Touch panel, electro-optic device, manufacturing method for electro-optic device and electronic device

• US 8,031,274 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Funasaka, Tsukasa, Taguchi, Satoshi, Sakurai, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Caley; Michael H
• Application Number:
  US11/657,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20070171212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 345/177, 178/18.04
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0436 in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate

Abstract

A touch panel includes: a first touch panel substrate having a first surface and having a flexibility; a second touch panel substrate arranged a fixed distance away from the first touch panel substrate via spacers, having a second surface that faces the first surface; a position detecting section formed on the first surface, and detecting a position where the first touch panel substrate is being pressed based on changes in surface acoustic waves generated on the first surface; and a resin film formed on the second surface.

Claims

1. An electro-optic device comprising an electro-optic panel and a touch panel, wherein

the electro-optic panel includes:

a first electro-optic panel substrate;

a second electro-optic panel substrate arranged so as to face to the first electro-optic panel substrate; and

an electro-optic substance sandwiched between the first electro-optic panel substrate and the second electro-optic panel substrate, and

the touch panel includes;

a second touch panel substrate arranged on an opposite surface of the first electro-optic panel substrate with respect to the electro-optic substance, and having a second surface;

a first touch panel substrate arranged a fixed distance away from the second touch panel substrate via spacers, having a first surface that faces the second surface and having a flexibility, and the first touch panel substrate having an input surface;

a position detecting section formed on the first surface and arranged in a corner portion of the first surface, and detecting a position where the first touch panel substrate is being pressed based on changes in surface acoustic waves generated on the first surface;

a resin film formed directly on the second surface of the second touch panel substrate; and

a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the resin film, wherein

a recessed portion is formed on an opposite surface of the first touch panel substrate with respect to the second touch panel substrate, and

a first polarization plate is arranged on the recessed portion, and wherein

the first touch panel substrate is bent in a direction of the second touch panel substrate as a result of the input surface of the first touch panel substrate of the touch panel being pressed, and the bent portion of the first touch panel substrate comes into contact with the resin film provided on the second touch panel substrate.

2. The electro-optic device according to claim 1, further comprising

a second polarization plate arranged on an opposite surface of the second electro-optic panel substrate with respect to the electro-optic substance, wherein

the electro-optic panel is a liquid crystal panel, and the electro-optic substance is a liquid crystal layer.

3. The electro-optic device according to claim 1, wherein

a Young'"'"'s modulus of the resin film is less than a Young'"'"'s modulus of the first touch panel substrate and the first polarization plate.

4. An electronic device comprising the electro-optic device according to claim 1.

5. An electro-optic device comprising an electro-optic panel and a touch panel, wherein

the electro-optic panel includes:

a first electro-optic panel substrate, having a second surface;

a second electro-optic panel substrate arranged so as to face to the first electro-optic panel substrate; and

an electro-optic substance sandwiched between the first electro-optic panel substrate and the second electro-optic panel substrate, and

the touch panel includes;

a touch panel substrate arranged a fixed distance away from the first electro-optic panel substrate via spacers, and having a first surface that faces the second surface and having a flexibility, and the touch panel substrate having an input surface;

a position detecting section formed on the first surface and arranged in a corner portion of the first surface, and detecting a position where the touch panel substrate is being pressed based on changes in surface acoustic waves generated on the first surface;

a resin film formed directly on the second surface of the first electro-optic panel substrate; and

a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the resin film, wherein

a recessed portion is formed on an opposite surface of the touch panel substrate with respect to the first electro-optic panel substrate, and

a first polarization plate is arranged on the recessed portion, and wherein

the touch panel substrate is bent in the direction of the first electro-optic panel substrate as a result of the input surface of the touch panel substrate being pressed, and the bent portion of the touch panel substrate comes into contact with the resin film provided on the first electro-optic panel substrate.

6. The electro-optic device according to claim 5, further comprising

a second polarization plate arranged on an opposite surface of the second electro-optic panel substrate with respect to the electro-optic substance, wherein

the electro-optic panel is a liquid crystal panel, and the electro-optic substance is a liquid crystal layer.

7. The electro-optic device according to claim 5, wherein

a Young'"'"'s modulus of the resin film is less than a Young'"'"'s modulus of the first touch panel substrate and the first polarization plate.

8. An electronic device comprising the electro-optic device according to claim 5.