductive layer on a bottom surface thereof;

a light-transparent lower substrate provided with a lower conductive layer on a top surface thereof, the lower conductive layer facing the upper conductive layer with a predetermined gap therebetween; and

a frame-like spacer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;

wherein the touch panel has any one of following configurations;

A) the upper conductive layer is formed of a plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers, each of the belt-shaped conductive layers is provided with one of upper electrodes on an end portion thereof, the lower conductive layer is formed of a single conductive layer facing all of the belt-shaped conductive layers and is provided with a pair of lower electrodes in positions which correspond to both ends in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers extend; and

B) the lower conductive layer is formed of a plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers, each of the belt-shaped conductive layers is provided with one of lower electrodes on an end portion thereof, and the upper conductive layer is formed of a single conductive layer facing all of the plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers and is provided with a pair of upper electrodes in positions which correspond to both ends in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers extend.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising dot spacers,

wherein the dot spacers are disposed between the plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers forming the upper conductive layer in a case that the upper conductive layer is formed of the plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers, and each of the dot spacer projects downward further than the upper conductive layer, and

the dot spacers are disposed between the plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers forming the lower conductive layer in a case that the lower conductive layer is formed of the plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers, and each of the dot spacer projects upward further than the lower conductive layer

3. A method of detecting a press operation position on an upper substrate of a touch panel,

the touch panel comprising:

the light-transparent upper substrate provided with an upper conductive layer on a bottom surface thereof;

a light-transparent lower substrate provided with a lower conductive layer on a top surface thereof, the lower conductive layer facing the upper conductive layer with a predetermined gap therebetween; and

a frame-like spacer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;

wherein the upper conductive layer is formed of a plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers, each of the belt-shaped conductive layers is provided with one of upper electrodes on an end portion thereof, the lower conductive layer is formed of a single conductive layer facing all of the belt-shaped conductive layers and is provided with a pair of lower electrodes in positions which correspond to both ends in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers extend,

the method comprising;

applying a voltage between the pair of lower electrodes;

detecting respective voltage values at the upper electrodes;

detecting a pressed position on the upper substrate in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers are arranged, based on a position of one of the belt-shaped conductive layers connected to one of the upper electrodes from which a voltage value is detected; and

detecting a pressed position on the upper substrate in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers extend, based on the voltage value detected from the one of the upper electrodes.

4. A method of detecting a press operation position on an upper substrate of a touch panel,

the touch panel comprising:

the light-transparent upper substrate provided with an upper conductive layer on a bottom surface thereof;

a light-transparent lower substrate provided with a lower conductive layer on a top surface thereof, the lower conductive layer facing the upper conductive layer with a predetermined gap therebetween; and

a frame-like spacer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;

wherein the lower conductive layer is formed of a plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers, each of the belt-shaped conductive layers is provided with one of lower electrodes on an end portion thereof, and the upper conductive layer is formed of a single conductive layer facing all of the plurality of belt-shaped conductive layers and is provided with a pair of upper electrodes in positions which correspond to both ends in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers extend

the method comprising;

applying a voltage between the pair of upper electrodes;

detecting respective voltage values at the lower electrodes;

detecting a pressed position on the upper substrate in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers are arranged, based on a position of one of the belt-shaped conductive layers connected to one of the lower electrodes from which a voltage value is detected; and

detecting a pressed position on the upper substrate in a direction in which the belt-shaped conductive layers extend, based on the voltage value detected from the one of the lower electrodes.

5. A touch panel comprising:

a light-transparent upper substrate;

a plurality of belt-shaped upper conductive layers formed on a bottom surface of the upper substrate;

an upper resistive layer connecting the upper conductive layers at end portions of the upper conductive layers;

first and second upper electrodes respectively provided on ends of the upper resistive layer;

a light-transparent lower substrate;

a plurality of belt-shaped lower conductive layers formed on a top surface of the lower substrate, facing the upper conductive layers with a predetermined gap therebetween, and extending in a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the upper conductive layers extend,

a lower resistive layer connecting the lower conductive layers at end portions of the lower conductive layers;

first and second lower electrodes respectively provided on ends of the lower resistive layer; and

a frame-shaped spacer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate.

6. The touch panel according to claim 5, further comprising dot spacers,

wherein the dot spacers satisfy at least one of following two conditions:

A) the dot spacers are disposed between the plurality of upper conductive layers, and each of the dot spacer projects downward further than the upper conductive layers, and

B) the dot spacers are disposed between the plurality of lower conductive layers, and each of the dot spacer projects upward further than the lower conductive layers.

7. A method of detecting a press operation position on a upper substrate of a touch panel,

the touch panel comprising:

the light-transparent upper substrate;

a plurality of belt-shaped upper conductive layers formed on a bottom surface of the upper substrate;

an upper resistive layer connecting the upper conductive layers at end portions of the upper conductive layers;

first and second upper electrodes respectively provided on ends of the upper resistive layer;

a light-transparent lower substrate;

a plurality of belt-shaped lower conductive layers formed on a top surface of the lower substrate, facing the upper conductive layers with a predetermined gap therebetween, and extending in a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the upper conductive layers extend,

a lower resistive layer connecting the lower conductive layers at end portions of the lower conductive layers;

first and second lower electrodes respectively provided on ends of the lower resistive layer; and

a frame-shaped spacer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate,

the method comprising;

(A) applying a voltage to the ends of the lower resistive layer and measuring a voltage value at the first upper electrode;

(B) detecting a position of a first press operation position in a direction in which the lower conductive layers are arranged, based on the voltage value at the first upper electrode measured in (A);

(C) applying a voltage to the ends of the upper resistive layer and measuring a voltage value at the first lower electrode; and

(D) detecting a position of a first press operation position in a direction in which the upper conductive layers are arranged, based on the voltage value at the first lower electrode measured in (C).

8. The method of detecting a press operation position according to claim 7,

wherein, in (A), a voltage value at the second upper electrode is measured, and a position of a second press operation position is detected in a direction in which the lower conductive layers are arranged, based on the measured voltage value at the second upper electrode, and

in (C), a voltage value at the second lower electrode is measured, and a position of a second press operation position is detected in a direction in which the upper conductive layers are arranged, based on the measured voltage value at the second lower electrode.