Attachment structure of touch panel

Abstract

To provide attachment structure of a touch panel capable of fixing the touch panel at an appropriate position relative to a panel frame.SOLUTION: Two hinges 11a, 11b, a rocking part 12 which is connected to the two hinges 11a, 11b and can be displaced along an upper side part H1, and hinge members 1L, 1R consisting of a boss 13 formed in the rocking part 12 are formed, at two locations of an inside surface along the upper side part H1 of a panel frame 100. Opening parts 21L, 21R are formed, at a position offset by a predetermined distance L1 in a first direction along the upper side part H1, with respect to the boss 13, at an attachment position to the panel frame 100, in a touch panel 200. The opening part 21L, 21R are fitted to the boss 13, and the touch panel 200 is attached to the panel frame 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a touch panel mounting structure. [Background technology]

[0002] A touch panel display such as a display for a navigation system installed in a vehicle or a tablet terminal has a configuration in which a touch panel is housed on the inner surface of a rectangular panel frame located in front of a liquid crystal display panel. A technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed as a method for attaching a touch panel to a panel frame.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that a recess is provided on the underside of the first electrode substrate, a protrusion is provided on the inner bottom surface of the case, and the recess and protrusion are fitted together to position the substrate assembly relative to the case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-160107 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have a configuration for fastening the board assembly to the inside surface of the case, so it is not possible to fix the board assembly in the correct position relative to the case. That is, the storage space for the board assembly formed in the case is larger than the board assembly in consideration of tolerances. Therefore, when fixing by fitting the boss and opening, a gap may occur between the board assembly and the case over long periods of use, which may cause rattle.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a touch panel mounting structure that allows the touch panel to be fixed in an appropriate position relative to the panel frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the touch panel mounting structure of the present invention is a mounting structure for mounting a touch panel within a rectangular panel frame, wherein the panel frame has a hinge member formed at at least one location on its inner surface along a first side, the hinge member comprising two hinges, a swinging portion connected to the two hinges and displaceable along the first side, and a first boss formed on the swinging portion, and the touch panel has an insertion portion formed on the touch panel at a mounting position on the panel frame, offset by a predetermined distance from the first boss in a first direction along the first side, and the insertion portion is fitted into the first boss to mount the touch panel to the panel frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to fix the touch panel at an appropriate position relative to the panel frame. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a panel frame used in the mounting structure according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a hinge member formed on a panel frame, where (a) shows the left side hinge member and (b) shows the right side hinge member. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how the hinge member is displaced to the left and right, where (a) shows a state where it is displaced to the right, and (b) shows a state where it is displaced to the left. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing ribs formed on a panel frame, where (a) shows a rib formed on the upper left, and (b) shows a rib formed on the upper right. [Figure 5A]FIG. 5A is a front view of the touch panel. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a rear view of the touch panel. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of the main part of the touch panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the opening of the touch panel is fitted into the hinge member of the panel frame. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing the boss formed on the left hinge member and the offset that occurs in the left opening formed in the touch panel. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing the boss formed on the right hinge member and the offset that occurs in the right opening formed in the touch panel. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view showing a panel frame used in a mounting structure according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the mounting structure according to the second embodiment, where (a) shows the upper right end of the panel frame, and (b) shows the upper right end of the touch panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Description of the First Embodiment] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a panel frame 100 to which a touch panel mounting structure according to a first embodiment is applied. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a hinge member formed in the panel frame 100, and is an enlarged view of the areas indicated by the symbols R1 and R2 in Fig. 1.

[0011] 1, the panel frame 100 has a rectangular shape with an opening in the center. In the following, the longitudinal direction of the rectangle is defined as the left-right direction (the direction along the first side), and the lateral direction is defined as the up-down direction.

[0012] A hinge member 1L is formed near the left end of the inner surface along the top edge H1 (first edge) of the panel frame 100, and a hinge member 1R is formed near the right end. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the hinge member 1L includes two hinges 11a, 11b extending in the vertical direction, and a rectangular swinging portion 12 connected to the two hinges 11a, 11b. A boss 13 (first boss) is formed in the center of the swinging portion 12. The hinge member 1R shown in FIG. 2(b) has the same configuration as the hinge member 1L.

[0013] When stress is applied in the left-right direction, the swinging portion 12 of the hinge members 1L, 1R is displaced left-right by a small distance (e.g., 0.3 mm). That is, when stress is applied to the rightward direction to the swinging portion 12, the swinging portion 12 is displaced rightward as shown in FIG. 3(a). When stress is applied to the leftward direction to the swinging portion 12, the swinging portion 12 is displaced leftward as shown in FIG. 3(b). Furthermore, since the amount of left-right displacement of the swinging portion 12 is an extremely small distance of about 0.3 mm, the amount of up-down displacement when the swinging portion 12 is displaced left-right is negligible.

[0014] That is, in the panel frame 100, a hinge member is formed at least at one location on the inner surface along the top side H1 (first side), the hinge member being composed of two hinges 11a, 11b, a swinging part 12 that is connected to the two hinges 11a, 11b and is displaceable along the top side H1, and a boss 13 (first boss) formed on the swinging part 12. Specifically, hinge members 1L, 1R are formed at two locations on the inner surface along the first side of the panel frame 100.

[0015] Figures 4(a) and (b) are enlarged views of the areas indicated by the symbols R3 and R4 in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 4(a) and (b), ribs 2 (protrusions) that come into contact with the touch panel 200 (see Figures 5A and 5B described below) are formed near the upper and lower ends of the left side of the panel frame 100.

[0016] That is, a rib 2 (protrusion) is formed on the inner surface of the second side (left side) which intersects with the upper side H1 (first side) of the panel frame 100 and is the side (left side) to which the hinge portion 1L is biased when the first boss 13 fits into the opening 21L. The number of ribs 2 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

[0017] FIG. 5A is a front view of the touch panel 200 attached to the panel frame 100, and FIG. 5B is a back view of the same. FIG. 6(a) is a side view of the main part of the touch panel 200. Note that FIG. 5B shows the back side of the touch panel 200, and is therefore left and right reversed from the front view shown in FIG. 5A. As is well known, the touch panel 200 is configured by combining a display device and a touchpad, and is a display device that a user can operate by directly touching the screen. As shown in FIG. 6, the touch panel 200 has a configuration in which a decorative glass 31 and a sensor glass portion 32 are laminated together.

[0018] 5A and 5B, openings 21L and 21R (insertion portions) are formed near the left and right ends of the upper side h1 of the touch panel 200. Each opening 21L and 21R is formed at a position that approximately coincides with the two bosses 13 shown in FIG. 1 (more specifically, offset slightly in the left-right direction). Note that recesses may be used instead of the openings 21L and 21R.

[0019] Next, the procedure for attaching the touch panel 200 to the panel frame 100 will be described. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the openings 21L, 21R of the touch panel 200 are fitted into the hinge members 1L, 1R of the panel frame 100. Fig. 8A is an enlarged view of region R11 shown in Fig. 7, and is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the left-side hinge member 1L and the opening 21L when the touch panel 200 is set at the mounting position (design mounting position) within the panel frame 100. Fig. 8B is an enlarged view of region R12 shown in Fig. 7, and is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the right-side hinge member 1R and the opening 21R when the touch panel 200 is set at the mounting position (design mounting position) within the panel frame 100.

[0020] As shown in Figure 8A, opening 21L is offset to the right by a slight distance L1 from boss 13 formed on hinge member 1L. Similarly, opening 21R is offset to the right by a slight distance L1 from boss 13 formed on hinge member 1R, as shown in Figure 8B.

[0021] That is, the touch panel 200 has openings 21L, 21R (insertion portions) formed at a position offset a predetermined distance in a first direction (rightward) along the upper edge portion H1 (first edge) from the boss 13 (first boss) at the attachment position to the panel frame 100.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the user positions the upper edge h1 of the touch panel 200 so that it abuts the inner surface s1 of the upper edge portion H1 of the panel frame 100, and then attaches the touch panel 200 to the panel frame 100 by fitting the openings 21L and 21R into the bosses 13 of each hinge member 1L and 1R (see Figures 8A and 8B).

[0023] That is, openings 21L, 21R (insertion portions) are formed at two locations along the first direction on the touch panel 200, and the two openings 21L, 21R are fitted into first bosses 13 formed on the two hinge members 1L, 1R to attach the touch panel 200 to the panel frame 100.

[0024] As described above, the openings 21L, 21R are offset by the distance L1 to the right (first direction) relative to the boss 13, so the swinging portion 12 of each hinge member 1L, 1R is displaced by the distance L1 to the right. That is, each swinging portion 12 is displaced to the right as shown in FIG. 3(a).

[0025] As described above, since the distance L1 is small (for example, 0.3 mm), even if the swinging portion 12 is displaced to the right, the amount of vertical displacement can be ignored. In addition, the two hinges 11a and 11b (see FIG. 3) provided on the hinge members 1L and 1R are biased to the left when the swinging portion 12 is displaced to the right.

[0026] That is, a leftward stress acts on the swinging portion 12, which presses the touch panel 200 leftward. As a result, the left side of the touch panel 200 comes into contact with two ribs 2 (see FIG. 4) formed on the left side of the panel frame 100 with a certain amount of stress being applied. Therefore, the touch panel 200 can be positioned and fixed to the panel frame 100.

[0027] As described above, in the touch panel mounting structure according to the first embodiment, hinge members 1L and 1R are formed at the left and right ends of the inner surface along the top edge H1 (first edge) of the panel frame 100. Positioning openings 21L and 21R are also formed in two (or more) locations on the touch panel 200. The openings 21L and 21R are offset by a distance L1 (predetermined distance) to the right (first direction) relative to the boss 13 at the mounting position of the touch panel 200.

[0028] By fitting the openings 21L, 21R into the bosses 13 formed on the hinge members 1L, 1R, the swinging portions 12 formed on the hinge members 1L, 1R are displaced to the right. As a result, the touch panel 200 is biased to the left, and the left edge of the touch panel 200 is pressed against the panel frame 100, causing it to abut against the rib 2. This makes it possible to accurately position the touch panel 200 relative to the panel frame 100. Furthermore, it is possible to accurately align the vertices (upper left side in this embodiment) of the XY coordinates of the LCD panel and the touch panel, which are independent components, on the panel frame.

[0029] In this embodiment, even if a tolerance occurs in the distance between the openings 21L, 21R shown in Fig. 7, the swinging portions 12 of the two hinge members 1L, 1R are displaced in the left-right direction, thereby absorbing the tolerance and making it possible to avoid the effects of the tolerance. Therefore, there is no need to make one of the two openings 21L, 21R an elongated hole, and the openings 21L, 21R can be circular.

[0030] The swinging portion 12 is displaced only left and right, and the amount of displacement in the up and down direction is negligible, so it is possible to adjust the up and down position of the touch panel 200 with high precision. Therefore, there is no need to provide a rib on the upper side portion H1 of the panel frame 100.

[0031] In the first embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the touch panel 200 is in contact with the inner surface on the left side of the panel frame 100, but the same effect can be achieved even if the left and right are reversed.

[0032] [Description of Modifications] Next, a modified example of the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 is a front view showing the configuration of a panel frame 101 employing a mounting structure according to the modified example. In the modified example, a hinge member 1U is formed near the upper end of the left side of the panel frame 100, and a hinge member 1D is formed near the lower end. In addition, ribs 2 are formed in two places on the lower side of the panel frame 100.

[0033] Although not shown, openings are formed on the left side of the touch panel at positions corresponding to the hinge members 1U and 1D. As in the first embodiment described above, the openings are fitted into bosses formed on the hinge members 1U and 1D, allowing the bottom side of the touch panel to abut against the rib 2 formed on the panel frame 100 with a constant stress. This makes it possible to fix the touch panel to the panel frame 101 with high precision.

[0034] [Description of the Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the upper right portion of a panel frame 100 and a touch panel 200 employing an attachment structure according to the second embodiment, where (a) shows the panel frame 100 and (b) shows the touch panel 200.

[0035] In the first embodiment described above, an example was described in which hinge members 1L and 1R were formed at two locations on the top edge H1 of the panel frame 100. In the second embodiment, a hinge member is formed only on one end of the top edge H1 of the panel frame 100, and a boss 3 (second boss) is formed on the other end as shown in FIG. 9(a). Also, as shown in FIG. 9(b), a long hole 22 extending in the left-right direction is formed on one end of the touch panel 200. The configuration of the panel frame 100 and the upper left portion of the touch panel 200 is the same as in the first embodiment described above, and a hinge member 1L and an opening 21L are formed as shown in FIG.

[0036] That is, the hinge member 1L is provided at only one location on one end (left side) of the inner surface along the first side of the panel frame 100. A boss 3 (second boss) is formed at the other end (right side) of the inner surface, and openings 21L and 21R (insertion portions) are formed at two locations along the first direction on the touch panel 200. The two openings 21L and 21R fit into the boss 13 (first boss) and the boss 3 (second boss), respectively. Furthermore, the opening (insertion portion) that fits into the boss 3 (second boss) is an elongated hole that widens along the direction of the first side.

[0037] Because the opening 21L fits into the boss 13 of the hinge member 1L, the left side of the touch panel 200 abuts against the rib 2 formed on the left side of the panel frame 100. This makes it possible to position and fix the touch panel 200.

[0038] 9(b), the boss 3 fits into the elongated hole 22 formed on the right side of the touch panel 200, allowing the touch panel 200 to slide a small distance in the left-right direction relative to the panel frame 100. Therefore, if the touch panel 200 is displaced to the left, this displacement can be absorbed. In the touch panel mounting structure according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to position and fix the touch panel 200 relative to the panel frame 100.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the descriptions and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples, and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1L, 1R, 1U, 1D hinge parts 2 Ribs (protrusions) 3 Boss (Second Boss) 11a, 11b hinge 12 Swinging part 13 Boss (1st boss) 21L, 21R opening (insertion part) 22 long hole 31 Decorative Glass 32 Sensor glass 100, 101 Panel Frame 200 touch panel L1 distance (predetermined distance) H1 Top side (first side)

Claims

1. A mounting structure for mounting a touch panel within a rectangular panel frame, The panel frame includes: a hinge member is formed at least at one location on an inner surface along the first side, the hinge member including two hinges, a swinging portion connected to the two hinges and displaceable along the first side, and a first boss formed on the swinging portion; The touch panel includes: an insertion portion is formed at a position offset by a predetermined distance in a first direction along the first side with respect to the first boss at an attachment position to the panel frame; The insertion portion is fitted into the first boss to attach the touch panel to the panel frame. Touch panel mounting structure.

2. The hinge members are installed at two locations on an inner surface along the first edge of the panel frame, the insertion portion is formed at two locations along the first direction on the touch panel, The two insertion portions are fitted into the first bosses formed on the two hinge members, and the touch panel is attached to the panel frame. The touch panel mounting structure according to claim 1 .

3. the hinge member is provided at only one location on one end side of an inner surface along a first side of the panel frame, and a second boss is formed on the other end side of the inner surface, the insertion portion is formed at two locations along the first direction on the touch panel, the two insertion portions are fitted to the first boss and the second boss, respectively; The insertion portion that fits into the second boss is an elongated hole that extends along the first side. The touch panel mounting structure according to claim 1 .

4. A protrusion is formed on an inner surface of a second side that intersects with the first side of the panel frame and is the side to which the hinge portion is biased when the first boss is fitted with the insertion portion. The touch panel mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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