Transparent touch panel and electronic apparatus

• US 8,363,016 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gunze Limited
• Original Assignee: Gunze Limited
• Inventors: Murakami, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): JOSEPH, DENNIS P
• Application Number:
  US10/568,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,086 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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

Abstract

A transparent touch panel comprises a transparent first substrate (110) and a second substrate (130) that each has a transparent electro-conductive layer (111, 131) on one surface and that are arranged with a predetermined interval between each other such that the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) are facing each other. Each of the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) has a pair of electrodes (112, 112) and (132, 132) disposed on each end. Lead-out terminals (114, 114) and (134, 134) are connected to each electrode (112, 132) through surrounding circuits (113, 133) formed on the peripheral edges of the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130). Lead-out terminals (114, 134) are arranged on each of the opposing surfaces of the transparent first substrate (110) and of the transparent second substrate (130), and a plurality of holding members (80, 80), (81, 81) for holding the edges of the transparent first substrate (110) is provided. Each holding member (80, 81) is formed of an electro-conductive material. That portion of the holding member that is inserted between the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130) is disposed so as to be in contact with each lead-out terminal (114, 134). The transparent touch panel can be reduced in size and cost.

Claims

1. A transparent touch panel comprising;

a transparent first substrate and a second substrate each including a transparent electro-conductive layer on one surface thereof, the transparent first substrate and the second substrate being arranged with a predetermined interval between each other in such a manner that the transparent electro-conductive layers are facing each other, each transparent electro-conductive layer including a respective pair of electrodes disposed on each end thereof;

a plurality of lead-out terminals being connected to the electrodes through surrounding circuits extending to the peripheral edges of the first substrate and the second substrate, the lead-out terminals each being arranged on the opposing surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate; and

a plurality of holding members that pinch a peripheral edge of only the transparent first substrate so as to sandwich a periphery of the transparent first substrate, the holding members being formed of an electro-conductive material and arranged so that each holding member includes a portion inserted between the transparent first substrate and the second substrate and in contact with at least one respective lead-out terminal of either the first or second substrate;

each of the transparent first substrate and the second substrate including at least one of the lead-out terminals thereof being in contact with at least one of the holding members;

wherein

at least one of the holding members is arranged such that the portion inserted between the first substrate and the second substrate is in contact with the lead-out terminal of the first substrate;

at least another one of the holding members is arranged such that the portion inserted between the first substrate and the second substrate is in contact with the lead-out terminal of the second substrate, and

wherein the thickness of the portions of the holding members inserted between the transparent first substrate and the second substrate is 0.5 to 2 times the space between the transparent first substrate and the second substrate.

2. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, comprising notched portions formed in a portion of the second substrate which is in contact with the holding members.

3. The transparent touch panel according to claim 2, wherein a warp of the notched portions generates pressing force between the movable substrate and the holding members.

4. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the transparent first substrate has a plurality of groove portions in the surface opposite to the surface on which the transparent electro-conductive layer is formed, and the holding members are held in groove portions.

5. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the transparent first substrate is a fixed substrate.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising the transparent touch panel of claim 1 and a display apparatus including electrically-conductive connecting terminals, the transparent touch panel being disposed on a display surface side of the display apparatus, and the holding members being in direct contact with the connecting terminals, whereby the apparatus and the lead-out terminals are electrically coupled.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the holding members are U-shaped, an interior of the U overlaps the at least one peripheral edge of the transparent first substrate, and the connecting terminals are in direct contact with a leg of the U-shape.

8. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the holding members are U-shaped and an interior of the U overlaps the at least one peripheral edge of the transparent first substrate.

9. The transparent touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of the transparent first substrate is sandwiched between an upper-side surface and a lower-side surface of each holding member.