Coordinate input device including a substrate having thinner central portion

• US 7,161,639 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• 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: Watanabe, Takeshi, Nishiyama, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, TARIFUR RASHID
• Application Number:
  US10/932,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/179, 345/180, 345/183, 349/12
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device contains a coordinate input device on the front side of a liquid crystal display unit. The coordinate input device is of a resistive contact type and includes a first light-transmitting substrate, and a second light-transmitting substrate having flexibility, which are arranged to face each other with a void space therebetween. A first light-transmitting electrode layer is formed on the inner side of the first light-transmitting substrate. A second light-transmitting electrode layer is formed on the inner side of the second light-transmitting substrate. The first light-transmitting substrate is different in thickness at its central portion and at its peripheral portion.

Claims

1. A coordinate input device comprising:

a first light-transmitting substrate, and a second light-transmitting substrate having flexibility, which are arranged to face each other with a void space therebetween,

a first light-transmitting electrode layer formed on a inner side of the first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting electrode layer formed on an inner side of the second light-transmitting substrate, and

when an external surface of the second light-transmitting substrate is pressed by an indicator, the first light-transmitting electrode layer and the second light-transmitting electrode layer are partially and electrically connected to each other in a pressed portion so as to output coordinate information of the pressed portion,

wherein the external surface of the first light-transmitting substrate is different in thickness at a central portion and at a peripheral portion, and

wherein the thickness of the central portion of the first light-transmitting substrate is smaller than the thickness of the peripheral portion.

2. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-transmitting substrate is plastic.

3. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-transmitting substrate is formed so that the thickness thereof gradually decreases from the peripheral portion to the central portion, and the external surface of the first light-transmitting substrate is formed into a concave curved surface.

4. The coordinate input device according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the central portion of the first light-transmitting substrate is about 0.5 times to about 0.99 times the thickness of the peripheral portion of the first light-transmitting substrate.

5. The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein a rib is formed at the peripheral portion of the first light-transmitting substrate.

6. The coordinate input device according to claim 5, wherein the first light-transmitting substrate and the rib are made of plastic, and the first light-transmitting substrate and the rib are integrally formed with each other.

7. A liquid crystal display device comprising the coordinate input device according to claim 5 on the front side of a liquid crystal display unit,

wherein the rib integrally formed with the first light-transmitting substrate is arranged so as to be brought into direct contact with the liquid crystal display unit.

8. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 in a display unit.

9. A liquid crystal display device comprising the coordinate input device according to claim 1 on the front side of a liquid crystal display unit.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal display device according to claim 9 in a display unit.