Resistive film type touch panel having electrode grouping and routing wires arranged to miniaturize the touch panel, and a method of detecting a pressing position on the touch panel

• US 9,921,705 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissha Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissha Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shibata, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US15/121,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 178 1803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A resistive film type touch panel includes a transparent insulating film, a plurality of upper electrodes, and a plurality of routing wires. The plurality of upper electrodes are formed on the lower surface of the transparent insulating film and are arranged in a direction, and includes a group of the electrodes electrically connected with each other. The electrical combinations of the detection electrodes adjacent with each other in the direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another. The plurality of routing wires extend from the plural upper electrodes, and are formed in a frame area outside of the plurality of upper electrodes on the lower surface. Thus, the number of the electrodes is increased in order to improve the resolution, while also miniaturizing the touch panel.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a base member;

a plurality of detection electrodes, being formed on a first surface of the base member and arranged one by one in a first direction, the detection electrodes including a group of detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of detection electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another;

a plurality of routing wires extending from the plurality of detection electrodes, the routing wires being formed in an area outside of the plurality of detection electrodes on the first surface of the base member,

the number of the detection electrodes electrically connected with each other is two, and electrical combinations of the two detection electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction are different from one another,

the plurality of the detection electrodes includes a first pair of electrodes consisting of a first electrode and a second electrode connected with each other, and a second pair of electrodes consisting of a third electrode and a fourth electrode connected with each other,

the first pairs and the second pairs are disposed alternately in the first direction,

the plurality of routing wires includes a first routing wire extending from the first pair and a second routing wire extending from the second pair,

the third electrode is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode in the first direction closer to the second electrode, and a gap is defined between the first electrode and the third electrode in the first direction for arranging a fourth electrode of another second pair, and

the second electrode is arranged between the third electrode and the fourth electrode in the first direction closer to the third electrode, and a gap is defined between the second electrode and the fourth electrode in the first direction for arranging a first electrode of another first pair; and

a controller configured to determine a pressing down position in the first direction if the pressing down position corresponds to two electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction, and configured not to determine the pressing down position in the first direction if the pressing down position corresponds to one electrode.

2. The touch panel according to according claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of second detection electrodes arranged side by side in a second direction crossing the first direction and arranged to overlap the plurality of the detection electrodes, the plurality of the second detection electrodes including a group of the second detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of the second detection electrodes adjacent to one another in the second direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another, and

a plurality of second routing wires extending from the plurality of the second detection electrodes, the second routing wires being formed in an area outside of the second detection electrodes.

3. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first resistance provided between the detection electrodes electrically connected with each other;

a reference resistance connected to the first resistance in series;

a plurality of second detection electrodes opposing to the plurality of detection electrodes with a gap therebetween, and can make contact with the plurality of detection electrodes;

a power source configured to apply voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes; and

a voltage detector configured to measure voltage drop at the reference resistance.

4. The touch panel according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of the second detection electrodes is composed of a material having a high resistance value compared to the plurality of detection electrodes.

5. A method of detecting a pressing position of the touch panel, for detecting a pressing position of the touch panel according to claim 3, the method comprising:

applying voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes by the power source;

measuring voltage drop at the reference resistance by the voltage detector; and

determining, based on the measured value of voltage drop, position of the plurality of the detection electrodes connected with each other that is pressed.

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

a fifth electrode disposed between the third electrode and a fourth electrode of another second pair; and

a sixth electrode disposed between the second electrode and a first electrode of another first pair, wherein

the plurality of routing wires includes a third routing wire extending from the fifth electrode and a fourth routing wire extending from the sixth electrode.

7. The touch panel according to according claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of second detection electrodes arranged side by side in a second direction crossing the first direction and arranged to overlap the plurality of the detection electrodes, the plurality of the second detection electrodes including a group of the second detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of the second detection electrodes adjacent to one another in the second direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another, and

a plurality of seventh routing wires extending from the plurality of the second detection electrodes, the second routing wires being formed in an area outside of the second detection electrodes.

8. The touch panel according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first resistance provided between the detection electrodes electrically connected with each other;

a reference resistance connected to the first resistance in series;

a plurality of second detection electrodes opposing to the plurality of detection electrodes with a gap therebetween, and can make contact with the plurality of detection electrodes;

a power source configured to apply voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes; and

a voltage detector configured to measure voltage drop at the reference resistance.

9. The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of the second detection electrodes is composed of a material having a high resistance value compared to the plurality of detection electrodes.

10. A method of detecting a pressing position of the touch panel, for detecting a pressing position of the touch panel according to claim 8, the method comprising:

applying voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes by the power source;

measuring voltage drop at the reference resistance by the voltage detector; and

determining, based on the measured value of voltage drop, position of the plurality of the detection electrodes connected with each other that is pressed.

11. A touch panel comprising:

a base member;

a plurality of detection electrodes, being formed on a first surface of the base member and arranged one by one in a first direction, the detection electrodes including a group of detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of detection electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another;

a plurality of routing wires extending from the plurality of detection electrodes, the routing wires being formed in an area outside of the plurality of detection electrodes on the first surface of the base member,

the number of the detection electrodes electrically connected with one another is three, and electrical combinations of the three detection electrodes adjacent to one another in the first direction are different from one another,

the plurality of detection electrodes includes a first group of electrodes consisting of a first detection electrode, a second detection electrode, and a third detection electrode connected with one another and arranged in this order in the first direction, and a second group of electrodes consisting of a fourth detection electrode, a fifth detection electrode, and a sixth detection electrode connected to one another and arranged in this order in the first direction,

the first groups and the second groups are disposed alternately in the first direction,

the plurality of routing wires includes a fifth routing wire extending from the first group and a sixth routing wire extending from the second group,

the fourth detection electrode is arranged between the second detection electrode and the third detection electrode in the first direction,

the third detection electrode is arranged between the fourth detection electrode and the fifth detection electrode in the first direction,

a gap is defined between the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode in the first direction for arranging a sixth detection electrode of another second group, and

a gap is defined between the fifth detection electrode and the sixth detection electrode in the first direction for arranging a first detection electrode of another first group; and

a controller configured to determine a pressing down position in the first direction if the pressing down position corresponds to three electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction, and configured not to determine the pressing down position in the first direction if the pressing down position corresponds to one or two electrodes.

12. The touch panel according to according claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of second detection electrodes arranged side by side in a second direction crossing the first direction and arranged to overlap the plurality of the detection electrodes, the plurality of the second detection electrodes including a group of the second detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of the second detection electrodes adjacent to one another in the second direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another, and

a plurality of seventh routing wires extending from the plurality of the second detection electrodes, the second routing wires being formed in an area outside of the second detection electrodes.

13. The touch panel according to claim 11, further comprising:

a first resistance provided between the detection electrodes electrically connected with each other;

a reference resistance connected to the first resistance in series;

a plurality of second detection electrodes opposing to the plurality of detection electrodes with a gap therebetween, and can make contact with the plurality of detection electrodes;

a power source configured to apply voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes; and

a voltage detector configured to measure voltage drop at the reference resistance.

14. The touch panel according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of the second detection electrodes is composed of a material having a high resistance value compared to the plurality of detection electrodes.

15. A method of detecting a pressing position of the touch panel, for detecting a pressing position of the touch panel according to claim 13, the method comprising:

applying voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes by the power source;

measuring voltage drop at the reference resistance by the voltage detector; and

determining, based on the measured value of voltage drop, position of the plurality of the detection electrodes connected with each other that is pressed.

16. A touch panel comprising:

a base member;

a plurality of detection electrodes, being formed on a first surface of the base member and arranged one by one in a first direction, the detection electrodes including a group of detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of detection electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another;

a plurality of routing wires extending from the plurality of detection electrodes, the routing wires being formed in an area outside of the plurality of detection electrodes on the first surface of the base member,

the number of the detection electrodes electrically connected with one another is three, and electrical combinations of the three detection electrodes adjacent to one another in the first direction are different from one another,

the plurality of detection electrodes includes plural groups each consisting of a first-side electrode, an intermediate electrode, and a second-side electrode connected to one another and arranged in this order in the first direction,

the plurality of groups are disposed alternately in the first direction,

each of the plurality of routing wires extends from each of the plurality of groups,

the first-side electrode and the intermediate electrode include first ends in a second direction crossing the first direction, the first ends are being connected with each other,

the intermediate electrode and the second-side electrode include second ends opposite to the first ends in the second direction, the second ends being connected with each other,

a gap is defined between the first-side electrode and the intermediate electrode for arranging a second-side electrode of another group, and

a gap is defined between the intermediate electrode and the second-side electrode for arranging a first-side electrode of another group; and

a controller configured to determine a pressing down position in the first direction if the pressing down position corresponds to three electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction, and configured not to determine the pressing down position in the first direction if the pressing down position corresponds to one or two electrodes.

17. The touch panel according to claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of second detection electrodes arranged side by side in a second direction crossing the first direction and arranged to overlap the plurality of the detection electrodes, the plurality of the second detection electrodes including a group of the second detection electrodes electrically connected with each other, and electrical combinations of the second detection electrodes adjacent to one another in the second direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another; and

a plurality of seventh routing wires extending from the plurality of the second detection electrodes, the second routing wires being formed in an area outside of the second detection electrodes.

18. The touch panel according to claim 16, further comprising:

a first resistance provided between the detection electrodes electrically connected with each other;

a reference resistance connected to the first resistance in series;

a plurality of second detection electrodes opposing to the plurality of detection electrodes with a gap therebetween, and can make contact with the plurality of detection electrodes;

a power source configured to apply voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes; and

a voltage detector configured to measure voltage drop at the reference resistance.

19. The touch panel according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of the second detection electrodes is composed of a material having a high resistance value compared to the plurality of detection electrodes.

20. A method of detecting a pressing position of the touch panel, for detecting a pressing position of the touch panel according to claim 18, the method comprising:

applying voltage to at least one of the second detection electrodes by the power source;

measuring voltage drop at the reference resistance by the voltage detector; and

determining, based on the measured value of voltage drop, position of the plurality of the detection electrodes connected with each other that is pressed.