Touch panel and method of detecting press operation position thereon

• US 8,508,492 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Koji, Watanabe, Hirotoshi, Hiraoka, Hidetoshi, Matsumoto, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISHLER, ROBIN J
• Application Number:
  US12/768,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

In a touch panel, one of conductive layers on a bottom of an upper substrate and on a top of a lower substrate is formed of belt-shaped conductive layers. The other is a single conductive layer facing the belt-shaped conductive layers. The single conductive layer is provided with a pair of electrodes in positions corresponding to both ends in a direction where the belt-shaped conductive layers extend. When the upper substrate is pressed while a voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes, the top and lower conductive layers contact with each other. Then, a voltage value corresponding to the pressed position in the direction where the belt-shaped conductive layers extend is generated from any of the belt-shaped conductive layers. From the voltage value and the position of the belt-shaped conductive layer from which the voltage value is generated, a pressed position on the upper substrate can be detected.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a press operation position on an upper substrate of a touch panel,

the touch panel comprising:

the light-transparent upper substrate;

a plurality of belt-shaped upper conductive layers formed on a bottom surface of the upper substrate;

an upper resistive layer connecting the upper conductive layers at end portions of the upper conductive layers;

first and second upper electrodes respectively provided on ends of the upper resistive layer;

a light-transparent lower substrate;

a plurality of belt-shaped lower conductive layers formed on a top surface of the lower substrate, facing the upper conductive layers with a predetermined gap therebetween, and extending in a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the upper conductive layers extend,

a lower resistive layer connecting the lower conductive layers at end portions of the lower conductive layers;

first and second lower electrodes respectively provided on ends of the lower resistive layer;

a frame-shaped spacer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, and

dot spacers disposed at least one of between the upper conductive layers and between the lower conductive layers,

the method comprising;

(A) applying a voltage to the ends of the lower resistive layer and measuring a voltage value at the first upper electrode and a voltage value at the second upper electrode, in a state where the upper conductive layers and the lower conductive layers are contacted with each other at a first press operation position and a second press operation position by pressing the first press operation position and the second press operation position of the upper substrate;

(B) detecting a position of the first press operation position in a direction in which the lower conductive layers are arranged, based on the voltage value at the first upper electrode measured in (A), and

detecting a position of the second press operation position in a direction in which the lower conductive layers are arranged, based on the voltage value at the second upper electrode measured in (A);

(C) applying a voltage to the ends of the upper resistive layer and measuring a voltage value at the first lower electrode and a voltage value at the second lower electrode, in a state where the upper conductive layers and the lower conductive layers are contacted with each other at the first press operation position and the second press operation position by pressing the first press operation position and the second press operation position of the upper substrate; and

(D) detecting a position of the first press operation position in a direction in which the upper conductive layers are arranged, based on the voltage value at the first lower electrode measured in (C), and

detecting a position of the second press operation position in a direction in which the upper conductive layers are arranged, based on the voltage value at the second lower electrode measured in (C).