KR102275880B1 - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch window according to an embodiment includes a substrate; and a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode disposed on the substrate, and at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode has a mesh shape.

Description

touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

Embodiments relate to touch windows.

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

The touch window may be typically divided into a resistive touch window and a capacitive touch window. The resistive touch window detects a position by detecting a change in resistance according to the connection between electrodes when pressure is applied to the input device. In the capacitive touch window, a position is detected by detecting a change in capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches the window. In consideration of the convenience and sensing power of the manufacturing method, the capacitive method has recently been attracting attention for small models.

The touch window may detect a position by arranging 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.

These sensing electrodes or wiring electrodes may be disposed on the cover substrate and/or the substrate.

In this case, when the sensing electrode or the wiring electrode is formed in a mesh shape, there is a problem in that the mesh pattern of the sensing electrode or the wiring electrode may be visually recognized from the outside on the effective area or the non-effective area.

That is, the mesh pattern of the sensing electrode or the wiring electrode formed of metal may be visually recognized from the outside, and thus there is a problem in that visibility is deteriorated.

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

The embodiment intends to provide a touch window with improved reliability and visibility.

A touch window according to an embodiment includes a substrate; and a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode disposed on the substrate, and at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode has a mesh shape.

In the touch window according to the embodiment, a relationship between a mesh pitch of a sensing electrode and a mesh line width, a mesh pitch of a wiring electrode, a mesh line width, a width, and an interval between the wiring electrodes may be defined by a constant formula.

According to the definition of this formula, transmittance of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode formed in a mesh shape may be improved, and accordingly, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode may not be visually recognized from the outside.

Accordingly, the touch window according to the embodiment may improve overall visibility.

1 is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a touch window according to a first embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a touch window according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 2 .
4 is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a touch window according to a second exemplary embodiment.
5 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a touch window according to a second exemplary embodiment.
6 to 8 are diagrams for explaining an electrode formation process of a sensing electrode and/or a wiring electrode according to an embodiment.
9 to 12 are diagrams illustrating an example of a touch device apparatus to which a touch window according to an embodiment is applied.

In the description of embodiments, each layer (film), region, pattern or structure is “on” or “under” the substrate, each layer (film), region, pad or patterns. The description of being formed in " includes all those formed directly or through another layer. The standards for upper/above or lower/lower layers of each layer will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, the thickness or size of each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure may be changed for clarity and convenience of description, and thus does not fully reflect the actual size.

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

1 to 5 , the touch window according to the embodiment may include a substrate 100 , a sensing electrode 300 , a wiring electrode 400 , and a printed circuit board 500 .

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

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

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

Alternatively, a cover substrate (not shown) may be further disposed on the substrate 100 . In detail, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate 100 , and the sensing electrode 300 and/or the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed directly on the cover substrate on one or both surfaces of the substrate.

An effective area AA and an invalid area UA may be defined in the substrate 100 .

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

Also, in at least one of the effective area AA and the ineffective area UA, the position of the input device (eg, a finger, etc.) may be detected. When an input device such as a finger is in contact with such a touch window, a difference in capacitance occurs at a portion in contact with the input device, and the portion in which the difference occurs may be detected as a contact position.

The sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the substrate 100 . In detail, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed in at least one of the effective area AA and the ineffective area UA of the substrate 100 . Preferably, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate 100 .

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 cover substrate 100 or 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 100 . 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 100 .

The sensing electrode 300 may include a transparent conductive material to allow electricity to flow without interfering with the transmission of light. For example, the sensing electrode 300 may include indium tin oxide, indium zinc It may include a metal oxide such as indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, or titanium oxide.

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

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

The sensing electrode 300 may include a mesh shape. In detail, the sensing electrode 300 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may include a first mesh electrode disposed while crossing each other in a mesh shape.

In detail, referring to FIG. 3 , the sensing electrode 300 has a first mesh line LA1 and a first mesh opening between the first mesh line LA1 by a plurality of sub-electrodes crossing each other in a mesh shape. (OA1).

The first mesh opening OA1 may be formed in various shapes. For example, the mesh opening OA may have various shapes, such as a rectangular shape, a diamond shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal polygonal shape, or a circular shape. Also, the first mesh opening OA1 may have a regular shape or a random shape.

Since the sensing electrode has a mesh shape, the pattern of the sensing electrode may be invisible on the effective area AA or the non-effective area UA. That is, even if the sensing electrode is formed of a metal, the pattern may be invisible. In addition, even when the sensing electrode is applied to a large-sized touch window, the resistance of the touch window may be lowered.

The sensing electrode 300 may have a first mesh pitch P1 and a first mesh line width LW1 as it has a mesh shape having a first mesh line LA1 and a first mesh opening OA1.

The first mesh line width may have a size of about 10 μm or less. For example, the first mesh line width may have a size of greater than 0 μm and less than or equal to 10 μm.

In detail, the first mesh line width may exceed 0㎛ and have a size of 5㎛ or less. In more detail, the first mesh line width may be about 1.5㎛ to about 3㎛.

When the line width of the first mesh line LA1 exceeds about 10 μm, the sensing electrode pattern may be visually recognized from the outside, thereby reducing visibility.

In addition, the first mesh pitch P1 and the first mesh line width LW1 may satisfy Equations 1 to 3 below.

[Formula 1]

1st mesh pitch≥50 x 1st mesh linewidth

[Formula 2]

0<First mesh pitch<100×First line width ^-1

[Equation 3]

Equations 1 to 3 are equations related to the visibility of the sensing electrode, and when the above equations are not satisfied, the sensing electrodes may be visually recognized from the outside, thereby reducing the visibility of the touch window. That is, when the sensing electrode having a first mesh line width of about 5 μm or less does not satisfy Equations 1 to 3, the transmittance of the sensing electrodes may be reduced, and accordingly, the sensing electrode may be visually recognized from the outside. Therefore, the overall visibility of the touch window may be deteriorated.

1st mesh pitch
(μm) first mesh line width
(μm) Equation 3 Value transmittance
(%) Example 1 30 One 1.38 70% Example 2 50 One 0.98 90% Example 3 80 One 0.38 92%

That is, referring to Table 1, when the first mesh line width is 1 μm and the first mesh pitch is substituted in Equation 3, it can be seen that each transmittance is different. That is, in the case of Examples 2 and 3 satisfying Equation 3, the transmittance has a value of about 90% or more, and accordingly, the sensing electrode may not be visually recognized from the outside. However, Example 1, which does not satisfy Equation 3, has a low transmittance value, and thus the sensing electrode may be visually recognized from the outside.

The wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the substrate 100 . In detail, the wire electrode 400 may be disposed on the same surface as the sensing electrode 300 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed to extend from the non-effective area UA to the effective area AA. In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may be connected to the sensing electrode 300 in the effective area AA, and may extend from the effective area AA to the ineffective area UA.

The wiring electrode 400 may extend in a direction of the ineffective area UA and may be connected to the printed circuit board 500 on the ineffective area UA.

The wire electrode 400 may include the same or similar material as the sensing electrode 300 . In detail, the wiring electrode 400 includes indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium. Metal oxides such as titanium oxide, nanowires, photosensitive nanowire films, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene or conductive polymers, chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), or an alloy thereof may be included.

The wire electrode 400 may include a mesh shape. In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may include a second mesh electrode disposed while crossing each other in a mesh shape.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the wire electrode may include a second mesh line LA2 , and a mesh opening OA2 may be formed by the second mesh line LA2 . The second mesh opening OA2 may be formed in various shapes. For example, the mesh opening OA may have various shapes, such as a rectangular shape, a diamond shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal polygonal shape, or a circular shape. Also, the second mesh opening OA2 may be formed in a regular shape or a random shape.

The wire electrode 400 may include a first wire electrode 410 , a second wire electrode 420 , a third wire electrode 430 , and a fourth wire electrode 440 connected to respective sensing electrodes. .

The first wire electrode 410 , the second wire electrode 420 , the third wire electrode 430 , and the fourth wire electrode 440 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first wiring electrode 410 , the second wiring electrode 420 , the third wiring electrode 430 , and the fourth wiring electrode 440 are The first interval S1, the second interval S2, and the third interval S3 may be spaced apart from each other. The first interval S1 , the second interval S2 , and the third interval S3 may have sizes corresponding to each other.

The first interval S1 , the second interval S2 , and the third interval S3 may have a size of about 20 μm or less. In detail, the first width W1 , the second width W2 , the third width W3 , and the fourth width W4 may have a size greater than 0 μm and less than or equal to 20 μm. When the first interval S1 , the second interval S2 , and the third interval S3 exceed about 20 μm, the wiring electrode pattern may be visually recognized from the outside, thereby reducing visibility.

Also, each of the first wire electrode 410 , the second wire electrode 420 , the third wire electrode 430 , and the fourth wire electrode 440 may be disposed to have a constant width. For example, the first wiring electrode 410 has a first width W1 , the second wiring electrode 420 has a second width W2 , and the third wiring electrode 430 has a second width W2 . It may have a third width W3 , and the fourth wiring electrode 440 may have a fourth width W4 . The first width W1 , the second width W2 , the third width W3 , and the fourth width W4 may have sizes corresponding to each other.

In addition, the sizes of the first width W1 , the second width W2 , the third width W3 , and the fourth width W4 are the second mesh pitch P2 of the wiring electrode 410 . can be related to For example, the first width W1 and the second mesh pitch P2 may satisfy Equation 4 below.

[Equation 4]

Alternatively, the first width W1 and the second mesh pitch P2 may satisfy Equation 5 below, and in this case, the first width and the first interval may satisfy Equation 6 below.

[Equation 5]

[Equation 6]

first width ≥ 50× first interval

Equations 4 to 6 are conditions for preventing the wire electrode having a mesh shape from being visually recognized from the outside, and when the above formulas are not satisfied, the wire electrodes are visually recognized from the outside, thereby reducing the visibility of the touch window .

In addition, the first width W1 of the wiring electrode and the first interval S1 may satisfy Equation 7 below.

[Equation 7]

Equation 7 is an equation related to the visibility of the wiring electrode, and when Equation 7 is not satisfied, the wiring electrodes may be visually recognized from the outside, and thus the visibility of the touch window may be reduced. That is, when the sensing electrode having a first interval of about 20 μm or less does not satisfy Equation 7, the sensing electrodes may be visually recognized from the outside, and thus the overall visibility of the touch window may be deteriorated.

first width
(μm) first interval
(μm) Equation 7 value transmittance
(%) Example 1 30 One 1.38 72% Example 2 50 One 0.98 92% Example 3 80 One 0.38 94%

That is, referring to Table 2, it can be seen that when the interval between the wiring electrodes is 1 μm and the width of the wiring electrode is changed and substituted in Equation 7, the transmittance of each wire is changed. That is, in the case of Examples 2 and 3 satisfying Equation 7, the transmittance has a value of about 90% or more, and accordingly, the wiring electrode may not be visually recognized from the outside. However, Example 1, which does not satisfy Equation 7, has a low transmittance value, so that the wiring electrode can be visually recognized from the outside.

4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining a touch window according to the second embodiment. In the description of the touch window according to the second embodiment, a description of the same and similar parts as the touch window according to the first embodiment described above will be omitted.

4 and 5 , the touch window according to the second embodiment may include a first substrate 210 and a second substrate 220 on the first substrate 210 .

The sensing electrode and the wire electrode having a mesh shape may be disposed on one surface of the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 . For example, the first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode are disposed on one surface of the first substrate 210 , and the second sensing electrode and the second wiring electrode are one surface of the second substrate 220 . can be placed in

At least one of the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 may be a cover substrate. In detail, the first substrate 210 may be the cover substrate, and a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode may be disposed on one surface of the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 , respectively.

Alternatively, a cover substrate (not shown) may be further disposed on the first substrate 210 . In detail, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the first substrate 210 , and a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode may be disposed on one surface of the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 , respectively.

In the touch window according to the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the wire electrode 400 may be connected to the sensing electrode 300 to extend in the direction of the ineffective area AA.

The first mesh pitch of the sensing electrode, the formulas and sizes for the first mesh line width, and the width, spacing, and second mesh pitch of the wire electrodes are the same as the touch window according to the first embodiment, so the following description is omit

6 to 8 are views for explaining an electrode forming process of a sensing electrode and/or a wiring electrode according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment may form a mesh-shaped electrode by disposing a metal layer on the entire surface of the substrate 200 and etching the metal layer into a mesh shape. For example, a metal layer such as copper (Cu) is deposited on the entire surface of the substrate 200 such as polyethylene terephthalate, and the copper layer is etched to form a copper metal mesh electrode having a embossed mesh shape. can do.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 7 , in the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment, a resin layer 210 including a UV resin or a thermosetting resin layer is formed on the substrate 200 , and then the resin layer 210 ), after forming the mesh-shaped engraved pattern P on the engraved pattern may be formed by filling the metal paste 220 in the engraved pattern or plating a metal. In this case, the engraved pattern of the resin layer may be formed by imprinting a mold having the embossed pattern.

The metal paste 220 may be a metal paste including at least one of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof. Accordingly, by filling the metal paste in the intaglio pattern P of the mesh shape and then curing, it is possible to form a metal mesh electrode in the intaglio mesh shape.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 8 , the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment forms a resin layer including a UV resin or a thermosetting resin layer on the substrate 200 , and then forms a mesh on the resin layer 210 . After forming the embossed or engraved nano-patterns and micro-patterns of 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 embossed pattern of the nano-pattern and the micro-pattern may be formed by imprinting a mold having the engraved pattern, and the engraved pattern may be formed by imprinting a mold having the embossed pattern.

Then, by etching the metal layer formed on the nano-pattern and 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 can 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 and micro-pattern and the metal layer. That is, since the bonding area of the micropattern and the gold layer is larger than the bonding area of the nanopattern and the metal layer, the etching of the electrode material 215 formed on the micropattern occurs less, and according to the same etching rate, The metal layer formed thereon remains, and as the metal layer formed on the nanopattern 320 is etched and removed, a metal electrode having a micropatterned embossed mesh shape 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. 6 to 8 described above.

The touch window according to the above-described embodiment may be applied to a touch device by further including a driver disposed on the touch window. That is, the touch window according to the embodiment may include a curved touch window or a flexible touch window, and may be applied to a touch device in combination with a driving unit including a display panel.

In particular, the touch window may include a curved touch window. That is, the touch window may have a fixed shape with a curvature. In particular, when the touch window is applied to a vehicle, a curved touch window may be applied. Accordingly, the touch device including the same may be a curved touch device.

The display panel has a display area for outputting an image. A display panel applied to such a touch device may generally include an upper substrate and a lower substrate. A data line, a gate line, and a thin film transistor (TFT) may be formed on the lower substrate. The upper substrate may be bonded to the lower substrate to protect components disposed on the lower substrate.

The display panel may be formed in various shapes depending on what type of touch device the touch device according to the present invention is. That is, the touch device according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (Field Emission Display), a plasma display (PDP), an organic light emitting display (OLED), an electrophoretic display (EPD), etc. and, accordingly, the display panel may be configured in various forms.

Hereinafter, an example of a display device 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 apparatus, a mobile terminal is illustrated. 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 of a finger, and a command icon pattern unit 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, a touch device apparatus including the same may be a flexible touch device apparatus. Accordingly, the user can bend or bend it by hand.

Referring to FIG. 11 , such a touch window may be applied not only to a touch device such as a mobile terminal, but also to a car navigation system. Also, referring to FIG. 12 , such a touch window may be applied in a vehicle. That is, the touch window may be applied to various parts within the vehicle to which the touch window may be applied. Accordingly, it is applied to not only a personal navigation display (PND), but also a dashboard, etc. to implement a center information display (CID). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that such a touch device may be used in various electronic products.

Features, structures, effects, etc. 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, features, structures, effects, etc. illustrated in each embodiment can be combined or modified for other embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. Accordingly, the contents related to such combinations and modifications should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the embodiments have been mainly described above, these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains are exemplified above in the range that does not depart from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It can be seen that various modifications and applications that have not been made are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments may be implemented by modification. And the 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 (13)

Board;
a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode disposed on the substrate;
At least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode includes a mesh shape,
The sensing electrode includes a first mesh shape having a first mesh pitch and a first mesh line width,
The first mesh line width has a size of more than 1.5 μm to 3 μm or less,
The first mesh pitch and the first mesh line width are touch windows satisfying Equation 2 below.
[Formula 2]
0<first mesh pitch<100×first line width ^-1 delete The method of claim 1,
The first mesh pitch and the first mesh line width further satisfy Equation 1 below.
[Formula 1]
1st mesh pitch≥50 x 1st mesh linewidth delete The method of claim 1,
The first mesh pitch and the first mesh line width further satisfy Equation 3 below.
[Equation 3]

The method of claim 1,
The sensing electrode includes a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode,
The first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are disposed on the same surface of the touch window. The method of claim 1,
The substrate includes a first substrate and a second substrate,
The sensing electrode includes a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode,
The first sensing electrode is disposed on one surface of the first substrate,
The second sensing electrode is a touch window disposed on one surface of the second substrate. The method of claim 1,
The wire electrode includes a first wire electrode and a second wire electrode disposed to be spaced apart from each other,
the first wiring electrode has a first width;
the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode are spaced apart by a first interval;
The first interval is a touch window having a size of more than 0㎛ to 20㎛ or less. 9. The method of claim 8
At least one wiring electrode of the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode has a second mesh pitch.
The first width and the second mesh pitch satisfy Equation 4 below.
[Equation 4]

9. The method of claim 8,
At least one of the first wire electrode and the second wire electrode has a second mesh pitch.
The first width and the second mesh pitch are touch windows satisfying Equations 5 and 6 below.
[Equation 5]

[Equation 6]
first width ≥ 50× first interval 11. The method of claim 9 or 10,
The first width and the first interval satisfy Equation 7 below.
[Equation 7]

12. The method of claim 11,
the substrate comprises an effective area and an ineffective area;
The wire electrode is a touch window extending from the effective area to the ineffective area. display panel; and
A touch device apparatus comprising the touch window according to claim 1 disposed on the display panel.

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