Touch type liquid-crystal display device and input detecting method

• US 6,982,432 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Sugawara, Hideo, Umemoto, Seiji, Noguchi, Tomonori, Kameyama, Tadayuki, Andou, Hidehiko, Shimodaira, Kiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erdem, Fazli
• Application Number:
  US09/835,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 349/160, 349/23, 349/162, 349/96, 349/112, 349/158, 349/113, 349/110, 349/111, 349/73, 349/74, 345/173, 345/174, 345/104, 257/12, 257/112, 257/117, 257/118, 257/153, 257/187
• US Class Current: 257/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels

Abstract

A touch type liquid-crystal display device has a liquid-crystal display panel having flexibility, a touch panel provided to adhere closely to a back side, opposite to a visual side, of the liquid-crystal display panel, and electrodes disposed to be opposite to each other through a gap. The electrodes are capable of coming into partial contact with each other by a pressing force to thereby detect an input position.

Claims

1. A touch type liquid-crystal display device comprising:

a liquid-crystal display panel having flexibility; and

a touch panel disposed on a back side, opposite to a visual side, of said liquid-crystal display panel,

wherein said touch panel comprises at least a first pair of electrodes disposed to be opposite to each and separated by a gap, said first pair of electrodes being adapted for coming into partial contact with each other by a pressing force to thereby detect an input position, and

wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a second pair of electrodes and a colored substrate provided on a touch panel side of said second pair of electrodes, and said first pair of electrodes are disposed on a back side, opposite to a visual side, of said colored substrate.

2. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a light absorbing layer or a light reflection layer.

3. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein said light reflection layer is located at a visual side or a back side of said colored substrate of said liquid-crystal display panel.

4. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said touch panel further comprises a film interposed between one of said first pair of electrodes and said liquid-crystal display panel.

5. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein said film has said light absorbing layer on said other surface on which no electrode is provided or said film has said light reflection layer in an inner side of said one of said first pair of electrodes provided on an electrode-side surface of said film.

6. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein said light reflection layer serves also as one of said second pair of electrodes of said liquid-crystal display panel.

7. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein said light reflection layer is made of a film for forming a light reflection means.

8. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 2, further comprising an illuminator disposed on a back side, opposite to a visual side, of said touch panel, wherein said light reflection layer is of a semi-transmission type.

9. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a substrate made of a resin.

10. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a macromolecular dispersion type liquid-crystal display panel.

11. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal.

12. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises at least one substrate having a protrusion.

13. A touch type liquid-crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a substrate which serves also as a substrate for supporting one of said first pair of electrodes in said touch panel.

14. An input detecting method comprising steps of:

disposing a touch panel comprising at least a first pair of electrodes opposite to each other through a gap on a back side, opposite to a visual side, of a liquid-crystal display panel, wherein said liquid-crystal display panel comprises a second pair of electrodes and a colored substrate provided on a touch panel side of said second pair of electrodes, and said first pair of electrodes are disposed on a back side, opposite to a visual side, of said colored substrate; and

partially bending said liquid-crystal display panel by a pressing force to bring said first pair of electrodes of said touch panel into partial contact with each other to thereby detect a position of said pressing force.