Coordinate input device with flat cable having two divided flat mounting parts composing divided conductor portions

• US 6,304,251 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ito, Masaki, Shoya, Hiroki, Yanagidate, Tadashi, Uehara, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Application Number:
  US09/345,877
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173-179, 178/18.01, 178/18.09, 178/18.03
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A coordinate input device is disclosed wherein first lead-out electrode portions formed on a lower substrate and second lead-out electrode portions formed on a film substrate are connected to conductor portions, respectively, of a flat cable and are thereby drawn out to the exterior. Therefore, unlike the prior art which requires that third lead-out electrode portions formed on a film substrate be connected to second lead-out electrode portions formed on a lower substrate with use of an electrically conductive adhesive, it is not necessary to do so. Thus, the connecting operation is easy and the coordinate input device of the present invention is superior in productivity and less expensive.

Claims

1. A coordinate input device comprising:

a lower substrate having a first transparent resistance film formed on one side thereof;

a pair of first electrode portions formed on said first transparent resistance film, said paired first electrode portions being parallel to each other and forming a first operation area;

a pair of first lead-out electrode portions formed on said first transparent resistance film, said paired first lead-out electrode portions being drawn out respectively from said paired first electrode portions and being adjacent to each other and spaced apart at end portions thereof;

an upper transparent film substrate having a second transparent resistance film formed on a lower side thereof;

a pair of second electrode portions formed on said second transparent resistance film, said paired second electrode portions being parallel to each other and forming a second operation area;

a pair of second lead-out electrode portions formed on said second transparent resistance film, said paired second lead-out portions being drawn out respectively from said paired second electrode portions and being adjacent to each other and spaced apart at end portions thereof;

a flat cable having conductor portions, the conductor portions paired and correspondingly connected with said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired second lead-out electrode portions;

said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired second leadout electrode portions being arranged to be adjacent and spaced apart to each other as viewed from a direction looking through said lower substrate and said upper transparent film substrate when said upper and lower substrate are overlapped;

said paired conductor portions for said pair of first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said pair of second lead-out electrode portions being arranged adjacent to each other and spaced apart at said conductor portions of said flat cable;

wherein said lower substrate and said film substrate are combined together in an opposed state of said first and second transparent resistance films to each other, and end portions of said paired first lead-out electrode portions and end portions of said paired second lead-out electrode portions are connected respectively to said conductor portions of said flat cable while each of the pair of end portions is adjacent to each other;

wherein a mounting portion having a flat surface of said flat cable is provided with a slit in an end portion thereof to constitute first and second divided mounting portions, said paired conductor portions positioned in the first divided mounting portion are connected to said paired first lead-out electrode portions on the lower substrate, while said paired conductor portions positioned in the second divided mounting portion are connected to said paired second lead-out electrode portions on the upper substrate.

2. A coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting portion is made of flexible synthetic resin.

3. A coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said first lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermosetting resin mixed with conductive particles, said paired lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said second lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermosetting resin mixed with conductive particles.

4. A coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said first lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermo-plastic resin mixed with conductive particles, said paired second lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said second lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermoplastic resin mixed with conductive particles.

5. A coordinate input device comprising:

a lower substrate having a first transparent resistance film formed on one side thereof;

a pair of first electrode portions formed on said first transparent resistance film, said paired first electrode portions being parallel to each other and forming a first operation area;

a pair of first lead-out electrode portions formed on said first transparent resistance film, said paired first lead-out electrode portions being drawn out respectively from said paired first electrode portions and being adjacent to each other and spaced apart at end portions thereof;

an upper transparent film substrate having a second transparent resistance film formed on a lower side thereof;

a pair of second electrode portions formed on said second transparent resistance film, said paired second electrode portions being parallel to each other and forming a second operation area;

a pair of second lead-out electrode portions formed on said second transparent resistance film, said paired second lead-out portions being drawn out respectively from said paired second electrode portions and being adjacent to each other and spaced apart at end portions thereof;

a flat cable having conductor portions, the conductor portions paired and correspondingly connected with said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired second lead-out electrode portions;

said paired adjoining first lead-out electrode portions and said paired adjoining second lead-out electrode portions being arranged to be adjacent and spaced apart to each other as viewed from a direction looking through said lower substrate and said upper transparent film substrate when said upper and lower substrate are overlapped;

said paired conductor portions for said pair of first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said pair of second lead-out electrode portions being arranged adjacent to each other and spaced apart at said conductor portions of said flat cable;

wherein said lower substrate and said film substrate are combined together in an opposed state of said first and second transparent resistance films to each other, and end portions of said paired first lead-out electrode portions and end portions of said paired second lead-out electrode portions are connected respectively to said conductor portions of said flat cable while each of the pair of end portions is adjacent to each other;

wherein a mounting portion having a flat surface of said flat cable is provided, said mounting portion having said paired conductor portions for said pair of first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said pair of second lead-out electrode portions is provided with a slit in an end portion thereof to constitute first and second divided mounting portions, one surface of said first divided mounting portion is provided with said paired conductor portions for said paired first lead-out electrode portions, said second divided mounting portion is provided with said paired conductor portions for said paired second lead-out electrode portions at one surface of the same side as that of said first divided mounting portion, an end portion of one of said first and second divided mounting portions is provided with an overhang portion projected from the other ends of said first and second divided mounting portions, said conductor portions of said corresponding divided mounting portion are extended up to the end portion of said overhang portion, said overhang portion being folded in two, said conductor portions arranged at folded back portion are connected to the corresponding side electrode portions of said paired first or second lead-out electrode portions, and the conductor portions arranged at said other end portions of said first and second divided mounting portions are connected to the electrode portions at corresponding side of said paired first or second lead-out electrode portions.

6. A coordinate input device according to claim 5, wherein said mounting portion is made of flexible synthetic resin.

7. A coordinate input device according to claim 5, wherein said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said first lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermosetting resin mixed with conductive particles, said paired second lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said second lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermosetting resin mixed with conductive particles.

8. A coordinate input device according to claim 5, wherein said paired first lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said first lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermoplastic resin mixed with conductive particles, said paired second lead-out electrode portions and said paired conductor portions for said second lead-out electrode portions are electrically connected and coupled through thermo-plastic resin mixed with conductive particles.