DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20110069036A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Displays Limited (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Inventors: ANNO, Kouichi
• Application Number:
  US12/883,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069036A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

In a display device including a capacitive coupling touch panel, reaction to touch with nonconductive input means is achieved, and highly accurate position detection is realized with a small number of electrodes even with a small touch area. X-electrodes and Y-electrodes which intersect with each other via a first insulating layer and a Z-electrode which is in a floating state via a second insulating layer are disposed. For the Z-electrode, a material whose thickness changes by pressing due to touch, such as an elastic conductive material, is used. The Z-electrode is arranged so as to overlap both the X-electrode and the Y-electrode neighboring to each other. A pad portion of the X-electrode has a shape such that an area is maximized in the vicinity of a fine line portion of the relevant X-electrode.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a capacitive touch panel,

the capacitive touch panel including a plurality of X-electrodes, a plurality of Y-electrodes, and a Z-electrode,

the X-electrode and the Y-electrode intersecting with each other via a first insulating layer at an intersecting portion, each of the X-electrode and the Y-electrode being formed such that pad portions and fine line portions are alternately arranged in its extending direction, the pad portion of the X-electrode and the pad portion of the Y-electrode being arranged so as not to overlap each other as viewed in plan,

the Z-electrode being formed so as to overlap, via a second insulating layer, both the X-electrode and the Y-electrode neighboring to each other as viewed in plan,

the Z-electrode being electrically floating,

one of the X-electrode and the Y-electrode being sequentially applied with a pulse signal, and a change in the signal being detected from the other electrode, wherein

the Z-electrode is formed of an elastic conductive material, and

the intersecting portion is formed in a different layer from the X-electrode or the Y-electrode.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

the second insulating layer changes in thickness by pressing.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

a thickness of the second insulating layer is maintained with a spacer.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

the pad portion of the X-electrode extends to the vicinities of fine line portions of X-electrodes neighboring to the relevant X-electrode,

the relevant X-electrode has a shape in the pad portion such that, as viewed in plan, an area is minimized in the vicinity of the fine line portion of one of the neighboring X-electrodes and maximized in the vicinity of the fine line portion of the relevant X-electrode, and

the area of the relevant pad portion decreases from the vicinity of the fine line portion of the relevant X-electrode toward the vicinity of the fine line portion of the other neighboring X-electrode.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

the pad portion of the X-electrode extends to the vicinities of fine line portions of X-electrodes neighboring to the relevant X-electrode,

the pad portion of the relevant X-electrode has a shape such that, as viewed in plan, an electrode width is minimized in both the vicinities of the fine line portions of the neighboring X-electrodes and maximized in the vicinity of the fine line portion of the relevant X-electrode,

the pad portion of the Y-electrode has a shape such that, as viewed in plan, a width in an extending direction of the X-electrode is constant relative to an extending direction of the Y-electrode, and

the pad portions of the X-electrode and the pad portions of the Y-electrode are alternately arranged in the extending direction of the X-electrode as viewed in plan.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

in the pad portions of the two neighboring X-electrodes, the pad portion has a convex shape toward the neighboring X-electrode.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

in the pad portions of the three neighboring X-electrodes, the pad portion has a convex shape toward one of the neighboring X-electrodes and has a concave shape toward the other X-electrode.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

the Z-electrode is stacked with an elastic insulating film.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

the Z-electrode is stacked on a supporting layer.

10. A display device comprising:

a capacitive touch panel which detects touch position coordinates on a display region by a capacitive system,

the capacitive touch panel including a plurality of X-electrodes, a plurality of Y-electrodes, and a Z-electrode,

the X-electrode and the Y-electrode intersecting with each other via a first insulating layer at an intersecting portion, each of the X-electrode and the Y-electrode being formed such that pad portions and fine line portions are alternately arranged in its extending direction, the pads portion of the X-electrode and the pad portions of the Y-electrode being arranged so as not to overlap each other as viewed in plan,

the Z-electrode being formed so as to overlap, via a second insulating layer, both the plurality of X-electrodes and the plurality of Y-electrodes as viewed in plan,

the Z-electrode being electrically floating,

one of the X-electrode and the Y-electrode being sequentially applied with a pulse signal, and a change in the signal being detected from the other electrode, wherein

the Z-electrode is formed of an elastic conductive material, and

the intersecting portion is formed in a different layer from the X-electrode or the Y-electrode.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein

the Z-electrode is stacked with an elastic insulating film.

12. The display device according to claim 10, wherein

the Z-electrode is a solid electrode.

13. A display device comprising:

a capacitive touch panel which detects touch position coordinates on a display region by a capacitive system,

the capacitive touch panel including a plurality of X-electrodes, a plurality of Y-electrodes, and a Z-electrode,

the X-electrode and the Y-electrode intersecting with each other via a first insulating layer at an intersecting portion, each of the X-electrode and the Y-electrode being formed such that individual electrodes and the intersecting portions are alternately arranged in its extending direction, the individual electrode of the X-electrode and the individual electrode of the Y-electrode being arranged without overlapping each other as viewed in plan,

the Z-electrode being formed so as to overlap, via a second insulating layer, both the X-electrode and the Y-electrode as viewed in plan,

the Z-electrode being electrically floating,

the second insulating layer being formed of a gas whose volume changes by pressure,

one of the X-electrode and the Y-electrode being sequentially applied with a pulse signal, and a change in the signal being detected from the other electrode, wherein

the Z-electrode is formed of an elastic material, and

the intersecting portion is formed in a different layer from the X-electrode or the Y-electrode.

14. The display device according to claim 13, wherein

the second insulating layer is air.