Abstract:
A touch screen apparatus is provided. The touch screen apparatus includes a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module for outputting data, a touch panel laminated on the top of the LCD module for inputting data by a touch, and a conductive resin coated to have a constant thickness between the LCD module and the touch panel, and improving adhesion and noise shielding.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 11, 2010 and assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0021661, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a touch screen apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a touch screen apparatus used as data input/output means for a variety of kinds of electronic devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, a variety of kinds of electronic equipment have input devices for data input, and output devices for data output. The input device is typically a key button device and the like, and the output device is typically a display device including a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module. 
         [0006]    Recently, touch screen apparatuses that provide for both data input and data output using the same device, thus greatly reducing the volume of electronic equipment while diversifying its function, are being put in the market. The touch screen apparatuses dispose a transparent touch panel in an upper part of an LCD module, thereby accomplishing simultaneous input/output. This touch panel is classified into touch panels of various schemes such as a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, an ultrasonic touch panel, a light (infrared rays) sensing touch panel, an electromagnetic induction touch panel, and the like. 
         [0007]    Among these touch panels, the capacitive touch panel is described below. The capacitive touch panel includes a window part formed of a dielectric substance, a dielectric layer coupled to a lower part of the window part and formed of, for example, PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET) or glass, a conductive substance coating layer partially coated with a transparent conductive substance such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and the like in order to detect a touch on an upper part of the dielectric layer, and an Optical Clear Adhesive (OCA) that is an adhesive layer for coupling the window part with the dielectric layer. The conductive substance coating layer includes a silver paste electrode part for electrically connecting to a predetermined Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC). The FPC mounts a touch screen control unit thereon. An end of the FPC mounting the touch screen control unit includes a connector part, and electrically connects to a main board provided elsewhere in the equipment. 
         [0008]    An LCD module is mounted at a lower side of the touch panel. During operation, the LCD module generates noise that degrades the performance of the touch panel. Accordingly, the conventional art provides an air gap of a constant size as a shield layer between a touch panel surface and an LCD surface. 
         [0009]    However, the air gap deteriorates the visual aspects of the touch screen, such as the brightness or contrast of a corresponding touch screen, because external light introduced on the touch screen is reflected from a layer of different material. This greatly deteriorates the readability and visibility of the touch screen, and causes a failure to effectively shield against the noise generated in the LCD module. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a touch screen apparatus that improves visibility. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a touch screen apparatus realized to shield against noise generated in a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module, making a contribution to performance improvement of a touch panel. 
         [0012]    A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a touch screen apparatus realized to interpose a conductive resin between an LCD module and a touch panel, effectively performing a noise shield function. 
         [0013]    The above aspects are achieved by providing a touch screen apparatus. 
         [0014]    According to an aspect of the present invention, a touch screen apparatus is provided. The touch screen apparatus includes an LCD module for outputting data, a touch panel laminated on the top of the LCD module for inputting data by a touch, and a conductive resin coated to have a constant thickness between the LCD module and the touch panel, and improving adhesion and noise shielding. 
         [0015]    Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram illustrating a portable terminal applying a touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an explosive perspective diagram illustrating a touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a key-part sectional diagram illustrating a construction of a touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a key-part sectional diagram illustrating a construction of a touch screen apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
         [0023]    The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0024]    It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces. 
         [0025]    By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide. 
         [0026]    In the drawings, a portable terminal is illustrated and a touch screen panel applied to the portable terminal is illustrated and described, but this does not intend to limit the scope of the present invention. For instance, it is applicable to a variety of electronic equipments including a touch screen panel according to the present invention. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram illustrating a portable terminal applying a touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the touch screen apparatus  104  is installed in a front surface  101  of the terminal  100 . The touch screen apparatus  104  supports a simultaneous data input/output function. A speaker unit  102  for receiving a called party&#39;s voice is installed in an upper part of the touch screen apparatus  104 , and a microphone unit  103  capable of transmitting a user&#39;s voice is installed at a lower side of the touch screen apparatus  104 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is an explosive perspective diagram illustrating a touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the touch screen apparatus  104  includes a reinforcement plate  70 , a backlight unit  60 , a double coated tape  50 , an LCD module  40 , and a touch panel  30  that are laminated successively on the reinforcement plate  70 . 
         [0031]    The reinforcement plate  70  can be formed of a metal, for example, Steel Use Stainless (SUS) material. The reinforcement plate  70  performs a function of protecting not only the backlight unit  60  but also the LCD module  40  and the touch panel  30  laminated on the backlight unit  60 , and permits the touch screen apparatus  104  to be coupled as one assembly. Further, the touch panel  30  is installed to protrude the part of a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB)  18  externally, and has a connector part for electrically connecting to a substrate of equipment at its end. 
         [0032]    According to an exemplary implementation, a predetermined resin is interposed between the LCD module  40  and the touch panel  30 . The resin, which may comprise a conductive resin, performs a function of shielding the touch panel  30  from the affection of noise generated in the LCD module  40 . Thus, the resin should be coated throughout the front surface of the LCD module  40 , and may be a conductive resin of transparent material. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a key-part sectional diagram illustrating a construction of a touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a touch screen apparatus  1  includes a conductive resin  41  interposed between an LCD module  40  and a touch panel  30 . The touch panel  30  includes a dielectric layer  11 , a conductive layer  12 , an Optical Clear Adhesive (OCA)  13 , a window printing layer  14 , and a window glass  15 . The conductive resin  41  may be formed of a transparent material. The conductive resin  41  may be all coated to have a constant thickness on a surface of the LCD module  40 . Also, the conductive resin  40  can be formed to have a thickness at least smaller than that of the existing air gap. For example, the conventional air gap has a thickness of at least 0.3 mm or more, while the conductive resin may have a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. 
         [0035]    The dielectric layer (e.g., PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET) or glass)  11  is formed in the bottom of the touch panel  30 . The conductive layer  12  is coated on an upper surface of the dielectric layer  11 . The conductive layer  12  may be of a transparent conductive substance including Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO). The conductive layer  12  has an electrode pattern, and can electrically connect through silver paste electrode parts at either or both ends, which are not illustrated. 
         [0036]    Thereafter, the window glass  15  is laminated on an upper part of the conductive layer  12  using the OCA  13  and, as a result, the touch panel  30  is completed. Additionally, the window printing layer  14  can be further interposed at the bottom of the window glass  15  in order to define an active area of the touch panel  30 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a key-part sectional diagram illustrating a construction of a touch screen apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a touch screen apparatus  2  is illustrated. The touch screen apparatus  2  includes a dual structure touch panel in which a dielectric layer  21 , a conductive layer  22 , and an OCA  23  other than the construction of  FIG. 3  are laminated over again. 
         [0039]    Even in this case, a conductive resin  41  can be interposed between an LCD module  40  and the dielectric layer  21  disposed on the LCD module  40 . 
         [0040]    An exemplary touch screen apparatus according to the present invention shields against noise generated in an LCD module using a conductive resin. Because an air gap is excluded, visibility is improved and resultantly, the reliability of equipment is improved. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.