CAPACITIVE TOUCH MEMBER, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR, AND CAPACITIVE TOUCH DETECTION APPARATUS

• US 20120032916A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Enoki, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US13/260,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20120032916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9604 characterised by the number of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

[Object] To provide a capacitive touch member having a flexible shape or a stereoscopic shape and includes a light transmissive detection electrode, a manufacturing method therefor, and a capacitive touch detection apparatus including the capacitive touch member.

[Solving Means] Produced is a capacitive touch member (10) including a film-like or plate-like support (1) that is formed of an insulating material and has a flexible shape or a stereoscopic shape, a detection electrode (2) that is arranged on at least a part of one surface of the support (1) and formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing a carbon nano linear structure such as a carbon nanotube, and a lead-out wire (3) that is led out from the detection electrode (2). A capacitive touch detection apparatus is constituted of the touch member (10) and a capacitance detection circuit (60) that is electrically connected to the detection electrode (2) via the lead-out wire (3) and detects a change in capacitance due to approach or contact of a human body with respect to a touch surface (4). The detection electrode (2) may be coated with a protective film, and a surface of the protective film may be used as a touch surface.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A capacitive touch member comprising:

a film-like or plate-like support that is formed of an insulating material and has a flexible shape or a stereoscopic shape;

a detection electrode that is arranged on at least a part of one surface of the support and is formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing a carbon nano linear structure; and

a lead-out wire that is led out from the detection electrode, wherein

a surface of the support that is opposite to the surface on which the detection electrode is arranged is used as a touch surface, and approach or contact of a contact object with respect to the touch surface is sensed as a change in capacitance between the contact object and the detection electrode.

23. A capacitive touch member comprising:

a film-like or plate-like support that is formed of an insulating material and has a flexible shape or a stereoscopic shape;

a detection electrode that is arranged on at least a part of one surface of the support and is formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing a carbon nano linear structure;

a protective film to coat the detection electrode; and

a lead-out wire that is led out from the detection electrode, wherein

a surface of the protective film is used as a touch surface, and approach or contact of a contact object with respect to the touch surface is sensed as a change in capacitance between the contact object and the detection electrode.

24. A capacitive touch member comprising:

a film-like or plate-like support that is formed of an insulating material and has a flexible shape or a stereoscopic shape;

a first detection electrode that is arranged on at least a part of one surface of the support and is formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing a carbon nano linear structure;

a first protective film to coat the detection electrode;

a second detection electrode that is arranged on at least a part of a surface opposite to the surface of the support and is formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing a carbon nano linear structure;

a second protective film to coat the detection electrode; and

lead-out wires that are led out from the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, wherein

a surface of the first protective film and/or the second protective film is used as a touch surface, and approach or contact of a contact object with respect to the touch surface is sensed as a change in capacitance between the contact object and the first detection electrode and/or the second detection electrode.

25. A capacitive touch member comprising:

a detection electrode that is arranged on at least a part of a surface of an article and is formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing a carbon nano linear structure;

a protective film to coat the detection electrode; and

a lead-out wire that is led out from the detection electrode, wherein

a surface of the protective film is used as a touch surface, and approach or contact of a contact object with respect to the touch surface is sensed as a change in capacitance between the contact object and the detection electrode.

38. A method of manufacturing a capacitive touch member, the method comprising:

preparing dispersion liquid obtained by dispersing carbon nano linear structures in a dispersion solvent containing a dispersing agent;

performing at predetermined times a series of steps of

causing the dispersion liquid to adhere to a surface of a film-like or plate-like support that is formed of an insulating material and has a flexible shape or a stereoscopic shape, or to a surface of an article to which a touch member is provided,

evaporating the dispersion solvent and firmly fixing the carbon nano linear structures to the surface of the support or the surface of the article,

washing the surface of the support or the surface of the article by a washing solvent and removing the dispersing agent, and

evaporating the washing solvent, and

forming a detection electrode formed of a light transmissive conductive layer containing the carbon nano linear structures on the surface of the support or the surface of the article; and

providing a lead-out wire to the detection electrode.