Transparent touch panel

• US 5,955,198 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishida, Hideaki, Hashimoto, Koji, Umemura, Fuminori, Obayashi, Takashi, Harada, Mitsuru, Nakanishi, Akira, Fukui, Toshiharu, Omoya, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): GULAKOWSKI, RANDY P
• Application Number:
  US08/919,267
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 428/327, 428/414, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 178/20.01
• US Class Current: 428/414
• 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: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31515 As intermediate layer

Abstract

This invention aims to offer a transparent touch panel that functions with a soft touching pressure by a pen or a finger, at the same time assures a long operating life.

The transparent touch panel comprises a base plate having a transparent electro conductive layer, a top plate having a transparent electro concuctive layer, and a plurality of dot spacers located in between the base plate and the top plate.

By a touch pressure given from the outer surface of the top plate, the transparent electro conductive layer placed in the top plate touches to the transparent electro conductive layer placed in the base plate, and the place touched is detected. What this touch panel specifically features is that it comprises dot spacers made of a composite resin containing a flexible modified epoxy resin. Hardness of the dot spacer is preferably not more than 95 according to JIS-K6301-A.

Claims

1. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, wherein said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin including a flexible modified epoxy resin,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height in order to insure a clearance between said base plate and said top plate,

wherein said modified epoxy resin is a resin created through a chemical reaction between a curing agent and at least one modified epoxy compound selected from the group consisting of rubber-modified epoxy compound, polyether-modified epoxy compound, fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound, polythiol-modified epoxy compound, and silicone-resin-modified epoxy compound,

wherein a hardness of said dot spacers is not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A; and

wherein said rubber-modified epoxy compound is modified epoxy compound modified with at least one selected from the group consisting of urethane rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polyether rubber.

2. A transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein said rubber-modified epoxy compound is an epoxy resin compound modified with a nitrile rubber.

3. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, where said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin created through reaction of a flexible modified epoxy compound, an ordinary epoxy compound and a curing agent,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height in order to insure a clearance between said base plate and said top plate,

wherein said flexible modified epoxy compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of rubber-modified epoxy compound, polyether-modified epoxy compound, fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound, polythiol-modified epoxy compound, and silicone-resin-modified epoxy compound,

wherein said rubber-modified epoxy compound is modified epoxy compound modified with at least one selected from the group consisting of urethane rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polyether rubber, and

wherein a hardness of said dot spacers is not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A.

4. A transparent touch panel according to claim 3, wherein said ordinary epoxy compound is at least one selected from the group consisting a bisphenol type epoxy compound, a novolak type epoxy compound, a cyclo-aliphatic epoxy compound, a naphthalene type epoxy compound, a glycidyl ester type epoxy compound and a glycidyl amine type epoxy compound.

5. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, wherein said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin including a modified epoxy resin and an auxiliary additive, having a hardness of not more than 95 according to JIS-K6301-A,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height in order to insure a clearance between said base plate and said top plate,

wherein said modified epoxy resin is a resin created through a chemical reaction between a curing agent and at least one modified epoxy compound selected from the group consisting of rubber-modified epoxy compound, polyether-modified epoxy compound fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound polythiol-modified epoxy compound, and silicone-resin-modified epoxy compound, and

wherein said rubber-modified epoxy compound is modified epoxy compound modified with at least one selected from the group consisting of urethane rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polyether rubber.

6. A transparent touch panel according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary additive is at least one selected from the group consisting of a organic polymer compound, a filler, a plasticizer and a coupling agent.

7. A transparent touch panel according to claim 6, wherein said filler is at least one powder selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, silica, talc and calcium carbonate.

8. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, wherein said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers are made of a composite resin created through reaction of a flexible modified epoxy compound, an ordinary epoxy compound, a curing agent and an auxiliary additive, said dot spacers having a hardness of not more than 95 according to JIS-K6301-A,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height in order to insure a clearance between said base plate and said top plate, and

wherein said flexible modified epoxy compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of rubber-modified epoxy compound, polyether-modified epoxy compound, fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound, polythiol-modified epoxy compound, and silicone-resin-modified epoxy compound, and

wherein said rubber-modified epoxy compound is modified epoxy compound modified with at least one selected from the group consisting of urethane rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polyether rubber.

9. A transparent touch panel according to claim 8, wherein said ordinary epoxy compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of a bisphenol type epoxy compound, a novolak type epoxy compound, a cyclo-aliphatic epoxy compound, a naphthalen type epoxy compound, a glycidyl ester type epoxy compound and a glycidyl amine type epoxy compound.

10. A transparent touch panel according to claim 9, wherein said auxiliary additive is at least one selected from the group consisting of a organic polymer compound, a filler, a plasticizer and a coupling agent.

11. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, wherein said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin produced through a reaction of a flexible modified epoxy compound, a bisphenol-A type epoxy compound and a curing agent,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height,

wherein a hardness of said dot spacers is not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A,

wherein said flexible modified epoxy compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of rubber-modified epoxy compound, polyether-modified epoxy compound, fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound, polythiol-modified epoxy compound, and silicone-resin-modified epoxy compound, and

wherein said rubber-modified epoxy compound is modified epoxy compound modified with at least one selected from the group consisting of urethane rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polyether rubber.

12. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, where said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin produced through a reaction of a fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound, a bisphenol-A type epoxy compound, a curing agent and an organic polymer compound,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height, and

wherein a hardness of said dot spacers is not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A.

13. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, wherein said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin produced through reaction of a polyether-modified epoxy compound, a bisphenol-A type epoxy compound, a curing agent and a filler,

wherein a pressure given from the other surface of said top plate makes said second transparent electro conductive layer placed on said top plate touch said first transparent electro conductive layer placed on said base plate to indicate a place where said pressure is given,

wherein each of said plurality of dot spacers is installed at a certain interval and with a predetermined height, and

wherein a hardness of said dot spacers is not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A.

14. A method for forming a transparent touch panel, comprising:

(a) forming a transparent base plate;

(b) placing a transparent electro conductive layer on a surface of said transparent base plate;

(c) forming a transparent top plate;

(d) placing a second transparent electro-conductive layer on a surface of said transparent top plate;

(e) positioning said top plate a specified distance above said base plate with said first and second transparent electro-conductive layers facing each other;

(f) installing a plurality of dot spacers at a certain interval and with a predetermined height in order to insure a clearance between said base plate and said top plate from a composite resin including a flexible modified epoxy resin, a hardness of said dot spacers being not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A,

(g) placing said dot spacers between said first and said second transparent electro-conductive layers; and

(h) gluing said base plate and top plates together,

said dot spacers made of a composite resin, including a flexible modified epoxy resin, said modified epoxy resin is a resin produced through a chemical reaction between a curing agent and at least one modified epoxy compound selected from the group consisting of rubber-modified epoxy compound, polyether-modified epoxy compound, fatty-acid-modified epoxy compound, polythiol-modified epoxy compound and silicone-resin-modified epoxy compound, and said rubber-modified epoxy compound is modified epoxy compound modified with at least one selected from the group consisting of urethane rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polyether rubber.

15. A transparent touch panel comprising:

(a) a base plate having a first transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof;

(b) a top plate having a second transparent electro conductive layer on one of the surfaces thereof, wherein said base plate and said top plate are combined so that said first transparent electro conductive layer and said second transparent electro conductive layer face each other securing a certain specified clearance; and

(c) a plurality of dot spacers located in between said base plate and said top plate, said dot spacers made of a composite resin including a flexible modified epoxy resin,

wherein the dot spacers are fixed on the base plate at 8 mm pitch and 30 um height through a curing process, and

wherein the hardness of said dot spacers is not more than 95 in accordance with the test method specified in JIS-K6301-A.