Touch panel unit

• US 7,911,455 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsuchida, Noriaki, Hamaoka, Koichi, Asakura, Takeshi, Nishikawa, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Duc Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/885,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-181
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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: H01H 2207/008 Adhesive means; Conductive adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/012 via underside of substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/014 composed of different layers; Lubricant in between
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/014 universal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/03 in transparent keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/047 Preformed layer in mould
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/062 Maintenance or repair facilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

There are provided a design sheet attached to the surface of an upper electrode film of a touch panel such that the design sheet is protruded at its periphery from the touch panel and a touch-panel-unit casing which is integrally molded with the design sheet such that the casing is covered at its surface with the design sheet and surrounds the side surfaces of the touch panel.

Claims

1. An integrally-molded touch panel unit comprising:

a touch panel comprising an upper electrode film and a lower electrode film which are placed oppositely with dot spacers interposed therebetween such that electrode surfaces of the upper and lower electrode films are faced inwardly;

a design sheet attached to an entire surface of the upper electrode film such that the design sheet protrudes at its periphery from the touch panel; and

a one-piece molded touch-panel-unit casing surrounding all side surfaces of the touch panel and covering a back surface of the lower electrode film, and being integrally molded with the design sheet such that the casing is covered at a surface thereof with the design sheet.

2. The integrally-molded touch panel unit according to claim 1, wherein the one-piece molded touch-panel-unit casing has a touch panel supporting portion contacting the back surface of the lower electrode film so as to support the touch panel.

3. The integrally-molded touch panel unit according to claim 1, wherein an air hole is provided through the lower electrode film.

4. The integrally-molded touch panel unit according to claim 2, wherein an air hole is provided through the lower electrode film.

5. The integrally-molded touch panel unit according to claim 2, wherein the lower electrode film and the touch panel supporting portion of the one-piece molded touch-panel-unit casing are attached to each other by an adhesive agent.

6. The integrally-molded touch panel unit according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is provided through the lower electrode film and the touch-panel-unit casing, and a conductor for connecting an external substrate to a connection terminal in the touch panel is provided within the through hole.

7. The integrally-molded touch panel unit according to claim 2, wherein a through hole is provided through the lower electrode film and the touch-panel-unit casing, and a conductor for connecting an external substrate to a connection terminal in the touch panel is provided within the through hole.