Wiring board, input device using the same wiring board and method of manufacturing the same input device

• US 7,455,529 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Chikahisa, Yousuke, Tanabe, Koji, Fujii, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/378,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 439/67, 439/77, 361/749, 174/254, 349/150, 345/173
• US Class Current: 439/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• 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: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/052 Branched
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/055 Folded back on itself
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09081 Tongue or tail integrated in planar structure, e.g. obtained by cutting from the planar structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4685 Manufacturing of cross-over conductors

Abstract

A wiring board used for various electronic apparatuses, an input device such as an optically transparent touch panel using the wiring board, and a method of manufacturing the input device. A plurality of electrodes provided at the side of one end of one principal surface of wiring board, wiring patterns coupled to electrodes, and a connector disposed region provided at the side of the other end of wiring board are provided. In this connector disposed region, connectors are disposed. In substantially the central portion of the connector disposed region, a concave portion is provided and in the vicinity of connectors, a bending portion is disposed. Furthermore, a cut portion is disposed between or in the vicinity of the plurality of connectors. The wiring board may thereby be manufactured with all conductive portions on one side and then, by bending. some connectors maybe be positioned on the other side.

Claims

1. A wiring board comprising:

first and second electrodes provided on one principal surface of the wiring board;

first and second connection patterns coupled respectively to the first and second electrodes at one end;

first and second connectors coupled to an other end of the first and second connection patterns;

a connector disposed region in which the first and second connectors are disposed;

a concave portion provided in the connector disposed region and initially having no member of the wiring board therein,

a portion of the wiring board being bent so as to form a bending portion between the connector disposed region and at least one electrode of the first and second electrodes.

2. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein a cut portion is disposed between the first connector and the second connector.

3. The wiring board of claim 2, wherein the cut portion communicates to at least a part of the bending portion.

4. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein the cut portion communicates to at least a part of the bending portion.

5. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein the bending portion is disposed in parallel to or perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the wiring board.

6. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein the concave portion is disposed in substantially a central portion of the connector disposed region.

7. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein the concave portion is disposed between at least one of the connectors and at least one of other connectors.

8. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein when any one of the first connector and the second connector is bent along the bending portion, the bent connector is contained in the concave portion.

9. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein a part of the bending portion communicates to an indentation provided on a part of the wiring board.

10. The wiring board of claim 1, wherein when any one of the first connector and the second connector is bent along the bending portion, a line linking between the first and second connectors is disposed on the same line that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the wiring board.

11. An input device comprising:

a wiring board including;

first and second electrodes provided on one principal surface of the wiring board;

first and second connection patterns coupled respectively to the first and second electrodes at one end;

first and second connectors coupled to an other end of the first and second connection patterns;

a connector disposed region in which the first and second connectors are disposed;

a concave portion provided in the connector disposed region and initially having no member of the wiring board therein, a portion of the wiring board being bent so as to form a bending portion between the connector disposed region and at least one electrode of the first and second electrodes;

an upper substrate including an upper conductive layer provided on an entire surface or a part of one principal surface and an upper electrode coupled to the upper conductive layer; and

a lower substrate including a lower conductive layer, provided on an entire surface or a part of one principal surface, facing the upper conductive layer with predetermined space between the upper and lower conductive layers and a lower electrode coupled to this lower conductive layer;

wherein the first or second connector of the wiring board is coupled to any one of the upper electrode of the upper substrate and the lower electrode of the lower substrate.

12. A method of manufacturing the input device according to claim 11, the method comprising:

coupling the first and second connectors to predetermined portions of the upper electrode and the lower electrode of the upper and lower substrates which are facing each other after the wiring board is bent.