KR102251874B1 - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch window according to the embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode, wherein at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode has a mesh shape.

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

The embodiment relates to a touch window.

Recently, in various electronic products, a touch panel for inputting an image displayed on a display device by contacting an input device such as a finger or a stylus has been applied.

The touch panel may be typically divided into a resistive type touch panel and a capacitive type touch panel. When a pressure is applied to an input device, a resistive touch panel detects a change in resistance according to a connection between electrodes, and a position is detected. The capacitive touch panel detects a change in capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches it and detects a position. In view of the convenience and sensing power of the manufacturing method, the capacitive method has recently attracted attention in small models.

The touch panel may detect a position by disposing a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode on a substrate, and sensing a change in capacitance when a region in which the sensing electrode is disposed is touched.

In this case, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode may be disposed on one surface of the substrate using one substrate or may be disposed on one surface of each substrate using a plurality of substrates.

When the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode are disposed on one surface of the substrate using one substrate, the wiring electrode may be drawn out in various directions, and as an example, the wiring electrode may be disposed extending from an effective area to an ineffective area. .

In this case, when the wiring electrodes disposed on the effective area include metal, there is a problem in that the wiring electrodes can be visually recognized from the outside.

Accordingly, there is a need for a touch window having a new structure capable of solving the above problems.

The embodiment is to provide a touch window having improved reliability and visibility.

The touch window according to the first embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode, wherein at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode has a mesh shape.

The touch window according to the second embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode, wherein at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode has a mesh shape, and the sensing electrode has a first pitch. A first mesh electrode is included, the wiring electrode includes a second mesh electrode having a second pitch, and a width of the wiring electrode is greater than the first pitch.

The touch window according to the third embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode, wherein at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode has a mesh shape, and the sensing electrode has a first pitch. The first mesh electrode includes, the wiring electrode, and a reinforcing wire disposed inside the wire electrode, wherein the reinforcing wire includes: a connection part connecting the sensing electrode and the wire electrode; And an extension part extending from the connection part, and a length of the connection part is greater than the first pitch.

The touch window according to the embodiment implements the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode in a mesh shape, controls the mesh shape of the sensing electrode and the size of the mesh shape of the wiring electrode in order to improve the reliability and visibility of the touch window, and You can control the width.

In addition, by further arranging the reinforcing wiring inside the wiring electrode, it is possible to stably connect the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode, thereby improving the reliability of the touch window.

1 is a view showing a simplified perspective view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 2 and is an enlarged view of the wiring electrode according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 2, showing an enlarged wiring electrode according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 2, showing an enlarged wiring electrode according to the third embodiment.
6 to 8 are views illustrating a process of forming an electrode of a sensing electrode and/or a wiring electrode according to an exemplary embodiment.
9 to 12 are diagrams illustrating an example of a touch device apparatus to which a touch window according to an embodiment may be applied.

In the description of the embodiments, each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure is “on” or “under/under” the substrate, each layer (film), region, pad, or patterns. The description that "is formed in" includes all that are formed directly or through another layer. The standards for the top/top or bottom/bottom of each layer will be described based on the drawings.

In the drawings, the thickness or size of each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure may be modified for clarity and convenience of description, and thus the actual size is not entirely reflected.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3, a touch window according to an embodiment may include a cover substrate 100, a substrate 200, a sensing electrode 300, a wiring electrode 400, and a printed circuit board 500. .

The cover substrate 100 may be rigid or flexible. For example, the cover substrate 100 may include glass or plastic. In detail, the cover substrate 100 may include chemically strengthened glass such as soda lime glass or aluminosilicate glass, or may include plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The substrate 200 may be disposed on the cover substrate 100. The substrate 200 may support the sensing electrode 300 and/or the wiring electrode 400. That is, the substrate 200 may be a support substrate supporting the sensing electrode 300 and/or the wiring electrode 400.

The substrate 200 may be flexible. For example, the substrate 200 may include plastic. In detail, the substrate 200 may include plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

An effective area AA and a non-effective area UA may be defined in the cover substrate 100 and/or the substrate 200.

A display may be displayed in the effective area AA, and the display may not be displayed in the ineffective area UA disposed around the effective area AA.

In addition, the position of the input device (eg, a finger, etc.) may be sensed in at least one of the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA. When an input device such as a finger comes into contact with such a touch window, a difference in capacitance occurs at a portion where the input device is in contact, and a portion where the difference occurs may be detected as a contact position.

The sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the substrate 200. In detail, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed in at least one of the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA of the substrate 200. Preferably, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate.

The sensing electrode 300 may include a first sensing electrode 310 and a second sensing electrode 320.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on one surface of the substrate 200. in details. The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the same surface of the substrate 200. That is, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other so as not to contact each other on the same surface of the substrate 200.

At least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a transparent conductive material to allow electricity to flow without interfering with the transmission of light. For example, the sensing The electrode 300 is indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide It may contain metal oxides such as.

Alternatively, the sensing electrode 200 may include a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowire film, a carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, or a conductive polymer.

Alternatively, the sensing electrode 200 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 200 contains at least one metal of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), and alloys thereof. Can include.

At least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may have a mesh shape. In detail, at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be disposed to cross each other in a mesh shape.

In detail, referring to FIG. 2, at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 is a mesh line LA by a plurality of sub-electrodes intersecting each other in a mesh shape. And a mesh opening OA between the mesh lines. In this case, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm. The mesh line portion LA having a line width of less than about 0.1 μm of the mesh line LA may not be possible due to a manufacturing process, and when it exceeds about 10 μm, the sensing electrode pattern may be visually recognized from the outside and visibility may be deteriorated. Alternatively, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 1 μm to about 5 μm. Alternatively, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 1.5 μm to about 3 μm.

The mesh opening OA may be formed in various shapes. For example, the mesh opening OA may have various shapes such as a square, diamond, pentagon, hexagonal polygonal shape or circular shape. In addition, the mesh opening OA may be formed in a regular shape or a random shape.

When the sensing electrode has a mesh shape, the pattern of the sensing electrode may not be seen on the effective area AA. That is, even if the sensing electrode is formed of metal, the pattern can be made invisible. In addition, even when the sensing electrode is applied to a large-sized touch window, the resistance of the touch window can be lowered.

4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining a process of forming an electrode of a sensing electrode and/or a wiring electrode according to an exemplary embodiment.

6, the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment may form a mesh-shaped electrode by disposing a metal layer 330 on the front surface of the substrate 200 and etching the metal layer in a mesh shape. I can. For example, after depositing a metal layer 330 such as copper (Cu) on the entire surface of a substrate 200 such as polyetherene terephthalate, etc., the copper layer is etched to form a copper metal mesh in an embossed mesh shape. Electrodes can be formed.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 7, after forming a resin layer 210 including a UV resin or a thermosetting resin layer on the substrate 200, the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment may be formed of the resin layer 210. ) On the intaglio pattern P having a mesh shape, and then the metal paste 340 may be filled in the intaglio pattern. In this case, the intaglio pattern of the resin layer may be formed by imprinting a mold having a relief pattern.

The metal paste 340 may be a metal paste including at least one metal selected from Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof. Accordingly, by filling and curing the metal paste in the mesh-shaped intaglio pattern (P), it is possible to form the intaglio mesh-shaped metal mesh electrode.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 8, after forming a resin layer including a UV resin or a thermosetting resin layer on the substrate 200, the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment are meshed with the resin layer 210. After forming the embossed nano-patterns and micro-patterns in the shape, at least one metal of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof may be sputtered on the resin layer.

In this case, the positive and negative patterns of the nano-pattern and the micro-pattern may be formed by imprinting a mold having an intaglio pattern.

Subsequently, by etching the nano-pattern and the metal layer formed on the micro-pattern to remove only the metal layer formed on the nano-pattern, and leaving only the metal layer formed on the micro-pattern, a mesh-shaped metal electrode may be formed.

In this case, when etching the metal layer, a difference in etching rate may occur according to a difference in bonding area between the nano-pattern 211 and the micro-pattern 212 and the metal layer. That is, since the bonding area between the micropattern and the metal layer is larger than the bonding area between the nanopattern and the metal layer, less etching of the electrode material 215 formed on the micropattern occurs, and according to the same etching rate, As the metal layer formed on is left, and the metal layer formed on the nano-pattern 320 is etched away, a metal electrode in the shape of a micro-pattern embossed mesh may be formed on the substrate 200.

The sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode of the touch window according to the embodiment may be formed of a mesh-shaped electrode including a metal layer as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 described above.

The wiring electrode 400 may be connected to and disposed with the sensing electrode 300. The wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on at least one of the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA of the substrate 200. In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed in the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA of the substrate 200. That is, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed so that the substrate 200 extends from an ineffective area to an effective area.

The wiring electrode 400 may extend in the direction of the non-effective area to be connected to the printed circuit board 500. In addition, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the same surface of the substrate 200 on which the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are disposed.

Like the sensing electrode, the wiring electrode 400 may have a mesh shape. In addition, the wiring electrode 400 may include a material that is the same as or similar to the sensing electrode described above.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the touch window according to the first embodiment, the sensing electrode 300 includes a first mesh electrode having a first pitch P1, and the wiring electrode 400 includes a second pitch ( It may include a second mesh electrode having P2).

The first pitch P1 and the second pitch P2 may have different sizes. In detail, the first pitch P1 may be greater than the second pitch P2. That is, the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode 300 may be larger than the mesh pitch of the wiring electrode 400.

Accordingly, in the touch window according to the first embodiment, the mesh pitch of the wiring electrode is formed smaller than the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode, so that more strands of mesh can be secured inside the wiring electrode, thereby securing sufficient sheet resistance. can do. In addition, it is possible to prevent the wiring electrode disposed inside the effective area from being visually recognized, and to prevent a moire phenomenon caused by the wiring electrode.

배 이상의 크기를 가질 수 있다.Referring to FIG. 4, in the touch window according to the second embodiment, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed to have a predetermined width. The width W of the wiring electrode 400 may be different from the size of the first pitch P1. in details. The width W of the wiring electrode 400 may be greater than the first pitch P1. In detail, the width W of the wiring electrode 400 may have a size of about twice or more with respect to the first pitch P1. In more detail, the width W of the wiring electrode 400 is about the first pitch P1.

It can be more than twice the size.

로 하고, 여기에서 2 개의 메쉬 형상이 단선되지 않고 들어가는 폭으로 구현하기 위해

에 2를 곱한 값을 의미하는 값이다.The width (W) of the wiring electrode is a value defining a value that allows at least one mesh shape into the wiring electrode without being disconnected, the mesh shape of the sensing electrode is a diamond shape, and the length of the mesh lines is 1 When doing so, the value that can be entered without breaking a single mesh shape is determined according to the definition of the trigonometric function.

And, here, in order to implement the width of the two mesh shapes entering without being disconnected

It is a value that means the value multiplied by 2.

배 이상의 크기를 가짐으로써, 배선 전극 내부의 메쉬 형상이 단선되지 않고 연결될 수 있어 배선 전극을 안정적으로 형성할 수 있어 터치 윈도우의 신뢰성을 향상시킬 수 있다.
The width (W) of the wiring electrode is about the width of the first pitch

By having a size of more than twice, the mesh shape inside the wiring electrode can be connected without being disconnected, so that the wiring electrode can be stably formed, thereby improving the reliability of the touch window.

Referring to FIG. 5, the touch window according to the third embodiment may further include a reinforcement wire 450 disposed inside the wire electrode. The reinforcement wire 450 may be divided into at least two regions. have. In detail, the reinforcing wire 450 may be divided into a connection part 450a connecting the sensing electrode 300 and the wire electrode 400 and an extension part 450b extending from the connection part.

배 이상의 크기를 가질 수 있다.In this case, the connection part 450a of the reinforcement wiring 450 may be formed to have a predetermined length. In detail, the connection part 450a is about the first pitch P1 of the sensing electrode.

It can be more than twice the size.

로 하고, 여기에서 2 개의 메쉬 형상이 연결되는 길이를 구현하기 위해

에 2를 곱한 값을 의미하는 값이다.Here, the length of the connection part 450a of the reinforcing wire 450 is a value defining a value at which at least one mesh shape of the sensing electrode can be connected without being disconnected, and the mesh shape of the sensing electrode is diamond. When the shape is set and the length of the mesh lines is 1, the value that can be entered without breaking a single mesh shape

And, here, in order to implement the length that the two mesh shapes are connected

It is a value that means the value multiplied by 2.

In addition, the extension part 450b may be disposed in the center of the wiring electrode. That is, the extension part 450b may be connected to the connection part 450a and extend in one direction from the center of the wiring electrode.

배 이상의 크기를 가짐으로써, 감지 전극과 배선 전극을 안정적으로 연결할 수 있으므로, 전체적인 터치 윈도우의 신뢰성을 향상시킬 수 있다.The length of the connection part 450a of the reinforcing wire 450 is about the width of the first pitch.

By having a size of twice or more, since the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode can be stably connected, the reliability of the overall touch window can be improved.

In addition, at least one reinforcing wire 450 may be disposed inside the wire electrode. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the reliability of the touch window by preventing the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode from being short-circuited.

Hereinafter, an example of a touch device apparatus to which a touch window according to the above-described embodiments is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

Referring to FIG. 9, as an example of a touch device device, a mobile terminal is shown. The mobile terminal 1000 may include an effective area AA and an invalid area UA. The effective area AA may sense a touch signal by a touch such as a finger, and a command icon pattern part and a logo may be formed in the ineffective area.

Referring to FIG. 10, the touch window may include a flexible touch window that is bent. Accordingly, the touch device device including the same may be a flexible touch device device. Thus, the user can bend or bend it by hand.

Referring to FIG. 11, such a touch window can be applied not only to touch device devices such as mobile terminals, but also to vehicle navigation. In addition, referring to FIG. 12, such a touch panel may be applied to a vehicle. That is, the touch panel may be applied to various parts in a vehicle to which the touch panel can be applied. Accordingly, it is applied not only to the PND (Personal Navigation Display), but also to an instrument panel (dashboard) to implement a CID (Center Information Display). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and of course, such a touch device device may be used in various electronic products.

Features, structures, effects, and the like described in the above-described embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in each embodiment may be combined or modified for other embodiments by a person having ordinary knowledge in the field to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, contents related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the embodiments have been described above, these are only examples and do not limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention pertains are illustrated above without departing from the essential characteristics of this embodiment. It will be seen that various modifications and applications that have not been made are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments can be modified and implemented. And differences related to these modifications and applications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

A cover substrate;
A substrate disposed on the cover substrate and including an effective area and an inactive area; And
A sensing electrode on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode,
The sensing electrode may include a first sensing electrode on the substrate; And a second sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from the first sensing electrode,
The wiring electrode may include: a first wiring electrode connected to the first sensing electrode; And a second wiring electrode connected to the second sensing electrode,
At least one sensing electrode of the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode includes a first mesh line, a second mesh line, and a mesh opening between the first mesh line and the second mesh line,
The first mesh line and the second mesh line have a line width of 1.5 μm to 3 μm,
The width of the first wiring electrode is smaller than the interval of the first wiring electrode,
The width of the second wiring electrode is smaller than the interval of the second wiring electrode. The method of claim 1,
At least one wiring electrode of the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode extends from the effective area in a direction of the non-effective area and is disposed. The method of claim 1,
At least one electrode of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode includes at least one of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof. The method of claim 1,
The sensing electrode includes a first mesh electrode having a first pitch,
The wiring electrode includes a second mesh electrode having a second pitch,
The first pitch is larger than the second pitch. The method of claim 4,
The width of the wiring electrode is with respect to at least one of the first pitch and the second pitch

Touch windows that are more than twice as large. The method of claim 4,
The width of the wiring electrode is larger than the second pitch. The method of claim 1,
The sensing electrode includes a first mesh electrode having a first pitch,
The wiring electrode includes at least one reinforcement wiring disposed inside the wiring electrode,
The reinforcing wiring,
A connection part connecting the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode; And
Including an extension extending from the connecting portion,
The length of the connection portion is greater than the first pitch of the touch window. The method of claim 7,
The length of the connection part is with respect to the first pitch

Touch windows that are more than twice as large. The method of claim 7,
The extended portion is a touch window extending from a central portion of the inside of the wiring electrode. delete delete delete

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