Touch input device and electronic apparatus

• US 9,207,828 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Kazuhiro, Takahata, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Sitta, Grant
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOGALE, AMEN W
• Application Number:
  US13/060,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 428/1.5, 428/1.6, 428/1.61, 428/1.62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A touch input device of a resistance film system having a structure in which a plastic supporting plate (10), made from a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin, is bonded to an entire lower surface of a lower electrode film (7). An adhesive material (10g) is interposed between the lower electrode film and the plastic supporting plate. Also, a water-vapor barrier film (11), which is superior in moisture dimensional stability, is bonded with an adhesive material (11g) to the entire surface of the plastic supporting plate on the side opposite to the surface that is bonded to the lower electrode film.

Claims

1. A touch input device of a resistance film system, the touch input device comprising:

an upper electrode film provided with an upper electrode made of a transparent conductive film formed on a lower surface of a transparent insulating film;

a lower electrode film provided with a lower electrode made of a transparent conductive film formed on an upper surface of a transparent insulating film, wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode are opposed to each other with insulating spacers interposed therebetween;

a plastic supporting plate made from a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin, the plastic supporting plate being bonded to an entire lower surface of the lower electrode film, with an adhesive material being interposed therebetween; and

a water-vapor barrier film, made of a cyclo-olefin polymer film or a cyclo-olefin copolymer film, for improving a moisture-resistant property of the plastic supporting plate, the water-vapor barrier film being positioned on the lower surface of the plastic supporting plate,

wherein the water-vapor barrier film further comprises a protective layer or a slit formed on an area other than a visible area of the water-vapor barrier film, and wherein cracking of the water-vapor barrier film is reduced or prevented.

2. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the water-vapor barrier film has properties of a water-absorbing rate of from larger than 0% to not larger than 0.1% and a moisture expansion coefficient of 4.0×

10<sup>−

6</sup> cm/cm/% RH or less.

3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent insulating film forming the lower electrode film is made from a same material as that of the plastic supporting plate, and the water-vapor barrier film has properties of a water-absorbing rate of from larger than 0% to 0.1% or less and a moisture expansion coefficient of 4.0×

10<sup>−

6</sup> cm/cm/% RH or less.

4. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic supporting plate has a thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm and the water-vapor barrier film has a thickness of 50 to 200 μ

m.

5. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein a design film having a transparent window portion is placed on the entire upper surface of the upper electrode film with an adhesive material being interposed therebetween.

6. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protective layer for a water-vapor barrier film placed on one of surfaces of the water-vapor barrier film, that is, on a surface on an opposite side to an opposed surface to the plastic supporting plate.

7. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protective layer for a water-vapor barrier film placed between the plastic supporting plate and the water-vapor barrier film.

8. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein protective layers for a water-vapor barrier film are respectively placed on two surfaces of the water-vapor barrier film.

9. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the water-vapor barrier film is a rectangular film, and has a slit being formed on an area other than a visible area of the water-vapor barrier film, along each of longer sides opposed to each other.

10. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the water-vapor barrier film is a rectangular film, and has a slit that has a rectangular frame shape being placed on an area other than a visible area of the water-vapor barrier film.

11. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the water-vapor barrier film is a rectangular film, and the water-vapor barrier film is placed in an area that is larger than a visible area of the touch input device, and also smaller than an opposed surface of the plastic supporting plate to the water-vapor barrier film.

12. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a casing provided with a concave section for use in fitting a touch input device thereto;

a display device disposed on a bottom surface of the concave section of the casing; and

the touch input device disclosed in claim 1 that is fitted to the concave section of the casing so as to cover the display device.

13. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a casing having a concave section for use in fitting a touch input device thereto, provided with an opening formed on a bottom surface thereof;

a display device that is disposed on a back side of the concave section so as to allow a display screen to be exposed to the opening of the bottom surface of the concave section of the casing; and

the touch input device disclosed in claim 1 that is fitted to the concave section of the casing so as to cover the display screen of the display device.

14. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the water-vapor barrier film is disposed so as to be parallel to upper and lower surfaces of the touch panel device.