Flexible display panel with touch sensor function

• US 9,030,427 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• 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: Yasumatsu, Takuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Okebato, Sahlu
• Application Number:
  US13/511,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13398 Spacer materials; Spacer properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens

Abstract

Provided is a display panel that has a touch sensor function, that is thin, and that has high flexibility. A plurality of sub-pixel electrodes (46) arranged in matrix and a counter electrode (35) are opposed to each other, and a pair of flexible substrates (21, 31) are opposed to each other, with the sub-pixel electrodes (46) and the counter electrode (35) being interposed therebetween. A desired display is carried out by controlling respective potentials of the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes with respect to the counter electrode. A pressure-sensitive conductive resin (48) whose electric resistance varies with a compressive force applied thereto is provided between the pair of flexible substrates. A change in a distance between the pair of flexible substrates that occurs according to a pressure applied to one of the pair of flexible substrates is detected based on a value of an electric current flowing through the pressure-sensitive conductive resin.

Claims

1. A flexible display panel with a touch sensor function, comprising a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes arranged in matrix, a counter electrode opposed to the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes, and a pair of flexible substrates opposed to each other with the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes and the counter electrode being interposed therebetween, wherein the display panel performs desired display by controlling respective potentials of the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes with respect to the counter electrode, wherein

a pressure-sensitive conductive resin whose electric resistance varies with a compressive force applied thereto is provided between the pair of flexible substrates,

a change in a distance between the pair of flexible substrates that occurs according to a pressure applied to one of the pair of flexible substrates is detected based on a value of an electric current flowing through the pressure-sensitive conductive resin,

the pressure-sensitive conductive resin is provided in a matrix form, and

the pressure-sensitive conductive resin keeps the distance between the pair of flexible substrates at a predetermined value.

2. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive resin bonds the pair of flexible substrates.

3. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is a reflection-type liquid crystal display panel.

4. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is a transmission-type liquid crystal display panel.

5. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 4, wherein one of the pair of flexible substrates is further provided with a lighting device having flexibility, the lighting device being provided on a side opposite to the other flexible substrate side.

6. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein polymer dispersion liquid crystal is provided between the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes and the counter electrode.

7. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is an electrophoretic display panel.

8. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is an organic EL display panel.

9. The flexible display panel with a touch sensor function according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive resin is disposed at a position different from positions of the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes.