Patent Application
20140218629
1. Field of the Application
The present application generally relates to a touch panel assembly and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to a capacitive touch panel assembly and an electronic apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the rapid development and widespread of information technology, wireless mobile communications, and information appliance in recent years, the conventional input devices (for example, keyboards and mouses) of many information products have been replaced by touch panels in order to provide a more convenient, light-weighted, and intuitional experience to the users.
Touch panels can be categorized into resistive touch panels, capacitive touch panels, optical touch panels, acoustic wave touch panels, and electromagnetic touch panels according to the touch-sensing techniques adopted by these touch panels. Compared to other types of touch panels, capacitive touch panels offer shorter response time, higher reliability, and higher definition therefore are broadly applied to various handheld electronic apparatuses.
In a capacitive touch panel, a plurality of staggered electrodes constitutes a sensing array for achieving a surface sensing effect. When a user touches the touch panel with his finger, the touch panel determines the position touched by the user's finger according to capacitance variation on the sensing array.
However, peripheral circuits of the touch panel or wires for connecting the electrodes take up layout space on the touch panel. Besides, a pad bonding region should be reserved around the touch panel to allow external circuits (for example, a flexible circuit board) to be electrically connected to the sensing array, so that driving signals can be input and sensing signals can be output.
Accordingly, the present application is directed to a touch panel assembly, in which the peripheral layout space of a touch panel is effectively used so that the size of the touch panel is reduced, and the manufacturing cost thereof is lowered.
The present application is directed to an electronic apparatus using the touch panel assembly mentioned above, in which available layout space inside the electronic apparatus is increased so that the surrounding border of the electronic apparatus is reduced and the display area thereof is enlarged.
A touch panel assembly of the present application includes a touch panel and a flexible circuit board. The touch panel includes a sensing array, a plurality of first connection lines, a plurality of second connection lines, at least one input element, and a plurality of pads. The sensing array includes a plurality of sensing units. The first connection lines and the second connection lines are disposed outside the sensing array and are respectively and electrically connected to the corresponding sensing units to enable the sensing units. The input element is disposed outside the sensing array and close to a side of the touch panel. The pads are disposed in a bonding region of the touch panel and are respectively and electrically connected to the corresponding first connection lines and second connection lines. The bonding region is close to the side of the touch panel. The bonding region and the input element are arranged along a direction parallel to the side of the touch panel. The flexible circuit board has a connecting portion extended and attached to the bonding region. The connecting portion has a plurality of terminals respectively and electrically connected to the pads.
An electronic apparatus of the present application includes a casing, a main module, a display module, a touch panel, a flexible circuit board, and a transparent cover. The casing has an opening. The main module is disposed in the casing. The display module is disposed in the casing, and the opening exposes a display surface of the display module. The touch panel is disposed on the display surface and includes a sensing array, a plurality of first connection lines, a plurality of second connection lines, at least one input element, and a plurality of pads. The sensing array includes a plurality of sensing units. The first connection lines and the second connection lines are disposed outside the sensing array and are respectively and electrically connected to the corresponding sensing units to enable the sensing units. The input element is disposed outside the sensing array and close to a side of the touch panel. The pads are disposed in a bonding region of the touch panel and are respectively and electrically connected to the corresponding first connection lines and second connection lines. The bonding region is close to the side of the touch panel. The bonding region and the input element are arranged along a direction parallel to the side of the touch panel. The flexible circuit board is electrically connected between the main module and the touch panel. The flexible circuit board has a connecting portion extended and attached to the bonding region. The connecting portion has a plurality of terminals respectively and electrically connected to the pads. The transparent cover is disposed on the touch panel and covers the opening.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the input element and the bonding region are close to a side of the touch panel.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the input element and the bonding region are substantially arranged along a direction parallel to the side of the touch panel.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the input element includes a first input element and a second input element. The bonding region includes a first bonding region, a second bonding region, and a third bonding region. The first input element is between the first bonding region and the second bonding region, the second input element is between the second bonding region and the third bonding region, and the pads include a plurality of first pads in the first bonding region, a plurality of second pads in the second bonding region, and a plurality of third pads in the third bonding region.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bonding region includes a first bonding region and a second bonding region. The input element is between the first bonding region and the second bonding region, and the pads include a plurality of first pads in the first bonding region and a plurality of second pads in the second bonding region.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first connection lines include a first portion and a second portion respectively at a first side and a second side of the touch panel. The first connection lines of the first portion are respectively and electrically connected to the first pads in the first bonding region. The first connection lines of the second portion are respectively and electrically connected to the third pads in the third bonding region, and the second connection lines are respectively and electrically connected to the second pads in the second bonding region.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion of the flexible circuit board includes a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a third connecting portion. The first connecting portion is attached to the first bonding region. The terminals include a plurality of first terminals on the first connecting portion, and the first terminals are respectively and electrically connected to the first pads in the first bonding region. The second connecting portion is attached to the second bonding region. The terminals include a plurality of second terminals on the second connecting portion, and the second terminals are respectively and electrically connected to the second pads in the second bonding region. The third connecting portion is attached to the third bonding region. The terminals include a plurality of third terminals on the third connecting portion, and the third terminals are respectively and electrically connected to the third pads in the third bonding region.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible circuit board further includes a line-concentrating portion extended from outside the touch panel onto the touch panel, and after the line-concentrating portion enters the touch panel, the line-concentrating portion is extended on the touch panel and connected to the connecting portion.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bonding region includes a first bonding region, a second bonding region, and a third bonding region, and the connecting portion of the flexible circuit board includes a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a third connecting portion. The first connecting portion is attached to the first bonding region. The terminals include a plurality of first terminals on the first connecting portion, and the first terminals are respectively and electrically connected to the first pads in the first bonding region. The second connecting portion is attached to the second bonding region. The terminals include a plurality of second terminals on the second connecting portion, and the second terminals are respectively and electrically connected to the second pads in the second bonding region. The third connecting portion is attached to the third bonding region. The terminals include a plurality of third terminals on the third connecting portion, and the third terminals are respectively and electrically connected to the third pads in the third bonding region. A plurality of wires arranged in parallel on the line-concentrating portion fans out of the touch panel and is respectively connected to the first terminals, the second terminals, and the third terminals.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first input element is a virtual key and includes a first key electrode and a second key electrode, and the first key electrode and the second key electrode are respectively and electrically connected to a first keypad and a second keypad. The first keypad is in the first bonding region. The second keypad is in the second bonding region. The second input element is a virtual key and includes a third key electrode and a fourth key electrode, and the third key electrode and the fourth key electrode are respectively and electrically connected to a third keypad and a fourth keypad. The third keypad is in the third bonding region. The fourth keypad is in the second bonding region.
As described above, in a touch panel assembly provided by the present application, pads are disposed at both sides of input elements, and the connecting portion of a flexible circuit board is extended to both sides of the input elements and bonded with the pads. Thus, layout space surrounding a touch panel can be effectively used, so that the circuit layout of the touch panel can be made very compact, the size of the touch panel can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost thereof can be lowered. In addition, by adopting the touch panel assembly, the available layout space inside an electronic apparatus can be increased, the surrounding border of the electronic apparatus can be reduced, and the display area of the electronic apparatus can be enlarged.
These and other exemplary embodiments, features, aspects, and advantages of the application will be described and become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the application, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
The design provided by the application is suitable for an electronic apparatus, such as a mobile phone, a tablet PC, or an eBook. Following embodiments will be described by taking a mobile phone as an example.
Additionally, the touch panel 100 and the flexible circuit board 200 can be assembled together to form a touch panel assembly 50, such that the touch panel 100 and the flexible circuit board 200 can be assembled to the electronic apparatus 1 conveniently. Moreover, the electronic apparatus 1 further includes a first optically clear adhesive 62 and a second optically clear adhesive 64. The first optically clear adhesive 62 is disposed between the transparent cover 40 and the touch panel 100, and the second optically clear adhesive 64 is disposed between the touch panel 100 and the display module 30. After the touch panel assembly 50 is assembled into the casing 10, the first optically clear adhesive 62 bonds the transparent cover 40 and the touch panel 100, and the second optically clear adhesive 64 bonds the display module 30 and the touch panel 100. Furthermore, the main module 20 in the present embodiment is composed of a motherboard (not shown) and a processor (not shown).
3. Referring to
The first input element 142 and the second input element 144 are outside the sensing array 110 and close to a side 100a of the touch panel 100. The first input element 142 and the second input element 144 may be virtual keys, physical keys, light sensitive keys, or strength sensitive keys on a mobile phone. The first input element 142 and the second input element 144 are respectively located below the first transmissive pattern 42 (as shown in
The first pad 152, the second pad 154, and the third pad 156 are respectively disposed in a first bonding region 162, a second bonding region 164, and a third bonding region 166 of the touch panel 100 and are respectively and electrically connected to the corresponding first connection lines 120 and second connection lines 130. The first bonding region 162, the second bonding region 164, and the third bonding region 166 are close to the side 100a of the touch panel 100, and the first bonding region 162, the second bonding region 164, the third bonding region 166, the first input element 142, and the second input element 144 are alternatively arranged along a direction D1 parallel to the side 100a of the touch panel 100, where the first input element 142 is between the first bonding region 162 and the second bonding region 164, and the second input element 144 is between the second bonding region 164 and the third bonding region 166.
In addition, the flexible circuit board 200 has a first connecting portion 212, a second connecting portion 214, a third connecting portion 216, and a body 230. The first connecting portion 212, the second connecting portion 214, and the third connecting portion 216 are extended and attached to the corresponding first bonding region 162, second bonding region 164, and third bonding region 166. The body 230 is connected to the first connecting portion 212, the second connecting portion 214, and the third connecting portion 216, and the body 230 can be bent relative to the first connecting portion 212, the second connecting portion 214, and the third connecting portion 216 so that the flexible circuit board 200 and the main module 20 (as shown in
As described above, a plurality of first terminals 222 is at the first connecting portion 212 and is electrically connected to the first pad 152 in the first bonding region 162. A plurality of second terminals 224 is at the second connecting portion 214 and is electrically connected to the second pad 154 in the second bonding region 164. A plurality of third terminals 226 is at the third connecting portion 216 and is electrically connected to the third pad 156 in the third bonding region 166.
To be specific, the first pad 152, the second pad 154, and the third pad 156 are respectively disposed in the first bonding region 162, the second bonding region 164, and the third bonding region 166. The first bonding region 162, the second bonding region 164, the third bonding region 166, the first input element 142, and the second input element 144 are alternatively arranged along the direction D1. And, the first connecting portion 212, the second connecting portion 214, and the third connecting portion 216 of the flexible circuit board 200 are respectively extended to both sides of the first input element 142 and both sides of the second input element 144 and are respectively bonded to the first pad 152, the second pad 154, and the third pad 156. Thus, spaces at both sides of the first input element 142 and both sides of the second input element 144 can be used for disposing the first connecting portion 212, the second connecting portion 214, and the third connecting portion 216. Accordingly, the layout space around the touch panel 100 can be effectively used, so that the layout of the touch panel 100 can be made very compact, the size of the touch panel 100 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the touch panel assembly 50 can be lowered. Additionally, by applying the touch panel assembly 50, the available layout space in the electronic apparatus 1 is increased, so that the surrounding border of the electronic apparatus 1 is reduced and the display area of the electronic apparatus 1 is enlarged. However, the number of bonding regions is not limited to 3, which will be explained below with an example.
In another embodiment, the bonding region is composed of the first bonding region 162 and the second bonding region 164. The input element is between the first bonding region 162 and the second bonding region 164, the first pad 152 is in the first bonding region 162, and the second pad 154 is in the second bonding region 164. With such a structure, the circuit layout of the touch panel 100 can still be made very compact.
It should be noted that in the present application, there may be one or more input elements, and the number of the connecting portions may be one or more in accordance with the number of the input elements, and the circuit layout of a touch panel can still be made very compact by disposing the pads beside the input elements and extending the connecting portions to the sides of the input elements to be bonded with the pads. However, the numbers of the input elements and the connecting portions are not limited in the present application, and a user can adjust the numbers of the input elements and the connecting portions according to the actual application requirement. In addition, in the present application, the terminals of the connecting portion can be concentrated first and then extended out of the touch panel, which will be explained below with an example.
6. Referring to
Referring to
To be specific, in the present embodiment, the sensing units 112 can be grouped into an upper block 110a and a lower block 110b. The sensing units 112 in the lower block 110b are connected to the corresponding first pad 152 by the first connection lines 120 of a first portion 120a disposed at a first side 100b, and the sensing units 112 in the upper block 110a are connected to the corresponding third pad 156 by the first connection lines 120 of a second portion 120b disposed at a second side 100c. Thus, the layout space of the first connection lines 120 on the touch panel 100 can be reduced by grouping the sensing units 112 into two blocks and connecting the sensing units 112 to the corresponding bonding regions and pads through connection lines disposed at both sides. Accordingly, the size of the touch panel 100 is reduced, the surrounding border of the electronic apparatus 1 is reduced, and the display area of the electronic apparatus 1 is enlarged.
Additionally, according to the present application, the sensing units 112, the first connection lines 120, the second connection lines 130, the first pad 152, the second pad 154, and the third pad 156 may be fabricated at one or the other side of a substrate (not shown) of the touch panel 100, or may also be respectively fabricated on two substrates (not shown). Thus, a user can adjust the manufacturing pattern of the touch panel 100 according to the actual application requirement.
Referring to
When the first transmissive pattern 42 or the second transmissive pattern 44 is touched, a capacitance variation is produced between the first key electrode 142a and the second key electrode 142b, or another capacitance variation is produced between the third key electrode 144a and the fourth key electrode 144b. The electronic apparatus 1 (as shown in
As described above, in a touch panel assembly provided by the present application, pads are disposed in bonding regions, the bonding regions and input elements are alternatively arranged in parallel, and the connecting portion of a flexible circuit board is extended to both sides of the input elements and bonded with the pads. Thus, the spaces beside the input elements can be used for disposing the connecting portion. Accordingly, the layout space surrounding the touch panel can be effectively used, so that the circuit layout of the touch panel can be made very compact, the size of the touch panel can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the touch panel assembly can be lowered. In addition, by adopting the touch panel assembly, the available layout space inside an electronic apparatus is increased, the surrounding border of the electronic apparatus is reduced, and the display area of the electronic apparatus is enlarged.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present application without departing from the scope or spirit of the application. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present application cover modifications and variations of this application provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
