Area sensor and display device including area sensor

• US 8,350,973 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Shinichi, Hohshi, Norikazu, Wada, Masakazu, Takahama, Kengo, Nakagawa, Toshiaki, Yabuta, Kohji, Hata, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): CALEY, MICHAEL H
• Application Number:
  US12/994,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 345/175
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/148 the light being detected by light detection means within each pixel

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device (100) of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal panel (20) including: an active matrix substrate (21); a counter substrate (22); and a liquid crystal layer (23) provided between the active matrix substrate (21) and the counter substrate (22); and a backlight (10) illuminating the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal display device (100) has an area sensor function for detecting an external input position, and further includes a reflectance changing section (50) that reduces a reflectance of light from the backlight (10) in response to application of pressure on a panel surface (100a). The reflectance changing section (50) is configured so that in a state where no pressure is applied on the panel surface (100a), an air layer (50c) is formed between two elastic films (50a and 50b) whereas in a state where pressure is applied on the panel surface (100a), the two elastic films (50a and 50b) contact each other.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device having an area sensor function for detecting an external input position by detecting an image on a panel surface, the liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel including;

an active matrix substrate;

a counter substrate; and

a liquid crystal layer provided between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate;

a backlight illuminating the liquid crystal panel;

a position detecting section (i) including a plurality of optical sensor elements each detecting an intensity of received light and (ii) detecting the external input position according to detection of the image on the panel surface by use of the plurality of optical sensor elements; and

a reflectance changing section reducing a reflectance of light from the backlight in response to application of pressure on the panel surface,

the reflectance changing section including at least two elastic films, the reflectance changing section being configured so that in a state where no pressure is applied on the panel surface, an air layer is formed between the two elastic films whereas in a case where pressure is applied on the panel surface, the two elastic films contact each other.

2. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the reflectance changing section is provided with a distance retention section on at least one of the two elastic films, the distance retention section being for forming the air layer.

3. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the liquid crystal panel is provided between two polarizing plates provided so as to face each other; and

the reflectance changing section is provided between the liquid crystal panel and a polarizing plate provided closer to an image display surface than the other polarizing plate.

4. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a quarter wave plate provided closer to the image display surface, as compared to the polarizing plate provided closer to the image display surface than the other polarizing plate.

5. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

the quarter wave plate has a slow axis, the slow axis being disposed so as to be inclined at an angle of 45°

with respect to a polarization transmission axis of the polarizing plate provided closer to the image display surface than the other polarizing plate.

6. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the reflectance changing section further includes a support that supports the two elastic films.

7. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the distance retention section is provided plurally and randomly between the two elastic films.

8. An area sensor detecting an external input position by detecting an image on a detection target surface,

the area sensor comprising:

a position detecting section (i) including a plurality of optical sensor elements each detecting an intensity of received light and (ii) detecting the external input position according to detection of the image on the detection target surface by use of the plurality of optical sensor elements;

a light emitting section illuminating the position detecting section from a backside of the position detecting section; and

a reflectance changing section reducing a reflectance of the light from the light emitting section in response to application of pressure on the detection target surface,

the reflectance changing section including at least two elastic films, and the reflectance changing section being configured so that in a state where no pressure is applied on the detection target surface, an air layer is formed between the two elastic films whereas in a case where pressure is applied on the detection target surface, the two elastic films contact each other.

9. The area sensor as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the reflectance changing section is provided with a distance retention section on at least one of the two elastic films, the distance retention section being for forming the air layer.

10. The area sensor as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the reflectance changing section further includes a support that supports the two elastic films.

11. A display device comprising a display panel including the area sensor as set forth in claim 8.