Touch screen, touch panel, and display device having the same

• US 9,244,575 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trivale Technologies, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Agari, Masafumi, Nakagawa, Naoki, Ono, Takeshi, Mori, Seiichiro, Miyayama, Takashi, Imamura, Takuji, Nakamura, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/633,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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

Abstract

A touch screen includes a base substrate, a bundle of rectangular wirings in a column direction including a plurality of detection column wirings that are electrically connected in common, and a bundle of rectangular wirings in a row direction including a plurality of detection row wirings that are electrically connected in common, the bundle of wirings being formed on the base substrate. Also, a plurality of block areas obtained by dividing an intersection area in which the bundle of wirings in the column direction and the bundle of wirings in the row direction intersect in a plan view are defined, and only the detection column wiring or only the detection row wiring is provided in each of the block areas.

Claims

1. A touch screen comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a bundle of rectangular wirings in a column direction including a plurality of detection column wirings that are electrically connected in common, and a bundle of rectangular wirings in a row direction including a plurality of detection row wirings that are electrically connected in common, said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction being formed on said transparent substrate,

wherein a plurality of block areas each having a rectangular shape and obtained by dividing an intersection area in which said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction intersect in a plan view are defined,

only said detection column wirings including a plurality of basic wiring patterns repeatedly arranged in the row direction and the column direction or only said detection row wirings including a plurality of basic wiring patterns repeatedly arranged in the row direction and the column direction is provided in each block area, except for corners of said block areas, and

said detection column wirings and said detection row wirings in each block area includes a plurality of more than two inclined parts inclined by a same angle or an opposite angle with respect to said column direction, and at least two of said plurality of more than two inclined parts by the same angle or the opposite angle extend outside of the corresponding block area to connect said detection column wirings or said detection row wirings in the corresponding block area to said detection column wirings or said detection row wirings, respectively, in a diagonally neighboring block area.

2. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein first block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection column wirings are provided and second block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection row wirings are provided are alternately arranged in a column direction and a row direction.

3. The touch screen according to claim 2, wherein one of said detection column wirings that diagonally connects between said first block areas that are diagonally adjacent and one of said detection row wirings that diagonally connects between said second block areas that are diagonally adjacent in a complementary manner with said first block areas intersect three-dimensionally in said intersection area.

4. The touch screen according to claim 3, wherein a three-dimensional intersection between each of said detection column wirings and each of said detection row wirings is included only at one corresponding position in said intersection area.

5. The touch screen according to claim 1,

wherein said detection column wirings in each block area includes:

a first inclined part repeatedly arranged with a predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined at a first angle with respect to said column direction; and

a second inclined part repeatedly arranged with said predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined in a direction opposite to said first inclined part with respect to said column direction, and

said detection row wirings in each block area includes;

a third inclined part repeatedly arranged with said predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined at a second angle with respect to said row direction; and

a fourth inclined part repeatedly arranged with said predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined in a direction opposite to said third inclined part with respect to said row direction.

6. The touch screen according to claim 5, wherein:

said detection column wirings in each block area includes first and second detection column wirings having a line symmetrical relationship, and

said detection row wirings in each block area includes first and second detection row wirings having a line symmetrical relationship.

7. The touch screen according to claim 5, wherein:

said first inclined part and said second inclined part are perpendicular to each other, and

said third inclined part and said fourth inclined part are perpendicular to each other.

8. The touch screen according to claim 5, wherein:

said first inclined part and said second inclined part intersect at a midpoint, and

said third inclined part and said fourth inclined part intersect at a midpoint.

9. The touch screen according to claim 6, wherein:

said detection column wirings in each block area further includes a first branch wiring that connects said first detection column wiring with said second detection column wiring, and

said detection row wirings in each block area further includes a second branch wiring that connects said first detection row wiring with said second detection row wiring.

22. A touch panel comprising:

the touch screen according to claim 1;

a switch circuit configured to sequentially select each of said plurality of bundles of wirings in the column direction and each of said plurality of bundles of wirings in the row direction; and

a detection processing circuit configured to perform a process of calculating touch coordinates in said touch screen indicating a touch position of a pointer that touches said touch screen, based on a result of detecting capacitance formed between said bundle of wirings in the column direction selected by said switch circuit and said pointer, and capacitance formed between said bundle of wirings in the row direction selected by said switch circuit and said pointer.

24. A touch panel comprising:

the touch screen according to claim 1;

a switch circuit configured to sequentially select each of said plurality of bundles of wirings in the column direction and each of said plurality of bundles of wirings in the row direction; and

a detection processing circuit configured to perform a process of calculating touch coordinates in said touch screen indicating a touch position of a pointer, based on a result of detecting a change in mutual-capacitance between said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction selected by said switch circuit according to touch of said pointer to said touch screen.

26. A display device comprising:

the touch panel according to claim 22; and

a display panel mounted on said touch screen of said touch panel.

28. A display device comprising:

the touch panel according to claim 24; and

a display panel mounted on said touch screen of said touch panel.

30. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein:

said detect column wirings or said detect row wirings in each block area includes a plurality of more than two inclined parts inclined by a same angle or an opposite angle with respect to said column direction; and

all of the plurality of more than two inclined parts are arranged with a same predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction.

34. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein

a shape of said detection column wirings included in each of said block areas is the same as a shape of said detection row wirings included in each of said block areas.

38. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of basic wiring patterns is connected at each end to a different one of the plurality of basic wiring patterns in each of said block areas, and the plurality of basic wiring patterns in each of said block areas includes a first inclined part, a second inclined part, a vertical coupling portion, and a horizontal coupling portion.

10. A touch screen comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a bundle of rectangular wirings in a column direction including a plurality of detection column wirings that are electrically connected in common, and a bundle of rectangular wirings in a row direction including a plurality of detection row wirings that are electrically connected in common, said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction being formed on said transparent substrate;

a first floating wiring formed in the same wiring layer as said bundle of wirings in the row direction and not connected with said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction; and

a second floating wiring formed in the same wiring layer as said bundle of wirings in the column direction and not connected with said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction,

wherein a plurality of block areas each having a rectangular shape and obtained by dividing an intersection area in which said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction intersect in a plan view are defined,

only said detection column wirings and said first floating wiring including a plurality of basic wiring patterns repeatedly arranged in the row direction and the column direction or only said detection row wirings and said second floating wiring including a plurality of basic wiring patterns repeatedly arranged in the row direction and the column direction are provided in each block area, except for corners of said block areas,

first block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which said detection column wirings and said first floating wiring are provided and second block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which said detection row wirings and said second floating wiring are provided are alternately arranged in a column direction and a row direction, and

said detection column wirings and said detection row wirings in each block area include a plurality of more than two inclined parts inclined by a same angle or an opposite angle with respect to said column direction, and at least two of said plurality of more than two inclined parts by the same angle or the opposite angle extend outside of the corresponding block area to connect said detection column wirings or said detection row wirings in the corresponding block area to said detection column wirings or said detection row wirings, respectively, in a diagonally neighboring block area.

11. The touch screen according to claim 10, wherein:

first block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection column wirings are provided and second block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection row wirings are provided are alternately arranged in a column direction and a row direction; and

one of said detection column wirings that diagonally connects between said first block areas that are diagonally adjacent and one of said detection row wirings that diagonally connects between said second block areas that are diagonally adjacent in a complementary manner with said first block areas intersect three-dimensionally in said intersection area.

12. The touch screen according to claim 11, wherein three-dimensional intersection between each of said detection column wirings and each of said detection row wirings is included only at one corresponding position in said intersection area.

13. The touch screen according to claim 10,

wherein said detection column wirings in each block area includes:

a first inclined part repeatedly arranged with a predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined at a first angle with respect to said column direction; and

a second inclined part repeatedly arranged with said predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined in a direction opposite to said first inclined part with respect to said column direction,

said detection row wirings in each block area includes;

a third inclined part repeatedly arranged with said predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined at a second angle with respect to said row direction; and

a fourth inclined part repeatedly arranged with said predetermined pitch in said column direction and said row direction and inclined in a direction opposite to said third inclined part with respect to said row direction,

said first floating wiring in each block area includes inclined parts similar to said first and second inclined parts, and

said second floating wiring in each block area includes inclined parts similar to said third and fourth inclined parts.

14. The touch screen according to claim 13, wherein:

said detection column wirings in each block area includes first and second detection column wirings having a line symmetrical relationship,

said detection row wirings in each block area includes first and second detection row wirings having a line symmetrical relationship,

said first floating wiring in each block area includes first and second partial floating wirings having a line symmetrical relationship, and

said second floating wiring in each block area includes third and fourth partial floating wirings having a line symmetrical relationship.

15. The touch screen according to claim 13, wherein:

said first inclined part and said second inclined part are perpendicular to each other, and

said third inclined part and said fourth inclined part are perpendicular to each other.

16. The touch screen according to claim 13, wherein:

said first inclined part and said second inclined part intersect at a midpoint, and

said third inclined part and said fourth inclined part intersect at a midpoint.

17. The touch screen according to claim 14, wherein:

said detection column wirings in each block area further includes a first branch wiring that connects said first detection column wiring with said second detection column wiring,

said detection row wirings in each block area further includes a second branch wiring that connects said first detection row wiring with said second detection row wiring,

said first floating wiring in each block area further includes a third branch wiring that connects said first partial floating wiring with said second partial floating wiring, and

said second floating wiring in each block area further includes a fourth branch wiring that connects said third partial floating wiring with said fourth partial floating wiring.

18. The touch screen according to claim 10, comprising, in a boundary between two said adjacent block areas, a first dummy wiring formed in a separation portion between a first end part of said detection column wirings or the second floating wiring provided in one of said adjacent block areas and a second end part of said detection column wirings or said second floating wiring provided in the other block area, the first dummy wiring being formed in a different wiring layer from said first and second end parts.

19. The touch screen according to claim 18, wherein both end parts of said first dummy wiring partially overlap with said first and second end parts in a plan view, respectively.

20. The touch screen according to claim 10, comprising, in a boundary between two said adjacent block areas, a second dummy wiring formed in a separation portion between a third end part of said detection row wirings or the first floating wiring provided in one of said adjacent block areas and a fourth end part of said detection row wirings or said first floating wiring provided in the other block area, the second dummy wiring being formed in a different wiring layer from said third and fourth end parts.

21. The touch screen according to claim 20, wherein both end parts of said second dummy wiring partially overlap with said third and fourth end parts in a plan view, respectively.

23. A touch panel comprising:

the touch screen according to claim 10;

a switch circuit configured to sequentially select each of said plurality of the bundle of wirings in the column direction and each of said plurality of the bundle of wirings in the row direction; and

a detection processing circuit configured to perform a process of calculating touch coordinates in said touch screen indicating a touch position of a pointer that touches said touch screen, based on a result of detecting capacitance formed between said bundle of wirings in the column direction selected by said switch circuit and said pointer, and capacitance formed between said bundle of wirings in the row direction selected by said switch circuit and said pointer.

25. A touch panel comprising:

the touch screen according to claim 10;

a switch circuit configured to sequentially select each of said plurality of bundles of wirings in the column direction and each of said plurality of bundles of wirings in the row direction; and

a detection processing circuit configured to perform a process of calculating touch coordinates in said touch screen indicating a touch position of a pointer, based on a result of detecting a change in mutual-capacitance between said bundle of wirings in the column direction and said bundle of wirings in the row direction selected by said switch circuit according to touch of said pointer to said touch screen.

27. A display device comprising:

the touch panel according to claim 23; and

a display panel mounted on said touch screen of said touch panel.

29. A display device comprising:

the touch panel according to claim 25; and

a display panel mounted on said touch screen of said touch panel.

31. The touch screen according to claim 10, wherein:

said first and second floating wiring each include parts inclined by a same angle as at least a portion of the detection column wirings and at least a portion of the detection row wirings.

32. The touch screen according to claim 10, wherein:

first block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection column wirings are provided and second block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection row wirings are provided are alternately arranged in a column direction and a row direction; and

each of said first and second block areas includes plural unobstructed portions between parallel wirings, and a maximum distance in the unobstructed portions between each of the parallel wirings in a direction perpendicular to a respective parallel wiring is the same.

33. The touch screen according to claim 10, wherein:

first block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection column wirings are provided and second block areas in said plurality of block areas in each of which only said detection row wirings are provided are alternately arranged in a column direction and a row direction; and

said first block areas have a same shape as said second block areas; and

said first and second floating wirings are arranged within a same portion of each of their respective block areas.

35. The touch screen according to claim 10, wherein

a shape including said detection column wirings and said first floating wiring included in each of said block areas is the same as a shape including said detection row wirings and said second floating wiring included in each of said block areas.

36. The touch screen according to claim 18, wherein the first dummy wiring is a branch wiring of said detection column wirings.

37. The touch screen according to claim 20, wherein the second dummy wiring is a branch wiring of said detection row wirings.

39. The touch screen according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of basic wiring patterns is connected at each end to a different one of the plurality of basic wiring patterns in each of said block areas, and the plurality of basic wiring patterns in each of said block areas includes a first inclined part, a second inclined part, a vertical coupling portion, and a horizontal coupling portion.