CN110716673A

CN110716673A - Touch panel

Info

Publication number: CN110716673A
Application number: CN201910958183.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李炫运
Original assignee: Interface Optoelectronics Shenzhen Co Ltd; Cheng Cheng Technology Chengdu Co Ltd; General Interface Solution Ltd
Current assignee: Interface Optoelectronics Shenzhen Co Ltd; Cheng Cheng Technology Chengdu Co Ltd; General Interface Solution Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-10
Filing date: 2019-10-10
Publication date: 2020-01-21
Also published as: TW202115540A; TWI702527B

Abstract

The touch panel includes a first substrate, a first sensing layer, an insulating layer, a second substrate, and a second sensing electrode. The first sensing layer is disposed on the first substrate, wherein the first sensing layer includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes. The insulating layer is configured on the first sensing layer. The second substrate is disposed on the insulating layer. The second sensing electrode is configured on the second substrate, wherein the second sensing electrode completely covers the vertical projection of the first sensing electrode on the second substrate. The touch panel can accurately sense touch in an environment which is easily interfered, such as touch in water.

Description

Touch panel

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a touch panel.

Background

Since water and fingers are both conductors, the capacitive touch panel cannot detect a touch position in water due to interference of water. So that the capacitive touch panel cannot operate in water. Therefore, a novel touch panel is needed to improve the above problems.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a touch panel is provided, which includes a first substrate, a first sensing layer, an insulating layer, a second substrate, and a second sensing electrode. The first sensing layer is disposed on the first substrate, wherein the first sensing layer includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes. The insulating layer is configured on the first sensing layer. The second substrate is disposed on the insulating layer. The second sensing electrode is configured on the second substrate, wherein the second sensing electrode completely covers the vertical projection of the first sensing electrode on the second substrate.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second sensing electrode completely covers the second substrate.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second sensing electrode is a completely planar electrode.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second sensing electrode is grounded.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the young's modulus of the insulating layer and the young's modulus of the second substrate are smaller than the young's modulus of the first substrate.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a maximum width of each of the first sensing electrodes is less than 12 mm.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second sensing electrode includes a continuous metal grid covering an area completely covering the second substrate.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first sensing electrodes has a spacing therebetween, and the spacing is less than 5 mm.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first sensing electrode is a parallelogram or a circle.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

The invention provides a touch panel, which can accurately sense touch in an environment which is easily interfered, such as touch in water. According to the invention, the whole second sensing electrode is used, so that external interference is isolated, and touch control judgment is prevented from being influenced.

Drawings

The foregoing and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a top view of the first substrate 110 and the first sensing layer 120 of the touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 3 is a top view of the second sensing electrode 150 of the touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention when touched.

Reference numerals:

100: the touch panel 110: first substrate

120: first sensing layer 121: first sensing electrode

130: insulating layer 140: second substrate

150: second sensing electrode 401: concave part

C2, C2: capacitor with a capacitor element

Detailed Description

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the dimensions of the devices are not limited by the disclosed ranges or values, but may depend on the processing conditions and/or desired characteristics of the devices. Moreover, the description that a first feature is formed over or on a second feature encompasses embodiments in which the first and second features are in direct contact, as well as embodiments in which other features are formed between the first and second features such that the first and second features are not in direct contact. Various features may be arbitrarily drawn in different sizes for simplicity and clarity.

Furthermore, the spatially relative terms, such as "below", "above" at … "," below "," above … "," above ", etc., are used for ease of describing the relationship between the elements or features and other elements or features depicted in the drawings. Spatially relative terms may encompass different orientations of the elements in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The instrument may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted as such.

Referring to fig. 1, a cross-sectional view of a touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The touch panel 100 includes a first substrate 110, a first sensing layer 120, an insulating layer 130, a second substrate 140, and a second sensing electrode 150.

In some embodiments, the first substrate 110 comprises a hard material or a soft material, such as glass or polyethylene terephthalate.

The first sensing layer 120 is disposed on the first substrate 110, wherein the first sensing layer 120 includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes 121. In some embodiments, the first sensing electrode 121 includes indium tin oxide, a metal mesh, a nano-silver wire, graphene, or other suitable transparent conductor.

Referring to fig. 2, a top view of the first substrate 110 and the first sensing layer 120 of the touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. In some embodiments, the first sensing electrode 121 of the first sensing layer 120 may be any shape, such as a circle or a parallelogram (e.g., a rectangle). In some embodiments, the maximum width of the first sensing electrode 121 is less than 12 millimeters, such as 11 millimeters, 10 millimeters, 9 millimeters, 8 millimeters, 7 millimeters, 6 millimeters, or 5 millimeters. The maximum width here refers to the largest one of the side lengths of any one side of the first sensing electrode 121. If the first sensing electrode 121 is circular, the maximum width refers to the diameter of the first sensing electrode 121. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the spacing between each first sensing electrode 121 is less than 5 millimeters, such as 4 millimeters, 3 millimeters, 2 millimeters, or 1 millimeter. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the first sensing electrodes 121 may be arranged in an array type.

When the area of the first sensing electrode 121 is smaller, the touch sensing accuracy is higher. However, the first sensing electrode 121 with an excessively small area greatly increases the manufacturing difficulty and the manufacturing cost. In some embodiments of the present invention, the first sensing electrode 121 is designed according to the size of a human fingertip. In other embodiments, the shape and size of the first sensing electrode 121 can be designed according to the purpose.

Referring back to fig. 1, the insulating layer 130 is disposed on the first sensing layer 120. In some embodiments, the insulating layer 130 comprises a soft material. The insulating layer 130 may be made using any suitable insulating material. In some embodiments, the insulating layer 130 includes an Optical Clear Adhesive (OCA). In some embodiments, the insulating layer 130 covers the first sensing layer 120 and a portion of the first substrate 110. In some embodiments, the insulating layer 130 covers the first sensing electrode 121. Since the first sensing electrode 121 may include ito, the first sensing electrode 121 is sensitive to moisture in the air. The insulating layer 130 may serve as a protective layer for the first sensing electrode 121 to prevent the first sensing electrode 121 from being deteriorated due to the external air contacting the first sensing electrode 121.

The second substrate 140 is disposed on the insulating layer 130. In some embodiments, the second substrate 140 comprises a soft material. In certain embodiments, the second substrate 140 comprises polyethylene terephthalate. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the insulating layer 130 and the Young's modulus of the second substrate 140 are smaller than the Young's modulus of the first substrate 110. That is, the material properties of the insulating layer 130 and the second substrate 140 are "soft" compared to the first substrate 110.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the second sensing electrode 150 of the touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 1 and fig. 3, the second sensing electrode 150 is disposed on the second substrate 140, and the second sensing electrode 150 completely covers the vertical projection of the first sensing electrode 121 on the second substrate 140. In some embodiments, the second sensing electrode 150 completely covers the second substrate 140. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the second sensing electrode 150 is a complete planar electrode. In other words, the second sensing electrode 150 may be a complete piece of conductive material, which does not contain any openings or gaps therein. In some embodiments, the second sensing electrode 150 comprises indium tin oxide, a nano silver wire, graphene, or other suitable transparent conductor.

It should be understood that fig. 3 only shows one embodiment of the present invention. In some other embodiments, the second sensing electrode 150 comprises a continuous metal mesh. That is, the metal mesh of the second sensing electrode 150 extends from one boundary to the other boundary. In some embodiments, the area covered by the continuous metal grid completely covers the vertical projection of the first sensing electrode 121 on the second substrate 140. In some embodiments, the area covered by the continuous metal mesh completely covers the second substrate 140. The material of the second sensing electrode 150 may be the same as or different from the material of the first sensing electrode 121. In some embodiments, the second sensing electrode 150 is grounded. In some embodiments, the thickness of the second sensing electrode 150 is 30 to 200 microns, such as 50 microns, 100 microns, or 150 microns.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the touch panel 100 according to an embodiment of the invention when touched. The recess 401 is where a finger touches. Since the insulating layer 130, the second substrate 140 and the second sensing electrode 150 are deformable materials, when a finger touches the touch panel 100, the insulating layer 130, the second substrate 140 and the second sensing electrode 150 are slightly deformed to form the recess 401. The capacitance C1 is a capacitance generated between the first sensing electrode 121 and the second sensing electrode 150 in the recess 401, and the capacitance C2 is a capacitance generated between the remaining first sensing electrode 121 and the second sensing electrode 150. Since the distance between the first and

second sensing electrodes

121 and 150 of the recess 401 is short, the capacitance C1 is greater than the capacitance C2. The capacitance of the touch part is larger than that of the rest parts, so that the position touched by the finger can be judged.

In addition, it is noted that the second sensing electrode 150 of the present invention is a whole piece of conductive material. Therefore, the second sensing electrode 150 can be used as a barrier layer, which can isolate signals that may interfere with touch control from the outside. For example, when a touch panel is operated in water, since water (e.g., seawater) and fingers are both conductors, when a finger touches the touch panel in water, the entire touch panel is touched by the conductors, and the touch point cannot be correctly determined. The touch panel 100 of the present invention has the second sensing electrode 150 as a barrier layer to isolate the influence of external water. Furthermore, the present invention determines the position touched by the finger according to the capacitance difference between the first sensing electrode 121 and the second sensing electrode 150, so that the present invention is not affected by the external water.

In some embodiments, a cover plate (not shown) may be disposed on the second sensing electrode 150. That is, when the finger touches the touch panel, the finger does not necessarily need to directly touch the second sensing electrode 150, and the touch panel can also sense the touch. In some embodiments, the cover plate also needs to be slightly deformed when touched by a finger, and therefore, the cover plate needs to be made of a soft material such as the second substrate 140, but is not limited thereto. Moreover, since only the insulating layer 130, the second substrate 140 and the second sensing electrode 150 deform during touch, the material of the first substrate 110 may be a hard material, such as glass, different from the second substrate 140.

The present disclosure has described some embodiments in detail, but other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a first substrate;

a first sensing layer disposed on the first substrate, wherein the first sensing layer comprises a plurality of first sensing electrodes;

an insulating layer disposed on the first sensing layer;

a second substrate disposed on the insulating layer; and

and the second sensing electrode is arranged on the second substrate, wherein the second sensing electrode completely covers the vertical projection of the first sensing electrodes on the second substrate.

2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second sensing electrode completely covers the second substrate.

3. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second sensing electrode is a full planar electrode.

4. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second sensing electrode is grounded.

5. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the Young's modulus of the insulating layer and the Young's modulus of the second substrate are smaller than the Young's modulus of the first substrate.

6. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the maximum width of each of the first sensing electrodes is less than 12 mm.

7. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second sensing electrode comprises a continuous metal grid covering an area completely covering the second substrate.

8. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the first sensing electrodes has a space therebetween, and the space is less than 5 mm.

9. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first sensing electrodes are parallelogram or circular.

10. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate.