JP4149779B2 - Portable display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support structure for a touch panel or a liquid crystal panel made of a glass substrate of a portable display device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, portable information terminals called PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have been widely used, and opportunities for browsing information inside a personal computer or exchanging e-mails with a PDA are increasing. In the development of such PDAs, a touch panel has become the mainstream as an input device because of its small size, thin weight, good operability, and reaction speed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). On the other hand, since these PDAs are devices that are supposed to be carried around, so that the glass touch panel is not damaged when it is accidentally dropped while being carried (hereinafter referred to as “when dropped”), Design specifications with strong impact resistance are required.
[0003]
7 and 8 show an example of a conventional touch panel mounting structure of a portable information terminal. 7 and 8, 1 is a glass touch panel, 2 is an upper chassis, 3 is a boss, 4 is a lower chassis, 5 is a liquid crystal holding metal plate, and 6 glass liquid crystal. A panel, 7 is a double-sided tape. An arrow 9 indicates a direction in which an impact force acts when the mobile phone is dropped. As shown in FIG. 7, the peripheral edge of the touch panel 1 is fixed to the upper chassis 2 with a double-sided tape 7. The upper chassis 2 is fixed by the lower chassis 4 and the boss 3.
[0004]
Further, a liquid crystal panel 6 is disposed below the touch panel 1 with a distance of about 1 to 5 mm. The liquid crystal panel 6 is fixed to the liquid crystal holding metal plate 5, and the liquid crystal holding metal plate 5 is fixed to the boss 3. Moreover, in order to prevent damage to both the chassis 2 and 4 at the time of carrying, the upper chassis 2 and the lower chassis 4 may be formed with Mg alloy etc. instead of resin.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-007070 (paragraph [0021], FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
FIG. 8 shows the deformation state of the touch panel 1 when the touch panel 1 is most deformed and when the bottom surface collides with the floor or the like (hereinafter referred to as “bottom surface falling”). ing. As shown in FIG. 8, in the conventional portable information terminal, the peripheral edge of the touch panel 1 is fixed to the upper chassis 2 while the center of the panel is not restrained. Maximum principal stress occurs and cracks occur.
[0007]
Further, due to the deflection of the touch panel 1, the touch panel 1 may collide with the liquid crystal panel 6 and the liquid crystal panel 6 may be damaged in addition to the touch panel 1. As a countermeasure, it may be possible to increase the glass thickness of the touch panel 1 and increase the strength of the glass. However, since the weight increases as the glass thickness increases, this is not preferable in a portable information device where weight reduction is important.
[0008]
Moreover, since only the peripheral part of the touch panel is restrained in the conventional portable information terminal, there is a problem that as the display screen becomes larger, the amount of deflection at the center part of the panel becomes larger and the touch panel becomes more easily broken.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and even in a touch panel using thin glass, when the bottom surface is dropped, deformation of the panel central portion can be suppressed to prevent panel cracking. Providing a touch panel support structure is a problem to be solved.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a portable display device according to the present invention includes a housing (chassis) having a housing surface in which an opening is formed (hereinafter referred to as an “opening housing surface”), A portable display device comprising a glass planar member (panel member) disposed substantially parallel (substantially parallel) to the opening housing surface in a region where the opening is formed (or a region slightly wider than this). A transparent member having an end portion fixed to the casing (or an open casing surface) and an intermediate portion (inner side portion) bonded to the surface of the planar member on the outer side of the casing is provided. There have supported the planar member, the transparent member is a flexible sheet member having an elasticity and is characterized that you have been stretched to tension therein occurs.
[0011]
In the portable display device, the intermediate portion of the transparent member may be bonded to the surface of the planar member on the inner side of the housing. Moreover, the intermediate part of the transparent member may be bonded to both surfaces of the planar member on the outer side of the casing and on the inner side of the casing .
[0012]
In the portable display device, when the transparent member is positioned on the inner side of the casing of the planar member and the planar member is a touch panel, the transparent member positioned on the inner side of the casing of the touch panel has elasticity. It may be a plate member.
Further, in the portable display device, when the transparent member is located outside the casing of the planar member and the planar member is a touch panel, the transparent member is a conductive material that converts an input to the touch panel into an electrical signal. The resin member which forms a layer may be sufficient.
[0013]
In each of the above portable display devices, it is preferable that the end of the transparent member is bonded (fixed) to the housing (or the surface of the open housing) with, for example, a double-sided tape or an adhesive.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a portable display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a glass touch panel (planar member), 2 is an upper chassis (housing), 6 is a glass liquid crystal panel, and 8 is a sheet-like transparent member (transparent sheet). is there. An arrow 9 indicates the falling direction of the portable display device or the direction in which the impact force acts. Reference numeral 11 denotes a buffer material. In the portable display device having the above-described configuration, the peripheral edge portion of the touch panel 1 is attached to the upper chassis 2 via the cushioning material 11.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, the support structure of the liquid crystal panel 6 is not shown because it is the same as the conventional portable display device shown in FIG. The portable display device according to the first exemplary embodiment is different from the conventional portable display device in that the sheet-like transparent member 8 is fixed to the upper chassis 2 with an adhesive or a double-sided tape at the periphery thereof, and the touch panel 1. It is stretched below and supports the touch panel 1 (particularly the center of the touch panel).
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the central portion of the touch panel 1 is bent due to the impact force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow 9 in the portable display device shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, an arrow 10 indicates the tension acting on the sheet-like transparent member 8. At this time, the touch panel 1 bulges downward due to a load applied in the direction indicated by the arrow 9, that is, in the downward direction, and tends to have a convex shape. However, an arrow 10 indicates the surface of the stretched sheet-like transparent member 8. Thus, tension is generated obliquely upward. The vertical component of the tension attenuates or cancels the impact force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow 9, reduces the impact force applied to the touch panel 1, and prevents deformation of the touch panel 1.
[0018]
Instead of the sheet-like transparent member 8, an elastic resin plate-like transparent member may be used. Further, the sheet-like transparent member 8 may be attached to the lower surface of the touch panel 1.
[0019]
For example, in the conventional portable display device in which the peripheral portion of the touch panel 1 is fixed with the double-sided tape 7 as shown in FIG. 7, the peripheral portion is restrained when the bottom surface is dropped, so that the impact force cannot be absorbed by the peripheral portion. Only the central portion of the touch panel 1 is displaced or deformed, and the displacement difference between the central portion and the peripheral portion of the touch panel 1, that is, the deflection amount of the touch panel 1 is increased. On the other hand, in the portable display device according to the first embodiment, the peripheral edge portion of the touch panel 1 is elastically restrained by the cushioning material 7 and the sheet-like transparent member 8. Is absorbed by the buffer material 7 and the sheet-like transparent member 8.
[0020]
As a result, the peripheral edge portion of the touch panel 1 can also be slightly displaced downward, and the difference in displacement amount between the peripheral edge portion and the central portion of the touch panel 1 can be reduced. For this reason, the deformation amount of the touch panel 1 can be reduced, and the generation of internal stress of the touch panel 1 can be reduced.
[0021]
(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the portable display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are assigned to members or components common to the portable display device according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Yes.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the portable display device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4 is a diagram showing a deformed state and a stress state of the touch panel 1 when the bottom surface of the portable display device shown in FIG. 3 is dropped. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portable display device according to the second embodiment is similar to the portable display device according to the first embodiment, in the touch panel 1, the upper chassis 2, the liquid crystal panel 6, And a sheet-like transparent member 8 having flexibility. However, the buffer material 11 is not provided. 3 or 4, the arrow 9 indicates the direction in which the impact force acts, and the arrow 10 indicates the direction in which the tension acts.
[0023]
The portable display device according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is different from the portable display device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the sheet-like transparent member 8 is attached to the upper surface (front surface) of the touch panel 1. The touch panel 1 is fixed to the upper chassis 2 by adhering the peripheral edge of the sheet-like transparent member 8 to the upper chassis 2. Also in the portable display device according to the second embodiment, as in the portable display device according to the first embodiment, when the touch panel 1 is displaced downward by the impact force indicated by the arrow 9 acting on the touch panel 1, the touch panel 1. An upward tension acts on the surface of the sheet-like transparent member 8 bonded to the upper chassis 2 and the downward displacement of the touch panel 1 is suppressed.
[0024]
Also in the portable display device according to the second embodiment, since the peripheral portion of the touch panel 1 is not fixed with the double-sided tape, the peripheral portion of the touch panel 1 can be slightly displaced downward. As a result, the displacement difference between the center part and the peripheral part of the touch panel 1 is reduced, the maximum principal stress generated at the center part of the touch panel 1 can be reduced, and cracks at the center part of the touch panel 1 are suppressed. Or it can be prevented.
[0025]
In the portable display device according to the second embodiment, if the sheet-like transparent member 8 is configured to serve as a conductive layer-forming resin member that forms part of the touch panel 1 and converts an input into an electric signal, the sheet-like transparent member 8 is separately sheet-like. There is no need to apply the transparent member 8. For this reason, cost can be reduced and man-hours can be reduced. Furthermore, since the conductive layer of the touch panel 1 can be directly pressed at the time of input, the sensitivity at the time of pen input is not lowered, and smooth input is possible.
[0026]
(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, a portable display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are assigned to members or components common to the portable display devices according to the first and second embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. .
[0027]
FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view of the portable display device according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the portable display device according to the third embodiment is similar to the portable display device according to the first embodiment, in the touch panel 1, the upper chassis 2, the sheet-like transparent member 8, and the buffer. The material 11 is provided. In FIG. 5, arrow 9 indicates the direction in which the impact force acts, and arrow 10 indicates the direction in which the tension acts.
[0028]
The portable display device according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is different from the portable display devices according to the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. The transparent member 8 is stretched, and the peripheral portion of the sheet-like transparent member 8 is fixed to the upper chassis 2. In addition, what is necessary is just to use an adhesive agent or a double-sided tape, for example for the adhesion | attachment thru | or fixation of the edge part of the sheet-like transparent member 8, and the upper chassis 2. FIG.
[0029]
In the portable display device according to the third embodiment, at least the upper sheet-like transparent member 8 is bonded to the surface (upper surface) of the touch panel 1. In the portable display device according to the third embodiment, even if the central portion of the touch panel 1 is displaced downward due to the impact force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow 9 when the bottom surface is dropped, the sheet-like transparent member 8 is formed above and below the touch panel 1. Since the displacement of the touch panel 1 can be suppressed by the generated tension, the displacement suppression effect on the touch panel 1 is greater than that of the portable display device according to the first and second embodiments.
[0030]
(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, a portable display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given to members or components common to the portable display device according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view of the portable display device according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the portable display device according to the fourth embodiment is similar to the portable display device according to the first embodiment, in the touch panel 1, the upper chassis 2, the liquid crystal panel 6, and the sheet-like transparent. And a member 8. However, the peripheral edge portion of the touch panel 1 and the upper chassis 2 are coupled by the double-sided tape 7 instead of the cushioning material 11. In FIG. 6, an arrow 9 indicates the direction in which the portable display device falls or the direction in which an impact force acts.
[0032]
The portable display device according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the portable display device according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the conventional portable display device shown in FIG. 1 has a shape slightly curved upward and convex. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, when the impact force in the direction indicated by the arrow 9 is applied to the touch panel 1, the peripheral edge of the touch panel 1 tends to spread, but the peripheral edge is restrained by the double-sided tape 7. In the touch panel 1, a compressive force acts as indicated by an arrow 12. As a result, in the conventional portable display device, when the touch panel 1 is bent, the in-plane tension generated on the lower surface of the touch panel 1 and causing the crack can be reduced, and the touch panel 1 can be prevented from cracking. Can do.
[0033]
In the first to fourth embodiments, the support structure of the touch panel 1 in the portable display device is mainly described. However, in a portable display device that does not have the touch panel 1 and the liquid crystal panel 6 is mounted in the opening of the upper chassis 2, the liquid crystal panel 6 is dropped by applying the support structure to the liquid crystal panel 6. The crack of the panel 6 can be prevented.
[0034]
Moreover, in the support structure of the touch panel 1 of the portable display device according to the present invention, unlike the conventional portable display device, the center portion of the touch panel 1 is supported, so that the above effect becomes more effective as the panel size increases. Become prominent.
In addition, when the portable display device having the touch panel support structure according to the first to fourth embodiments was actually manufactured and subjected to a drop test (bottom drop), both were dropped from a height of 120 cm. Also did not break. In the conventional support structure, generally, when the bottom surface was dropped from a height of 90 cm, the touch panel was damaged.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
In a conventional portable display device equipped with a touch panel support structure that restrains and supports the periphery of the touch panel, it is not possible to suppress the deflection of the center part of the touch panel, and when the bottom surface falls, the touch panel cracks due to the deformation of the panel center part. It was difficult to prevent. This tendency becomes more prominent as the area of the touch panel increases and the distance between the panel central portion and the panel peripheral portion increases. However, according to the present invention, by supporting the planar member (panel surface) with the transparent member, it is possible to suppress the deflection near the center of the panel due to the tension generated in the transparent member. Can be reduced, and cracking of the planar member (touch panel) made of glass can be prevented. As a result, even if the glass used for the planar member is thin, panel cracking can be prevented, and the planar member can be reduced in weight by reducing the thickness of the glass, that is, the portable display device can be reduced in weight. . Moreover, since the transparent member is fixed to the housing, water can be prevented from entering the inside.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a portable display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the portable display device shown in FIG. 1, showing a deformed state of the touch panel when the bottom surface of the portable display device is dropped.
FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view of a portable display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an elevational sectional view of the portable display device shown in FIG. 3, and shows a deformed state of the touch panel when the bottom surface of the portable display device is dropped.
FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view of a portable display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view of a portable display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of a conventional portable display device.
8 is an elevational sectional view of the portable display device shown in FIG. 7, showing a deformed state of the touch panel when the bottom surface of the portable display device is dropped.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel, 2 Upper chassis, 3 Boss, 4 Lower chassis, 5 Liquid crystal holding metal plate, 6 Liquid crystal panel, 7 Double-sided tape, 8 Sheet-like transparent member, 9 Arrow which shows the direction where impact force acts, 10 Action of tension Arrow indicating direction, 11 cushioning material, 12 arrow indicating direction in which compressive stress acts.

Claims (6)

A housing having a housing surface in which an opening is formed;
In a portable display device comprising a glass planar member disposed substantially parallel to the housing surface in a region where the opening is formed in the housing,
A transparent member having an end portion fixed to the housing and an intermediate portion bonded to the surface of the planar member on the outer side of the housing is provided, and the transparent member supports the planar member ,
The transparent member is a flexible sheet member having elasticity, portable display device comprising that you have been stretched to tension therein occurs. A housing having a housing surface in which an opening is formed;
In a portable display device comprising a glass planar member disposed substantially parallel to the housing surface in a region where the opening is formed in the housing,
A transparent member having an end portion fixed to the casing and an intermediate portion bonded to the surface of the planar member on the inner side of the casing is provided, and the transparent member supports the planar member ,
The transparent member is a flexible sheet member having elasticity, portable display device comprising that they are being stretched to tension therein occurs. A housing having a housing surface in which an opening is formed;
In a portable display device comprising a glass planar member disposed substantially parallel to the housing surface in a region where the opening is formed in the housing,
A transparent member having an end portion fixed to the casing and an intermediate portion bonded to both surfaces of the planar member on the outer side and the inner side of the casing is provided. It has support and,
The transparent member is a flexible sheet member having elasticity, portable display device comprising that you have been stretched to tension therein occurs.   The portable display device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the planar member is a touch panel, and the transparent member positioned on the inner side of the touch panel is a transparent resin plate member having elasticity.   The portable display device according to claim 1, wherein the planar member is a touch panel, and the transparent member is a resin member that forms a conductive layer that converts an input to the touch panel into an electrical signal. The end of the transparent member, a portable display device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in being bonded to the housing by a double-sided tape.

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