Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Liquid crystal system – Liquid crystal writing tablet
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-20
2002-04-09
Parker, Kenneth (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Liquid crystal system
Liquid crystal writing tablet
Reexamination Certificate
active
06369865
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an input device to input the positional information. The present invention also relates to a liquid crystal display device which modulates the light by controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal and displays the visible information such as numerals, characters and patterns, and is provided with the above-mentioned input device. The present invention still further relates to the liquid crystal display device as mentioned above, in particular, of the type in which flexible transparent substrates such as plastic film are used as transparent substrates to hold the liquid crystal. The present invention is moreover concerned with an electronic device comprising such a liquid crystal display device.
BACKGROUND ART
(1) Background Art Related to Input Device and Liquid Crystal Display Device Using it
A CRT display is extensively used as a means to display the visible information in an electronic device such as a cash dispenser. A liquid crystal display device is extensively used as a means to display the visible information in electronic devices such as computer and electronic notebook. As a method to input various data in various electronic devices, an input method is known in which panel-shaped input devices are stacked on a visible information display device such as the CRT display and the liquid crystal display device, and the information is inputted by designating the position by pressing the desired position in the input panel of the input device by a pen or a finger when various visible information is displayed on the liquid crystal display device or the like. In performing the input method of this kind, the panel-shaped input devices are stacked directly on the liquid crystal display device, etc. in the conventional practice.
As the panel-shaped input device, a so-called film-glass type input device is conventionally known, in which a plastic film provided with an electrode terminal and a glass substrate provided with the electrode terminal are arranged opposite to each other with a clearance therebetween. In this input device, the positional information is inputted by usually pressing the plastic film side by a finger, etc. The so-called film-film type input device of the shape in which the substrate opposite to the plastic film on the input side comprises a plastic film is also known as the input device.
As a liquid crystal display device provided with the input device, a device in which an acrylic plate is arranged between a touch panel (i.e., an input device) and the liquid crystal display device is disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-303464. In this conventional liquid crystal display device, the input device is prevented from being curved when the input device is pressed by a pen, etc., by providing the acrylic plate.
The above-mentioned film-glass type input device has a disadvantage that the glass is easy to break because a glass substrate is used on one side. On the contrary, the film-film type input device has an advantage that the input device is easy to handle because no film is broken. However, when the film-film type input device is directly stacked on the liquid crystal display device, etc., problems that the plastic film is degraded in a short time and damages such as cracking are easy to generate compared with the film-glass type input device if the input operation is repeated on the film-film type input device. A problem is further presented that the feeling during the input is not excellent because the stiff touch of the surface of the liquid crystal display device or the like is felt by an operator through the pen, etc. when the film-film type input device is directly installed on the liquid crystal display device, etc.
In the device disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Publication No. 5-303464, i.e., the device provided with the acrylic plate between the liquid crystal display device and the touch panel, the above-mentioned problems are left unsolved that the plastic film of the input device is easy to degrade, and the input feeling is not excellent because the acrylic plate is made of hard material.
(2) Background Art Related to Liquid Crystal Display Device of the Structure Using Flexible Transparent Substrate Such as Plastic Film
In recent years, the liquid crystal display device is extensively used as a means to display the visible information in electronic devices such as computers and electronic notebooks. In the liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal panel (i.e., the liquid crystal display device) is generally formed by sealing the liquid crystal in the clearance, the so-called cell gap, to be formed between a pair of transparent substrates, an IC for driving the liquid crystal is connected to the liquid crystal panel, and accessories such as a back light and a casing are further mounted on the liquid crystal panel.
A pair of above-mentioned transparent substrates are formed of the material difficult to deflect such as glass in some cases, or formed of the flexible material such as a plastic film in other cases. The transparent substrates formed of the plastic film have many advantages such as difficulty to crack, formation in thin structure, light weight, and formation in various shapes.
However, in the liquid crystal display device in which the flexible material such as plastic film is used, if the plastic film is poorly handled in building it in an electronic notebook or other electronic devices, abnormal external force is applied to the liquid crystal display device, problems are presented that a local recessed part is generated in the transparent substrate, and as a result, defective appearance by irregular color is generated, defective appearance such as dark dots caused by bubbles in the liquid crystal is generated, or cracks are generated in a transparent electrode. Cracks generated in the transparent electrode may lead to not only disconnection of wires, but also defective display, causing a problem.
Even after build-in of the liquid crystal display device in the electronic device is completed, the above-mentioned problems such as generation of irregular color, bubbles, etc. are presented if the local external force is applied to the transparent substrate of the liquid crystal display device by some reasons.
(3) Object of the Present Invention
The first object of the present invention is to solve problems related to the above-mentioned input device, and more specifically, in the film-film type input device and various devices using it, to prevent degradation of the plastic film in a short time, i.e., to improve the descriptive durability on the input device and to improve the inputting touch related to the input device.
The second object of the present invention is to solve the problems related to the liquid crystal display device of the structure using the above-mentioned flexible transparent substrate, and more specifically, to prevent generation of the irregular color on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device or generation of bubbles in the liquid crystal by mitigating the external force when the external force is applied to the liquid crystal display device using the flexible transparent substrate.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
(1) To achieve the first object mentioned above, the input device related to the present invention is an input device in which a pair of plastic films stacked on each other with clearance are provided, one plastic film is pressed to display the positional information, and the other plastic film is stacked on the visible information display means. The input device is characterized in that a transparent elastic member is provided on the surface of the plastic film stacked on the visible information display means.
In the input device, the transparent elastic member is arranged on the outer side of the plastic film on the opposite side to the plastic film on the side to be pressed by a pen, etc., related to the film-film type input device, and concentration of the stress to be applied to the plastic films on both face
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Parker Kenneth
Seiko Epson Corporation
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