JP5880413B2 - Touch panel device and method for manufacturing touch panel device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel device and a method for manufacturing the touch panel device.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a touch panel device using a capacitance sensor is installed on an instrument cluster panel of an automobile, and various devices (for example, a car navigation device, an audio device, an air conditioner, a window opening / closing device) mounted on the automobile by the touch panel device. Etc.) have been proposed.
Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle air conditioner operation device in which a capacitive touch sensor sheet is attached to the inner surface side of an operation panel.

  In Patent Document 2, a film having a decorative layer formed on the back surface is laminated on a film having a circuit pattern layer formed on the surface to form a laminated film, and the laminated film is set in a high-temperature mold. The electrostatic capacity sensor is manufactured by injecting a resin into the recessed back surface of the circuit pattern layer of the laminated film and integrally forming the support without gaps. A technique using a capacitive sensor for a switch of an audio device of an automobile is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, a film having a circuit pattern layer formed on the surface and a film having a decorative layer formed on the back surface are separately three-dimensionally formed, and the two films formed three-dimensionally are stacked. A technique for forming a laminated film is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 4218660 JP 2010-244776

In the technique of Patent Document 1, a sheet-like capacitance sensor (touch sensor sheet), which is a separate member from the panel material, is pasted and fixed to the back surface (inner surface side) of the panel material (operation panel) constituting the touch panel device. doing.
Therefore, there is a problem that the number of parts constituting the touch panel device increases and the part cost is high.

In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the instrument cluster panel has a three-dimensional curved shape (round shape), it is difficult to accurately form the shape of the capacitance sensor according to the curved shape. In addition, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost is high and the manufacturing cost is high for the capacitance sensor forming process.
In addition, when the capacitance sensor is pasted and fixed to the back side of the panel material, misalignment is likely to occur, and the capacitance sensor is liable to cause a disconnection failure. There is a problem that the sensor sensitivity tends to decrease.

  In the technique of Patent Document 2, a laminated film is formed three-dimensionally, or two films formed three-dimensionally are laminated to form a laminated film, but the instrument cluster panel has a complicated curved shape. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately three-dimensionally form a film in conformity with the curved shape, and that the manufacturing is troublesome and the manufacturing cost is high for the three-dimensional formation process.

Moreover, in the technique of patent document 2, after producing separately the film in which the circuit pattern layer was formed in the surface, and the film in which the decoration layer was formed in the back surface, two films were piled up and a laminated film was formed. For this reason, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost is high for the process of forming the laminated film and the manufacturing cost is high.
Furthermore, it is necessary to use two expensive films, and there is a problem that the component cost is high.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has the following objects.
(1) Provided is a touch panel device that can be formed into a three-dimensional curved shape, has high operation sensitivity, and is low in cost.
(2) A manufacturing method of the touch panel device according to (1), which is simple and can reduce production lead time.

  As a result of intensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have arrived at each aspect of the present invention as follows.

<First aspect>
The first aspect is
Panel material,
An electrode layer formed on the surface of the panel material and serving as a capacitance sensor for detecting a change in capacitance;
A touch panel device including a decorative layer that is formed by being laminated on the surface of the electrode layer and covers the electrode layer,
The electrode layer is made of conductive synthetic resin paint,
The decorative layer is formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint.

In the first aspect, by providing a decorative layer that covers the electrode layer, it is possible to prevent corrosion degradation of the electrode layer and to prevent the electrode layer from being damaged and causing a disconnection failure.
And since a decoration layer functions as a hard-coat layer and it becomes possible to protect the surface of a panel material, it becomes unnecessary to provide a hard-coat layer separately.

In the first aspect, an electrode layer made of a conductive synthetic resin paint is formed on the surface of the panel material.
Therefore, according to the first aspect, the problem of the technique of Patent Document 1 in which a sheet-like capacitance sensor is stuck and fixed to the back side of the panel material (increase in the number of parts of the touch panel device, three-dimensional curved shape) Difficulty and labor of accurately forming an electrostatic sensor to match the panel material of the panel, displacement of the panel material and the capacitance sensor, disconnection failure of the capacitance sensor, between the panel material and the capacitance sensor Sensor sensitivity due to the occurrence of bubbles) can be avoided, and component costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

  And according to 1st aspect, the said problem of the technique of the patent document 2 using the laminated | multilayer film formed in three dimensions (To form a laminated | multilayer film correctly according to the three-dimensional curved-shaped panel material three-dimensionally. Difficulty and labor, the labor of forming a laminated film, and the cost of parts using two expensive films) can be avoided, and the parts cost and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the first aspect, the touch switch using the capacitance sensor is configured by the decorative layer and the electrode layer, but the electrostatic formed between the human body (fingertip) of the user of the touch panel device and the electrode layer. By reducing the capacitance, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor can be increased and the operation sensitivity of the touch switch can be improved.

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 in which a sheet-like capacitance sensor is pasted and fixed on the back side of the panel material, the panel material is interposed between the user's human body and the capacitance sensor. Since the capacitance formed between the capacitance sensor and the capacitance of the panel material increases, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor decreases.
Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2 using a three-dimensionally formed laminated film, a film having a decorative layer formed on the back surface is interposed between the user's human body and the circuit pattern layer (electrode layer). Since the capacitance formed between the human body and the circuit pattern layer is increased by the amount of the film, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor is lowered.

In contrast, in the first aspect, since the surface of the electrode layer is covered with a decorative layer made of an insulating synthetic resin paint, it is easy to reduce the thickness of the decorative layer. Since the capacitance can be reduced by reducing the film thickness of the layer, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor is increased and the operation sensitivity of the touch switch is increased compared to the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2. It can be improved.
Therefore, according to the first aspect, it is possible to provide a touch panel device that can be formed into a three-dimensional curved shape, has high operational sensitivity, and is low in cost.

<Second aspect>
In a first aspect, a second aspect includes a first intermediate layer provided between the decorative layer and the electrode layer and formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint.
In the 2nd situation, it can prevent reliably that a decorating layer peels from an electrode layer by using the adhesive material which adhere | attaches a decorating layer and an electrode layer for the formation material of a 1st intermediate | middle layer.

Moreover, in the 2nd situation, a touchscreen apparatus can be colored and a beauty | look can be improved by mixing a coloring material in the formation material of a 1st intermediate | middle layer.
Moreover, the visibility of a decoration layer can be improved by using the material which has an antireflection function for the formation material of a 1st intermediate | middle layer.
In addition, by using a material having an interference color generation prevention function as a material for forming the covering layer, it is possible to prevent the touch panel device from seeing an interference color even when the user of the touch panel device wears polarized sunglasses. Therefore, the visibility of the decoration layer can be enhanced.

<Third aspect>
A third aspect includes a second intermediate layer that is provided between the electrode layer and the panel material and is formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint in the first aspect or the second aspect.
In the third aspect, by using an adhesive material that bonds the electrode layer and the panel material as a material for forming the second intermediate layer, it is possible to reliably prevent the electrode layer from peeling off from the panel material.
In addition, by mixing a coloring material in the material for forming the second intermediate layer, using a material having an antireflection function, or a material having an interference color generation preventing function, the same operations and effects as in the second aspect can be obtained. can get.

<Fourth aspect>
According to a fourth aspect, in the first to third aspects, the panel material is formed of a synthetic resin material having a three-dimensional curved shape.
In the fourth aspect, since a synthetic resin material is used as the material for forming the panel material, a three-dimensional curved shape can be easily formed as compared with the case where a glass material is used.

<5th aspect>
The fifth aspect is a method for manufacturing the touch panel device of the first to fourth aspects,
A first step of producing a transfer film formed by laminating each layer in order on the surface of the base film;
A second step of transferring each layer formed and integrated on the surface of the base film to the surface side of the panel material simultaneously with the injection molding of the panel material by the in-mold transfer molding method;
And a third step of removing only the base film from the panel material.

In the fifth aspect, in the first step, each layer is printed on the surface of the base film in order to produce a transfer film, so that each layer can be easily formed.
In addition, since the in-mold transfer molding method is used in the second step, the touch panel device of the first to fourth aspects can be easily manufactured, and the production lead time can be shortened.
And although a base film is discarded after completion | finish of a 3rd process, since a base film is cheap compared with the film of patent document 2, in 5th aspect, cost reduction compared with the technique of patent document 2 is carried out. Can be planned.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a touch panel device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the touchscreen apparatus. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the touchscreen apparatus. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the touchscreen apparatus.

Hereinafter, a touch panel device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in each drawing, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the dimensional shape and the arrangement location of the constituent members of the touch panel device 10 are schematically illustrated in an exaggerated manner, and the dimensional shape and the arrangement location of the respective constituent members are illustrated as real. Is different.

[Configuration of Touch Panel Device 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel device 10 includes a panel material 11, a decorative layer 21, a first intermediate layer 22, an electrode layer (circuit pattern layer) 23, and a second intermediate layer 24, and each layer is provided on the panel material 11. 24 to 21 are laminated in this order, and the thickness of each layer 24 to 21 is substantially uniform.

The panel material 11 has a three-dimensional curved shape formed of a transparent synthetic resin material, and is used for an instrument cluster panel of an automobile.
Examples of the material for forming the panel material 11 include PP (PolyPropylene), TPO (Thermo PolyOlefin), PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride), PC (PolyCarbonate), PMMA (PolyMethylMethacrylate), COP (Cyclo Olefin Polymer), ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene). -Styrene resin).

The decorative layer 21 is made of an insulating synthetic resin paint having a transparent portion 21a and an opaque portion 21b for forming a pattern or a pattern, and is formed on the surface side of the touch panel device 10 (inside the interior of an automobile). Yes.
Examples of the material for forming the decoration layer 21 include PC, PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate), PMMA, and COP.
The film thickness of the decoration layer 21 is 2-30 micrometers.

The first intermediate layer 22 is provided between the decorative layer 21 and the electrode layer 23.
The second intermediate layer 24 is provided between the electrode layer 23 and the panel material 11.
The intermediate layers 22 and 24 are made of a transparent insulating synthetic resin paint, and examples of the forming material include polyurethane, polyamide, PP, PMMA, and epoxy resin.
The film thickness of the intermediate layers 22 and 24 is 2 to 20 μm.

The electrode layer 23 is made of a transparent conductive synthetic resin paint, and, for example, a synthetic resin (conductive polymer) paint in which the synthetic resin itself is conductive or an insulating synthetic resin material. In addition, there are paints and the like imparted with conductivity by dispersing fine particles of a conductive material.
Examples of the transparent conductive polymer include PT (PolyThiophene), PANI (PolyANIline), and PEDOT / PSS (Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) / Poly (styrenesulfonate)).
Examples of the fine particles of the conductive material include silver nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) fine particles.
When the electrode layer 23 is transparent, the film thickness is 0.1 to 1 μm, and the sheet resistance of the electrode layer 23 is 50 to 1000Ω / □.

In the touch panel device 10, a touch switch using a capacitance sensor is configured by the decorative layer 21 and the electrode layer 23.
That is, when the user's fingertip of the touch panel device 10 touches the surface side of the decorative layer 21, electrostatic capacity (floating capacitance) existing between the electrode layer 23 below the decorative layer 21 and the user's human body. Therefore, based on the change in the capacitance, it is possible to detect which part of the decorative layer 21 touches the electrode layer 23.
Note that a specific method for detecting a change in capacitance is well known and will not be described.

[Manufacturing Method of Touch Panel Device 10]
1st process: As shown to FIG. 2 (A), on the surface of the flat base film (support film, carrier film) 25 with uniform film thickness, each layer 21-24 is made into various printing methods (for example, for example, A transfer film (decorative film) 20 formed by laminating by printing using screen printing, pad printing, doctor coating or the like is produced.
Examples of the material for forming the transfer film 25 include PET, PE (PolyEthylene), polyurethane, and PMMA.

  Second step: As shown in FIG. 2B, the transfer film 20 is sandwiched between the molds 30a and 30b of the injection molding machine. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the forming material of the panel material 11 is injected into the gap GR between the movable mold 30a and the transfer film 25, and the injection molding of the panel material 11 is performed by an in-mold transfer molding method. At the same time, the layers 21 to 24 integrated with the transfer film 20 are transferred to the surface side of the panel material 11.

  Third step: As shown in FIG. 4, the movable side mold 30 a is separated from the fixed side mold 30 b to open the mold, and only the base film 25 is peeled off from the panel material 11 to be removed. 10 is completed.

[Operations and effects of the embodiment]
According to the touch panel device 10 and the manufacturing method thereof of the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

  [1] The touch panel device 10 includes a panel material 11, an electrode layer 23 that is formed on the surface of the panel material 11 and serves as a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance, and is laminated on the surface of the electrode layer 23. And the decorative layer 21 that covers the electrode layer 23 is formed. The electrode layer 23 is formed of a conductive synthetic resin paint, and the decorative layer 21 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint.

In the touch panel device 10, by providing the decorative layer 21 that covers the electrode layer 23, it is possible to prevent corrosion degradation of the electrode layer 23 and to prevent the electrode layer 23 from being damaged and causing a disconnection failure.
And since the decoration layer 21 functions as a hard-coat layer and it becomes possible to protect the surface of the panel material 11, it becomes unnecessary to provide a hard-coat layer separately.

  Further, in the touch panel device 10, since the electrode layer 23 made of conductive synthetic resin paint is formed on the surface of the panel material 11, the sheet-like capacitance sensor is stuck and fixed to the back side of the panel material 11. The problems of the technique of Patent Document 1 (increase in the number of parts of the touch panel device, difficulty and labor of accurately forming an electrostatic sensor in accordance with a three-dimensional curved panel material, panel material and capacitance It is possible to avoid sensor position deviation, capacitance sensor disconnection failure, sensor sensitivity deterioration due to bubbles generated between the panel material and the capacitance sensor, and reduce component cost and manufacturing cost.

  In the touch panel device 10, the problem of the technique of Patent Document 2 using a three-dimensionally formed laminated film (the difficulty of accurately forming a laminated film three-dimensionally in accordance with a three-dimensional curved panel material) Labor, labor for forming a laminated film, and parts costs for using two expensive films) can be avoided, and parts costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

  In the touch panel device 10, a touch switch using a capacitance sensor is configured by the decorative layer 21 and the electrode layer 23, and is formed between the human body (fingertip) of the user of the touch panel device 10 and the electrode layer 23. By reducing the capacitance, the sensitivity of the capacitance sensor can be increased and the operation sensitivity of the touch switch can be improved.

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 in which a sheet-like capacitance sensor is pasted and fixed on the back side of the panel material, the panel material is interposed between the user's human body and the capacitance sensor. Since the capacitance formed between the capacitance sensor and the capacitance of the panel material increases, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor decreases.
Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2 using a three-dimensionally formed laminated film, a film having a decorative layer formed on the back surface is interposed between the user's human body and the circuit pattern layer (electrode layer). Since the capacitance formed between the human body and the circuit pattern layer is increased by the amount of the film, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor is lowered.

  On the other hand, in the touch panel device 10, since the surface of the electrode layer 23 is covered with the decorative layer 21 made of an insulating synthetic resin paint, it is easy to reduce the film thickness of the decorative layer 21, Since the capacitance can be reduced by reducing the thickness of the decorative layer 21, the sensor sensitivity of the capacitance sensor is increased compared to the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, and the touch switch Operation sensitivity can be improved.

[2] The touch panel device 10 includes a first intermediate layer 22 provided between the decorative layer 21 and the electrode layer 23 and formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint.
Therefore, by using an adhesive material that adheres the decorative layer 21 and the electrode layer 23 as a material for forming the first intermediate layer 22, it is possible to reliably prevent the electrode layer 23 from peeling off from the decorative layer 21.

Moreover, by mixing a coloring material in the forming material of the first intermediate layer 22, the touch panel device can be colored to enhance the beauty.
Moreover, the visibility of the decoration layer 21 can be improved by using the material which has an antireflection function for the formation material of the 1st intermediate | middle layer 22. FIG.
In addition, by using a material having an interference color generation prevention function as a material for forming the covering layer, it is possible to prevent the touch panel device from seeing an interference color even when the user of the touch panel device wears polarized sunglasses. Therefore, the visibility of the decoration layer 21 can be improved.

[3] The touch panel device 10 includes a second intermediate layer 24 provided between the electrode layer 23 and the panel material 11 and formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint.
Therefore, by using an adhesive material that bonds the electrode layer 23 and the panel material 11 as a material for forming the second intermediate layer 24, it is possible to reliably prevent the electrode layer 23 from peeling off from the panel material 11.
Further, by mixing a colorant into the forming material of the second intermediate layer 24, using a material having an antireflection function, or a material having an interference color generation preventing function, the same operations and effects as in the above [2]. Is obtained.

  [4] Since the panel material 11 is formed of a synthetic resin material having a three-dimensional curved shape, a three-dimensional curved shape can be easily formed as compared with the case where a glass material is used.

[5] In the manufacturing method of the touch panel device 10, the layers 21 to 24 are sequentially printed on the surface of the base film 25 in the first step to produce the transfer film 20. Can be formed.
In addition, since the in-mold transfer molding method is used in the second step, the touch panel device 10 can be easily manufactured, and the production lead time can be shortened.
And although the base film 25 is discarded after completion | finish of a 3rd process, since the base film 25 is cheap compared with the film of patent document 2, in the manufacturing method of the touch panel apparatus 10, compared with the technique of patent document 2. Cost reduction can be achieved.

<Another embodiment>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be embodied as follows, and even in that case, operations and effects equivalent to or higher than those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  [A] The first intermediate layer 22 may be omitted, and even in this case, the operations and effects [1], [3] to [5] are obtained.

  [B] The second intermediate layer 24 may be omitted, and even in this case, the operations and effects of [1], [2], [4], and [5] are obtained.

  [C] Although the above embodiment is applied to the touch panel device 10 used for an instrument cluster panel of an automobile, the present invention is not limited to the instrument cluster panel, and any device (for example, the overhead of an automobile) You may apply to the touchscreen apparatus installed in a console, computer equipment, household appliances, etc.).

  The present invention is not limited to the description of each aspect and each embodiment. Various modifications are also included in the present invention as long as those skilled in the art can easily conceive without departing from the scope of the claims. The contents of the gazette specified in this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Touch panel apparatus 11 ... Panel material 20 ... Transfer film 21 ... Decorating layer 22 ... 1st intermediate | middle layer 23 ... Electrode layer 24 ... 2nd intermediate | middle layer 25 ... Base film 30a ... Mold 30b on the movable side of an injection molding machine ... Mold on the fixed side of the injection molding machine

Claims (5)

Panel material,
An electrode layer that is formed on the surface of the panel material and serves as a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance;
A touch panel device including a decorative layer that is formed by being laminated on the surface of the electrode layer and covers the electrode layer,
The electrode layer is formed of a conductive synthetic resin paint,
The decoration layer is a touch panel device formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint. Provided between the decorative layer and the electrode layer, provided with a first intermediate layer formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint,
The touch panel device according to claim 1. Provided between the electrode layer and the panel material, provided with a second intermediate layer formed of an insulating synthetic resin paint,
The touch panel device according to claim 1 or 2. The panel material is formed of a synthetic resin material having a three-dimensional curved shape.
The touch panel device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It is a manufacturing method of the touch panel device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A first step of producing a transfer film formed by laminating the layers by printing them sequentially on the surface of the base film;
A second step of transferring each of the layers formed and integrated on the surface of the base film to the surface side of the panel material simultaneously with the injection molding of the panel material by an in-mold transfer molding method;
A method for manufacturing a touch panel device, comprising: a third step of peeling and removing only the base film from the panel material.

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