Touch panel with built-in display device

• US 8,531,432 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• 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: Moriwaki, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMPSON, LIXI CHOW
• Application Number:
  US13/145,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A touch panel with a built-in display device has No. 1 sensor lines (120) and No. 2 sensor lines (150), which are both formed by a third conductive film and extend in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. Therefore, the No. 1 sensor lines (120) are configured by single uninterrupted conductors so as to prevent short-circuit where the No. 1 sensor lines (120) cross the No. 2 sensor lines (150). The No. 2 sensor lines (150) are configured by pairs of conductors (151, 152) separated by spaces (SP), so as to sandwich the No. 1 sensor lines (120) therebetween. In addition, pad portions (370) are provided above the spaces (SP), so as to electrically connect the pairs of conductors (151, 152) of the No. 2 sensor lines (150). In this manner, the touch panel with a built-in display device is provided capable of preventing short-circuit of wiring conductors formed in the same layer, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in wiring layout.

Claims

1. A touch panel with a built-in display device having a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate positioned so as to be opposed to each other and identifying a pressed position based on a predetermined voltage provided when a surface of the second insulating substrate is pressed, the panel comprising:

a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of No. 1 sensor lines formed on the first insulating substrate so as to extend in a first direction;

a plurality of data lines and a plurality of No. 2 sensor lines formed on the first insulating substrate so as to extend in a second direction crossing the first direction;

a plurality of display element portions provided in their respective areas where the gate lines cross the data lines;

press electrodes formed on the second insulating substrate for providing the predetermined voltage to the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines; and

a position identification circuit for, when the surface of the second insulating substrate is pressed, identifying the pressed position based on the predetermined voltage provided to each of the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines connected to the display element portion that corresponds to the pressed position, wherein,

the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines are configured by conductors formed in the same layer,

the conductors configuring either one group of the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines are separated by first spaces,

the one group of the sensor lines sandwiches the other group of the sensor lines in the first spaces and includes first connectors above the first spaces for electrically connecting the conductors separated by the first spaces, and

when the surface of the second insulating substrate is pressed, any of the first connectors makes contact with the press electrode to provide the predetermined voltage to each of the conductors separated by the first space.

2. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of No. 1 dummy lines and a plurality of No. 2 dummy lines formed on the first insulating substrate, the No. 1 and No. 2 dummy lines having a reference voltage applied thereto and extending in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, wherein,

the position identification circuit includes a comparison and identification circuit for, when the surface of the second insulating substrate is pressed, comparing the predetermined voltage provided to each of the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines to the reference voltage, thereby identifying the pressed position,

either the No. 1 or No. 2 dummy lines extend in the same direction as at least the other group of the sensor lines and are configured by conductors formed in the same layer as the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines, and

the one group of the sensor lines further sandwiches the dummy lines extending in the same direction as the other group of the sensor lines in the first spaces.

3. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of No. 1 dummy lines and a plurality of No. 2 dummy lines formed on the first insulating substrate, the No. 1 and No. 2 dummy lines having a reference voltage applied thereto and extending in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, wherein,

the position identification circuit includes a comparison and identification circuit for, when the surface of the second insulating substrate is pressed, comparing the predetermined voltage provided to each of the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines to the reference voltage, thereby identifying the pressed position,

either the No. 1 or No. 2 dummy lines extend in the same direction as at least the one group of the sensor lines and are configured by conductors formed in the same layer as the No. 1 and No. 2 sensor lines,

the conductors configuring the dummy lines extending in the same direction as the one group of the sensor lines are separated by second spaces, and

the dummy lines extending in the same direction as the one group of the sensor lines sandwich the other group of the sensor lines in the second spaces and include second connectors above the second spaces for electrically connecting the conductors separated by the second spaces.

4. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 3, wherein the one group of the sensor lines and the dummy lines extending in the same direction as the one group of the sensor lines further sandwich the dummy lines extending in the same direction as the other group of the sensor lines in the first spaces and the second spaces, respectively.

5. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 1, wherein,

the display element portions each include:

a first sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 1 sensor line; and

a second sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 2 sensor line,

the press electrodes are each opposed to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode at a predetermined distance, and make contact with the first and second sensor electrodes to provide the predetermined voltage to both the No. 1 sensor line and the No. 2 sensor line, and

either the first sensor electrode or the second sensor electrode includes the first connector.

6. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 2, wherein,

the display element portions each include:

a first sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 1 sensor line; and

a second sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 2 sensor line,

the press electrodes are each opposed to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode at a predetermined distance, and make contact with the first and second sensor electrodes to provide the predetermined voltage to both the No. 1 sensor line and the No. 2 sensor line, and

either the first sensor electrode or the second sensor electrode includes the first connector.

7. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 3, wherein,

the display element portions each include:

a first sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 1 sensor line; and

a second sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 2 sensor line,

the press electrodes are each opposed to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode at a predetermined distance, and make contact with the first and second sensor electrodes to provide the predetermined voltage to both the No. 1 sensor line and the No. 2 sensor line, and

either the first sensor electrode or the second sensor electrode includes the first connector.

8. The touch panel with a built-in display device according to claim 4, wherein,

the display element portions each include:

a first sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 1 sensor line; and

a second sensor electrode electrically connected to and provided above the No. 2 sensor line,

the press electrodes are each opposed to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode at a predetermined distance, and make contact with the first and second sensor electrodes to provide the predetermined voltage to both the No. 1 sensor line and the No. 2 sensor line, and

either the first sensor electrode or the second sensor electrode includes the first connector.