JP2020140489A - In-cell touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an in-cell touch panel capable of easily connecting a touch line to a terminal portion without expanding a frame area.SOLUTION: An in-cell touch panel 1 includes a terminal portion including a plurality of touch terminal electrodes 6b connected to a plurality of touch wires 60. The touch wires 60 include a first touch wire 61 and a second touch wire 62. The touch terminal electrodes 6b include: a first touch terminal electrode 6b1 connected to the first touch wire 61 via first touch relay wiring 610; and a second touch terminal electrode 6b2 connected to the second touch wire 62 via second touch relay wiring 620. The first touch relay wiring 610 has a first relay wiring portion 611 formed in a layer different from the first touch wire 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1. The second touch relay wiring 620 is formed in a layer different from the second touch wire 62 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 and has a first relay wiring portion 621 formed in a layer different from the first relay wiring portion 611.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

The present disclosure relates to an in-cell touch panel.

In recent years, the development of a liquid crystal display device having both a touch function and a display function has been promoted. In a liquid crystal display device having a touch function, for example, touch sensing is performed by a capacitance method. In this case, the position touched by the user is detected by detecting the change in capacitance generated when the pointer such as the user's finger or pen touches or approaches the display screen by the touch electrode.

Touch sensing by the capacitance method is a self-capacitance method that detects a change in capacitance between the touch object and the touch electrode (Rx electrode) when a touch object such as a finger or pen is touched by the liquid crystal display device. And a mutual capacitance method that detects a change in capacitance between two touch electrodes (Rx electrode and Tx electrode) is known.

Further, as a structure of a liquid crystal display device having a touch function, an out-cell method in which a touch panel having a touch function is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel and an in-cell method in which the liquid crystal display device itself has a touch function are known. ..

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an in-cell liquid crystal display device having a touch function. The liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of gate lines extending in the row direction, a plurality of data lines extending in the column direction, a pixel electrode provided for each of the plurality of pixels, and a plurality of pixel electrodes. It includes a plurality of common electrodes (opposite electrodes) provided so as to face the pixel electrodes, and a signal line connected to the common electrode as a touch line. In the liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the touch drive signal for detecting the touch position is supplied to the counter electrode to receive the touch detection signal via the signal line, and the electrostatic at the position of the counter electrode is electrostatic. The touch position is detected by detecting the change in capacitance.

International Publication No. 2017/213173

The in-cell touch panel, which is an in-cell liquid crystal display device having a touch function, is provided with a plurality of touch lines connected to a plurality of common electrodes in addition to a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines. The plurality of gate lines, the plurality of data lines, and the plurality of touch lines need to be connected to the terminal electrodes in the frame region of the in-cell touch panel. Therefore, in the in-cell touch panel, it is necessary not only to collect a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines at the end of the frame area, but also to collect a plurality of touch lines at the end of the frame area. In this case, these wirings are formed obliquely toward the terminal portion when pulled out from the image display area to the frame area. In addition, these wirings need to be routed so as not to be short-circuited while they are concentrated and congested in the frame area. As a result, the design likelihood of the wiring layout becomes low, and the frame area becomes large.

In particular, the touch line connected to the common electrode may be formed along the same direction as the data line. For example, it is conceivable to extend both the data line and the touch line in the column direction. As a result, the data line and the touch line can be easily connected to the source driver with a touch function mounted at the end portion on the column direction side in the frame area.

In this case, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of touch lines are aggregated in a frame area and connected to one terminal portion on which a source driver with a touch function is mounted. Therefore, if the wiring of the plurality of data lines and the plurality of touch lines is laid out so as not to be short-circuited, the frame area becomes large.

The present disclosure has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an in-cell touch panel capable of easily connecting a plurality of touch lines to a terminal portion without expanding the frame area. ..

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the in-cell touch panel according to the present disclosure is an image display area composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the above. An in-cell touch panel having a frame area surrounding an image display area, in which transistors and pixel electrodes provided in each of the plurality of pixels are arranged in each of the first direction and the second direction, and each of them is one. A plurality of common electrodes facing the pixel electrodes and separately provided from each other, and a plurality of electrodes extending along the first direction and supplying a gate signal to the transistor in each of the plurality of pixels. A gate line, a plurality of data lines extending along the second direction and supplying a data signal to the transistor in each of the plurality of pixels, and a plurality of data lines extending along the second direction corresponding to each. A plurality of touch wires connected to the common electrode and a terminal portion including a plurality of touch terminal electrodes provided in the frame region and electrically connected to the plurality of touch wires are provided. Includes a first touch line and a second touch line, and the plurality of touch terminal electrodes are a first touch terminal electrode electrically connected to the first touch line via a first touch relay wiring. The first touch relay wiring includes the second touch terminal electrode electrically connected to the second touch wire via the second touch relay wiring, and the first touch relay wiring includes the first touch wire and the first touch terminal electrode. Has a first relay wiring portion formed in different layers, and the second touch relay wiring is formed in a layer different from the second touch wire and the second touch terminal electrode, and the first touch relay is formed. It has a first relay wiring portion formed in a layer different from that of the first touch relay wiring of the wiring.

According to the in-cell touch panel according to the present disclosure, a plurality of touch lines can be easily connected to the terminal portion without expanding the frame area.

It is a figure which shows typically the schematic structure of the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the pixel circuit of the in-cell touch panel used in the image display device which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of the structure of the pixel of the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement of the common electrode in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the image display drive and touch position detection drive in an in-cell touch panel. It is a figure which shows another example of the image display drive and the touch position detection drive in an in-cell touch panel. It is sectional drawing of the in-cell touch panel which concerns on Embodiment 1 in the VI-VI line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the in-cell touch panel which concerns on Embodiment 1 in line VII-VII of FIG. It is an enlarged plan view which shows typically the structure around the frame area on the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing (cross-sectional view through the 1st touch relay wiring) around the frame area on the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing (cross-sectional view through the 2nd touch relay wiring) around the frame area on the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing (cross-sectional view through the 1st source relay wiring) around the frame area on the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing (cross-sectional view through the 2nd source relay wiring) around the frame area on the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing (cross-sectional view through gate relay wiring) around the frame area on the gate terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing around the frame area of the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on modification 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing around the frame area of the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on modification 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing around the frame area of the source terminal part side in the in-cell touch panel which concerns on modification 3. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. It should be noted that all of the embodiments described below show a specific example of the present disclosure. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, the arrangement positions of the components, the connection form, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims indicating the highest level concept of the present disclosure will be described as arbitrary components.

Each figure is a schematic view and is not necessarily exactly illustrated. Therefore, the scales and the like do not always match in each figure. Further, in each figure, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same configurations, and duplicate description will be omitted or simplified.

(Embodiment)
The schematic configuration of the image display device 2 using the in-cell touch panel 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of an image display device 2 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pixel circuit of the in-cell touch panel 1 used in the image display device 2. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the pixel PX of the in-cell touch panel 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the common electrodes 30 in the in-cell touch panel 1. In FIG. 2, “G” indicates a gate line 40, “D” indicates a data line 50, and “T” indicates a touch line 60. Further, in FIG. 4, black circles indicate contact portions between the common electrodes 30 and the touch line 60.

The image display device 2 is an example of a display device that displays an image (video) of a still image or a moving image. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display device 2 includes an in-cell touch panel 1, a backlight 3, and an image processing unit 4.

The in-cell touch panel 1 is a liquid crystal display panel on which an image is displayed. The in-cell touch panel 1 is a liquid crystal including a first substrate 100, a second substrate 200 facing the first substrate 100, and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) arranged between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200. It has a cell. The in-cell touch panel 1 has a pair of polarizing plates (not shown). A pair of polarizing plates are attached to a liquid crystal cell. For example, one of the pair of polarizing plates is formed on the outer surface of the first substrate 100, and the other of the pair of polarizing plates is formed on the outer surface of the second substrate 200. The pair of polarizing plates are arranged so that the polarization directions are orthogonal to each other. Further, a retardation plate may be attached to the pair of polarizing plates.

The in-cell touch panel 1 is arranged on the light emitting side of the backlight 3. Therefore, the light emitted from the backlight 3 is incident on the in-cell touch panel 1. In the present embodiment, the first substrate 100 is located on the backlight 3 side, and the second substrate 200 is located on the observer side.

The liquid crystal drive system of the in-cell touch panel 1 is a lateral electric field system such as an IPS (In-Plane Switching) system and an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) system. Further, in the in-cell touch panel 1, for example, the voltage is controlled by the normally black method, but the voltage control method is not limited to the normally black method.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the in-cell touch panel 1 has an image display area 1a (active area) and a frame area 1b surrounding the image display area 1a. A color image or a monochrome image is displayed in the image display area 1a.

The image display area 1a is a display area (effective area) in which an image is displayed, and is composed of, for example, a plurality of pixel PXs arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. In the present embodiment, the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each other. Specifically, the first direction is the row direction, and the second direction is the column direction orthogonal to the row direction. Therefore, the image display area 1a is composed of a plurality of pixels PX arranged in the row direction and the column direction. That is, the plurality of pixels PX are arranged in a matrix.

The frame area 1b is a peripheral area of the in-cell touch panel 1 and is an area located outside the image display area 1a. Further, the frame area 1b is a non-display area (invalid area) in which an image is not displayed. In the present embodiment, the in-cell touch panel 1 has a rectangular shape in a plan view. Therefore, the plan view shape of the image display area 1a is rectangular, and the plan view shape of the frame area 1b is a rectangular frame shape.

The plurality of pixels PX are composed of a plurality of types of pixels arranged periodically and repeatedly along the row direction. Specifically, the plurality of pixels PX are composed of three types of pixels: a red pixel PXR, a green pixel PXG, and a blue pixel PXB. In this case, in the present embodiment, the three pixels of the red pixel PXR, the green pixel PXG, and the blue pixel PXB are arranged in this order as a set repeatedly along the row direction. Further, the same type of pixels PX are arranged in the column direction. The arrangement order of the red pixel PXR, the green pixel PXG, and the blue pixel PXB is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 2, the in-cell touch panel 1 includes a transistor 10 and a pixel electrode 20 provided in each of a plurality of pixel PXs, and a common electrode 30 facing the pixel electrode 20.

Further, the in-cell touch panel 1 has a plurality of gate lines 40 (scanning lines) extending in the row direction which is the first direction, and a plurality of data lines extending in the column direction which is the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. 50 (video signal line) is provided. Each pixel PX is an area surrounded by a gate line 40 extending in the row direction and a data line 50 extending in the column direction.

The in-cell touch panel 1 in the present embodiment is an in-cell type liquid crystal display panel having not only a display function but also a touch function. Therefore, the in-cell touch panel 1 further includes a plurality of touch lines 60 for detecting the touch position when the user touches the in-cell touch panel 1. The plurality of touch lines 60 extend in the same direction as the plurality of data lines 50. Specifically, the plurality of touch lines 60 extend in the row direction.

The transistor 10 is a thin film transistor and has a gate electrode 10G, a source electrode 10S and a drain electrode 10D as shown in FIG. In the present specification, the source electrode 10S and the drain electrode 10D may be collectively referred to as a source / drain electrode, and the source / drain electrode is at least one of the source electrode 10S and the drain electrode 10D, that is, the source electrode 10S. And only one of the drain electrode 10D, or both the source electrode 10S and the drain electrode 10D.

The pixel electrode 20 is provided on each of the plurality of pixel PXs. The pixel electrode 20 is provided, for example, at the intersection of the gate line 40 and the data line 50. The pixel electrode 20 is connected to the gate line 40 and the data line 50 corresponding to the pixel PX at each of the plurality of pixel PXs via a transistor 10 corresponding to the pixel PX.

In this embodiment, one transistor 10 and one pixel electrode 20 are provided for each pixel PX. A plurality of transistors 10 and pixel electrodes 20 may be provided in each pixel PX.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pixel electrode 20 in each pixel PX is a comb-shaped electrode having a plurality of line electrodes extending in a stripe shape in the row direction. In each pixel electrode 20, all the line electrodes are formed substantially in parallel, and the distance (slit width) between the two adjacent line electrodes is constant. Further, the line electrodes of the pixel electrodes 20 are inclined with respect to the row direction and the column direction in each pixel PX. In this case, in the present embodiment, the direction of the line electrode is reversed by two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the row direction, and the line electrode has a substantially "<" shape for two pixels in the row direction. Is formed in. That is, the plurality of pixel electrodes 20 arranged in the row direction are formed so as to have a zigzag shape along the row direction. The line electrode may be formed parallel to the row direction without being inclined.

The common electrode 30 is a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of common electrodes 30 are provided in the present embodiment. The plurality of common electrodes 30 are arranged in each of the row direction and the column direction. That is, the plurality of common electrodes 30 are arranged in a matrix. The same common voltage (Vcom) is applied to each of the plurality of common electrodes 30.

Each of the plurality of common electrodes 30 has a rectangular shape and faces one or more pixel electrodes 20. In the present embodiment, each of the plurality of common electrodes 30 has a rectangular shape provided over the plurality of pixel PXs, and faces the plurality of pixel electrodes 20 corresponding to the plurality of pixel PXs existing in the rectangular region. .. For example, the plurality of common electrodes 30 are formed in a rectangular shape having a plurality of pixels PX having tens to tens of sides on each side.

The in-cell touch panel 1 in the present embodiment is a liquid crystal display panel having a touch sensing function by a self-capacitance method. Therefore, the common electrode 30 is also a touch electrode that forms a capacitance with the pixel electrode 20. That is, the common electrode 30 is paired with the pixel electrode 20 and is used not only when driving the image display but also when driving the touch position detection. Each of the plurality of common electrodes 30 is a unit electrode (touch electrode) for detecting the touch position.

For example, the size of one common electrode 30 is 40 × 40 pixels. That is, the length of one common electrode 30 in the row direction and the column direction is the length of 40 pixels. In this case, there are 40 contact portions with one touch line 60 in one common electrode 30. The size of one common electrode 30 is not limited to this, and may be 32 × 32 pixels, and may be rectangular as well as square.

Each of the plurality of gate lines 40 extending in the row direction supplies a gate signal to the transistor 10 in each of the plurality of pixels PX. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of gate lines 40 is provided at the boundary between two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the column direction in the image display area 1a. Specifically, each gate line 40 is provided between two pixel rows adjacent to each other in the row direction. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the plurality of gate lines 40 extend linearly in the row direction.

Each gate line 40 is connected to each transistor 10 of a plurality of pixels PX arranged in the row direction. That is, each gate line 40 is connected to one transistor 10 in each pixel PX. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, each gate wire 40 is connected to the gate electrode 10G of each transistor 10.

In the present embodiment, the in-cell touch panel 1 has a dual gate structure and has a 2G1D wiring connection structure. Therefore, two plurality of gate lines 40 are provided for each boundary portion of two pixel PXs adjacent to each other in the column direction. That is, two gate lines 40 are provided for each boundary portion of two pixel rows adjacent to each other in the row direction.

Each of the plurality of data lines 50 extending in the column direction supplies a data signal (video signal) to the transistor 10 in each of the plurality of pixels PX. Each of the plurality of data lines 50 is provided at the boundary between two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the row direction in the image display area 1a. Specifically, each data line 50 is provided between two pixel rows adjacent to each other in the row direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the plurality of data lines 50 extend in the column direction along the shape of the line electrode of the pixel electrode 20. Specifically, each data line 50 has its orientation reversed by two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the column direction, and is formed so as to form a substantially "<" shape with two pixels in the column direction. .. That is, each data line 50 is formed so as to have a zigzag shape along the column direction, similarly to the pixel electrode 20. The plurality of data lines 50 may extend linearly in the column direction.

Each data line 50 is connected to each transistor 10 of a plurality of pixels PX arranged in the column direction. That is, each data line 50 is connected to one transistor 10 in each pixel PX. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, each data line 50 is connected to the drain electrode 10D of each transistor 10. That is, in the present embodiment, the data line 50 is a drain line.

Like the data line 50, each of the plurality of touch lines 60 extending in the column direction is provided at the boundary between two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the row direction in the image display area 1a. Specifically, the touch line 60 is provided between two pixel rows adjacent to each other in the row direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of touch lines 60 are connected one-to-one with a plurality of common electrodes 30 arranged in the row direction among the plurality of common electrodes 30. Specifically, each of the plurality of touch lines 60 (row touch line group) in each row of the plurality of common electrodes 30 arranged in the row direction crosses all of the plurality of common electrodes 30 included in the row. However, it is connected to only one of a plurality of common electrodes 30 included in the row. Therefore, each common electrode 30 is connected to any one of the plurality of touch wires 60 traversing the common electrode 30, but is not connected to the other remaining touch wires 60 and is insulated. There is. Although the details will be described later, the touch wire 60 and the common electrode 30 are formed through an insulating film, and the touch wire 60 and the common electrode 30 corresponding to the touch wire 60 have a contact hole formed in the insulating film. It is connected via.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the plurality of touch lines 60 extend in the row direction along the shape of the line electrodes of the pixel electrodes 20, similarly to the data lines 50. Specifically, each touch line 60 has its orientation reversed by two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the column direction, and is formed so as to form a substantially "<" shape with two pixels in the column direction. .. That is, each touch line 60 is formed so as to have a zigzag shape along the row direction. The plurality of touch lines 60 may extend linearly in the row direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of data lines 50 and the plurality of touch lines 60 are alternately and repeatedly provided one by one at the boundary portion of two pixels PX adjacent to each other in the row direction. Specifically, each of the data line 50 and the touch line 60 is provided by thinning out for each pixel column, and is provided for each of two pixel columns (every two columns) adjacent to each other in the row direction so as to be staggered. ing. For example, when the data line 50 is provided in an odd row of pixels PX, the touch line 60 is provided in an even row of pixels PX. On the contrary, when the data line 50 is provided on the even-numbered lines of the pixel PX, the touch line 60 is provided on the odd-numbered lines of the pixel PX.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-cell touch panel 1 has a gate driver 5 and a source driver 6 in order to display an image corresponding to an input video signal. The gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 are, for example, driver ICs (IC packages). The gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 are mounted in the frame area 1b of the in-cell touch panel 1.

Specifically, the gate driver 5 is mounted on the gate terminal portion GTP provided in the frame region 1b of the first substrate 100. The gate terminal portion GTP is a mounting portion on which the gate driver 5 is mounted. The gate terminal portion GTP may be provided at one place in the frame area 1b, or may be provided at a plurality of places. The gate driver 5 is mounted on the gate terminal GTP of the first substrate 100 by, for example, a COF (Chip on Film) method or a COG (Chip on Glass) method.

The gate terminal portion GTP includes a plurality of gate terminal electrodes 5a electrically connected to the plurality of gate wires 40. By connecting the gate driver 5 to the plurality of gate terminal electrodes 5a of the gate terminal portion GTP, the gate signal from the gate driver 5 is supplied to the gate wire 40 via the gate terminal electrode 5a.

Further, the source driver 6 is mounted on the source terminal portion STP provided in the frame region 1b of the first substrate 100. The source terminal portion STP is a mounting portion on which the source driver 6 is mounted. The source terminal portion STP may be provided at one place in the frame area 1b, or may be provided at a plurality of places. The source driver 6 is mounted on the source terminal portion STP of the first substrate 100 by, for example, a COF method or a COG method.

The source terminal STP includes a plurality of source terminal electrodes 6a electrically connected to the plurality of data lines 50. By connecting the source driver 6 to the plurality of source terminal electrodes 6a of the source terminal portion STP, the data signal from the source driver 6 is supplied to the data line 50 via the source terminal electrode 6a.

In the present embodiment, the source terminal portion STP further includes a plurality of touch terminal electrodes 6b electrically connected to the plurality of touch wires 60. That is, the source terminal portion STP includes not only the source terminal electrode 6a but also the touch terminal electrode 6b. The touch terminal electrode 6b may be provided in a terminal portion provided separately from the source terminal portion STP.

The gate terminal portion GTP and the source terminal portion STP are provided on different sides of the rectangular in-cell touch panel 1, but may be provided on the same side.

When the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 are mounted by the COF method, the gate driver 5 or the source driver 6 is mounted on a flexible wiring board such as an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) or an FPC (Flexible Printed Cable). A COF made of a film (ACF; Anisotropic Conductive Film) is connected to an electrode terminal provided at an end portion of the in-cell touch panel 1 by thermocompression bonding.

On the other hand, when the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 are mounted by the COG method, the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 are mounted directly on the active matrix board of the in-cell touch panel 1.

It should be noted that both the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 are not limited to being mounted by the COF method or the COG method, and one of the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 may be mounted by the COF method and the other may be mounted by the COG method. Good.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gate driver 5 is connected to the gate wire 40. The gate driver 5 selects a pixel PX to write a data signal according to a timing signal input from the image processing unit 4, and sets a voltage (gate-on voltage; Vgon) for turning on the transistor 10 of the selected pixel PX to the gate line 40. Supply. As a result, the data voltage is supplied to the pixel electrode 20 of the selected pixel PX via the transistor 10.

The source driver 6 is connected to the data line 50 of the in-cell touch panel 1. The source driver 6 supplies the data line 50 with a voltage (data voltage) corresponding to the video signal input from the image processing unit 4 in accordance with the selection of the gate line 40 by the gate driver 5.

In this embodiment, a source driver with a touch function is used as the source driver 6. The source driver with a touch function is a driver in which an image display circuit required for performing image display drive and a touch position detection circuit required for touch position detection drive are shared. In the present embodiment, the plurality of data lines 50 and the plurality of touch lines 60 are connected to the source driver 6, which is a source driver with a touch function. Further, the source driver with a touch function supplies a common voltage (Vcom) to the common electrode 30.

The gate driver 5 is mounted on, for example, the end portion of the in-cell touch panel 1 on the row direction side. Further, the source driver 6 is mounted on, for example, the end portion of the in-cell touch panel 1 on the column direction side. The mounting location of the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 is not limited to this, and both the gate driver 5 and the source driver 6 may be mounted at the same end on the column direction side of the in-cell touch panel 1. , The in-cell touch panel 1 may be mounted at the same end on the row direction side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the backlight 3 is arranged on the back side of the in-cell touch panel 1 and irradiates light toward the in-cell touch panel 1. In the present embodiment, the backlight 3 is an LED backlight using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source, but the backlight 3 is not limited thereto. Further, the backlight 3 is a direct type LED backlight in which LEDs are arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate so as to face the in-cell touch panel 1, but an edge type backlight may also be used. The backlight 3 is a surface emitting unit that irradiates a flat and uniform scattered light (diffused light). The backlight 3 may have an optical member such as a diffusing plate (diffusing sheet) in order to diffuse the light from the light source.

The image processing unit 4 is a control device including an arithmetic processing circuit such as a CPU and a memory such as a ROM or RAM. Video data to be displayed on the in-cell touch panel 1 is input to the image processing unit 4. The image processing unit 4 executes various processes by reading and executing a program stored in the memory by the CPU. Specifically, the image processing unit 4 performs various image signal processing such as color adjustment on the video data input from an external system (not shown) to show the gradation value of each pixel PX. It includes a timing controller and the like that generate a signal and a timing signal indicating the timing of writing a video signal to each pixel PX. The image processing unit 4 outputs the video signal to the source driver 6 and outputs the timing signal to the gate driver 5.

The in-cell touch panel 1 in the present embodiment has a display function and a touch function. That is, the in-cell touch panel 1 drives the image display and the touch position detection. In this case, the in-cell touch panel 1 uses the touch line 60 to perform image display drive and touch position detection drive by time division. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the image display drive and the touch position detection drive are alternately repeated a plurality of times within one frame period (16.6 ms). In this case, the touch position detection drive can be performed using, for example, a blanking period.

When the in-cell touch panel 1 drives the image display, the gate-on voltage is supplied to the gate line 40 from the gate driver 5. As a result, the transistor 10 of the selected pixel PX is turned on, and the data voltage is supplied to the pixel electrode 20 from the data line 50 connected to the transistor 10. Then, an electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer due to the difference between the data voltage supplied to the pixel electrode 20 and the common voltage supplied to the common electrode 30. This electric field changes the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in each pixel PX, and the transmittance of the light of the backlight 3 passing through the in-cell touch panel 1 is controlled for each pixel PX. As a result, the desired image is displayed in the image display area 1a of the in-cell touch panel 1.

Further, when the in-cell touch panel 1 drives the touch position detection, the source driver 6 which is a source driver with a touch function detects a change in the capacitance of each of the plurality of common electrodes 30 via the touch line 60 as a touch detection signal. Detect as. Thereby, the common electrode 30 at the touched position can be specified, and the position touched by the user can be detected.

The control shown in FIG. 5B has a longer driving period per operation of the image display drive and the touch position detection drive than the control shown in FIG. 5A. In this embodiment, either the control shown in FIG. 5B or the control shown in FIG. 5A may be used. However, the control shown in FIG. 5B has a larger amount of image data stored in the memory during the touch position detection drive than the control shown in FIG. 5A, so that the chip size of the IC driver becomes larger.

Next, the cross-sectional structure of the in-cell touch panel 1 in the image display area 1a will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the in-cell touch panel 1 on the VI-VI line of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the in-cell touch panel 1 on lines VII-VII of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the in-cell touch panel 1 is arranged between the first substrate 100, the second substrate 200 facing the first substrate 100, and the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200. It includes a liquid crystal layer 300. The liquid crystal layer 300 is sealed between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 by a frame-shaped sealing member.

The first substrate 100 is a TFT substrate having a TFT as a transistor 10. Specifically, the first substrate 100 is an active matrix substrate in which a plurality of transistors 10 are arranged in a matrix. Further, on the first substrate 100, not only the transistor 10 but also various wirings such as a gate wire 40, a data line 50 and a touch wire 60, an insulating film for insulating between these wirings, a pixel electrode 20 and a common electrode 30 and the like are provided. It is provided. These members are formed on the first transparent base material 110. The first transparent substrate 110 is, for example, a transparent substrate such as a glass substrate.

As shown in FIG. 6, the transistor 10 formed on the first transparent base material 110 is composed of a gate electrode 10G, a source electrode 10S, a drain electrode 10D, and a semiconductor layer 10SC serving as a channel layer. In the present embodiment, the transistor 10 is a TFT having a bottom gate structure, and the gate electrode 10G formed on the first transparent base material 110 and the gate insulating film (GI) formed on the gate electrode 10G. The first insulating film 121 and the semiconductor layer 10SC formed above the gate electrode 10G via the first insulating film 121 are provided. The source electrode 10S and the drain electrode 10D are formed so as to cover a part of the semiconductor layer 10SC. The first insulating film 121 is formed over the entire surface of the first transparent base material 110 so as to cover the gate electrode 10G.

The gate electrode 10G may be composed of, for example, a metal film having a two-layer structure of a molybdenum film and a copper film, or may be composed of a one-layer metal film made of a copper film or the like. The first insulating film 121 may be composed of, for example, an insulating film having a two-layer structure of a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, or may be composed of a one-layer insulating film of a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film. You may. The semiconductor layer 10SC may be composed of, for example, a semiconductor film having a two-layer structure of an i-amorphous silicon film and an n-amorphous silicon film, or may be composed of a semiconductor film having only one layer of the i-amorphous silicon film. It may have been. The source electrode 10S and the drain electrode 10D may be composed of, for example, a metal film having a two-layer structure of a molybdenum film and a copper film, or may be composed of a one-layer metal film made of a copper film or the like. Good.

The materials of the gate electrode 10G, the source electrode 10S, the drain electrode 10D, the semiconductor layer 10SC, and the first insulating film 121 are not limited thereto. For example, an In-Ga-Zn-O oxide semiconductor or the like may be used as the material of the semiconductor layer 10SC.

As shown in FIG. 6, a gate line 40 and a data line 50 are formed on the first substrate 100. The gate line 40 and the data line 50 are formed on the first transparent base material 110.

The gate wire 40 is formed in the same layer as the gate electrode 10G. That is, the gate wire 40 and the gate electrode 10G are formed by patterning the same metal film. The gate wire 40 and the gate electrode 10G are formed in a first wiring layer (GAL layer) which is a metal layer.

The data line 50 is formed in the same layer as the source electrode 10S and the drain electrode 10D. That is, the data line 50, the source electrode 10S, and the drain electrode 10D are formed by patterning the same metal film. The data line 50, the source electrode 10S, and the drain electrode 10D are formed in a second wiring layer (SD layer) which is a metal layer above the first wiring layer.

A first insulating film 121 is formed as a first insulating layer (GI layer) between the first wiring layer (GAL layer) and the second wiring layer (SD layer). The first insulating film 121 is formed over the entire surface of the first transparent base material 110 so as to cover the gate wire 40 and the gate electrode 10G. The first wiring layer, the first insulating film 121, and the second wiring layer are TFT layers on which the transistor 10, which is a TFT, is formed.

The source electrode 10S of the transistor 10 is connected to the pixel electrode 20 via a contact hole. On the other hand, the drain electrode 10D of the transistor 10 is connected to the data line 50. Specifically, a part of the data line 50 is a drain electrode 10D.

Further, on the first insulating film 121, a second insulating film 122 is formed as a second insulating layer (PAS layer) so as to cover the data line 50 and the source / drain electrode of the transistor 10. That is, the source / drain electrode of the data line 50 and the transistor 10 is formed between the first insulating film 121 and the second insulating film 122. The second insulating film 122 is formed over the entire surface of the first insulating film 121. The second insulating film 122 is made of an inorganic insulating film made of an inorganic material such as a silicon nitride film. The second insulating film 122, which is an inorganic insulating film, can be formed by, for example, a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method.

Further, a third insulating film 123 is formed as a third insulating layer (OPAS layer) on the second insulating film 122. The third insulating film 123 is formed over the entire surface of the second insulating film 122. In the present embodiment, the thickness of the third insulating film 123 is thicker than the thickness of the second insulating film 122. Specifically, the thickness of the third insulating film 123 is 10 times or more the thickness of the second insulating film 122, and is 3000 nm as an example. As a result, the distance in the thickness direction between the wiring of the gate wire 40 and the data line 50 and the common electrode 30 can be increased, so that the wiring of the gate wire 40 and the data line 50 and the common electrode 30 are formed. It is possible to reduce the parasitic capacitance. Moreover, by making the third insulating film 123 thicker, it is possible to reduce the unevenness difference of the TFT layer caused by forming the transistor 10, the gate wire 40, and the data line 50, and flatten the TFT layer. As a result, the third insulating film 123 having a flat surface can be formed, so that the common electrode 30 directly above the third insulating film 123 can be formed into a flat flat surface. That is, the third insulating film 123 functions as a flattening layer.

Further, the third insulating film 123 is composed of an organic insulating film made of an organic material containing carbon. The third insulating film 123, which is an organic insulating film, can be formed, for example, by applying a liquid organic material and curing it. As a result, the third insulating film 123 can be easily thickened, so that the surface of the third insulating film 123 can be easily flattened over all the pixels PX.

A touch line 60 is formed on the third insulating film 123. The touch wire 60 is made of a low resistance material such as metal. For example, the touch wire 60 is a metal film made of copper or the like. In the present embodiment, the touch wire 60 is a copper wire made of a copper film. The touch wire 60 is formed in a third wiring layer (CMT layer), which is a metal layer above the second wiring layer. Therefore, the touch line 60 is provided on a layer different from the gate line 40 and the data line 50.

A fourth insulating film 124 is formed as a fourth insulating layer (TPS layer) on the third insulating film 123 and the touch wire 60. The fourth insulating film 124 is formed over the entire surface of the third insulating film 123 so as to cover the touch line 60. Therefore, the touch wire 60 is formed between the third insulating film 123 and the fourth insulating film 124. The fourth insulating film 124 is made of an inorganic insulating film made of an inorganic material such as a silicon nitride film.

A common electrode 30 is formed on the fourth insulating film 124. The common electrode 30 is a transparent electrode composed of, for example, a transparent metal oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO: Indium Tin Oxide). In the present embodiment, the common electrode 30 is an ITO film. The common electrode 30 is formed in a fourth wiring layer (MIT layer) above the third wiring layer.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of common electrodes 30 are formed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the common electrodes 30 are arranged in a matrix in a state of being separated from each other in the row direction and the column direction. In this case, the two common electrodes 30 adjacent to each other in the row direction are separated from each other with the gate line 40 as a separation region. Further, the two common electrodes 30 adjacent to each other in the row direction are separated from each other with the data line 50 as a separation region.

Further, the plurality of common electrodes 30 are formed over all the pixels PX in the image display area 1a. As a result, the wiring of the gate wire 40 and the data line 50 and the like is covered by the common electrode 30, so that the electric field generated by the wiring of the gate wire 40 and the data line 50 and the like can be shielded by the common electrode 30. That is, the electric field generated in the TFT layer can be shielded by the common electrode 30. Therefore, since the degree of freedom in designing the shape and size of the pixel electrode 20 formed on the common electrode 30 is improved, the light transmittance and the aperture ratio of the pixel PX can be easily improved.

As shown in FIG. 7, the common electrode 30 is connected to one touch wire 60 via a contact hole 124a formed in the fourth insulating film 124. As a result, when the touch position detection drive is performed, the capacitance change of the common electrode 30 at the position touched by the user can be detected via the touch line 60 connected to the common electrode 30. The contact hole 124a connecting the common electrode 30 and the touch wire 60 can be formed, for example, by performing dry etching or wet etching on the fourth insulating film 124. A material (ITO in the present embodiment) constituting the common electrode 30 is embedded in the contact hole 124a.

Further, although the ITO film has a relatively high resistance value, the resistance of the common electrode 30 made of an ITO film can be reduced by connecting the touch wire 60 made of a metal film having a low resistance to the common electrode 30 in this way. The time constant of the common electrode 30 can be lowered. That is, the touch line 60 can be used as a common line when driving the image display.

Further, by providing the common electrode 30 on the touch line 60, the touch line 60 can be covered by the common electrode 30. As a result, corrosion of the touch wire 60 made of a metal material that is easily corroded can be suppressed as compared with the case where the touch wire 60 is provided on the common electrode 30.

A fifth insulating film 125 is formed as a fifth insulating layer (UPS layer) on the fourth insulating film 124 and the common electrode 30. The fifth insulating film 125 is formed over the entire surface of the fourth insulating film 124 so as to cover the common electrode 30. The fifth insulating film 125 is made of an inorganic insulating film made of an inorganic material such as a silicon nitride film.

A pixel electrode 20 is formed on the fifth insulating film 125. The pixel electrode 20 faces the common electrode 30 via the fifth insulating film 125. The pixel electrode 20 is a transparent electrode composed of, for example, a transparent metal oxide such as indium tin oxide. In the present embodiment, the pixel electrode 20 is an ITO film like the common electrode 30. The pixel electrode 20 is formed in a fifth wiring layer (PIT layer) above the fourth wiring layer.

Although not shown, an alignment film may be formed over the entire surface of the fifth insulating film 125 so as to cover the pixel electrode 20. The alignment film is subjected to a rubbing treatment in order to align the initial orientation angles of the liquid crystal molecules in a certain direction.

Next, the second substrate 200 will be described. The second substrate 200 is an opposed substrate facing the first substrate 100. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second substrate 200 has a second transparent base material 210, a black matrix 220 formed on the second transparent base material 210, and a color filter 230. Therefore, the second substrate 200 is a color filter substrate (CF substrate) having a color filter 230.

The second transparent substrate 210 is, for example, a transparent substrate such as a glass substrate, like the first transparent substrate 110.

The black matrix 220 is a light-shielding layer of a black layer, and is made of, for example, carbon black. The black matrix 220 is formed on the surface of the second transparent base material 210 on the liquid crystal layer 300 side. The black matrix 220 is formed so as to cover the gate line 40. The black matrix 220 may be formed so as to cover not only the gate line 40 but also the data line 50 and the touch line 60. In this case, the black matrix 220 is formed in a grid pattern as a whole.

The color filter 230 is formed for each of the plurality of pixels PX. Specifically, the color filter 230 forms a red color filter, a blue color filter, and a green color filter corresponding to each of the red pixel PXR, the green pixel PXG, and the blue pixel PXB. Each color filter is formed in the region between the black matrix 220 (that is, the opening of the black matrix 220).

Further, the second substrate 200 has a plurality of spacers 240. The spacer 240 is formed on the second transparent base material 210 so as to project toward the first substrate 100. The spacer 240 is a columnar member for maintaining a constant distance (cell gap) between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200. By providing the spacer 240, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 300 can be easily kept constant. As an example, the spacer 240 has a cylindrical trapezoidal shape, and the upper end portion and the lower end portion have a circular shape in a plan view. The spacer 240 is made of a resin material such as acrylic resin and can be elastically deformed. The spacer 240 can be formed into a predetermined pattern by, for example, photolithography.

Next, the configurations of the peripheral portions of the source terminal portion STP and the gate terminal portion GTP in the frame region 1b of the in-cell touch panel 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing the structure around the frame region 1b on the source terminal portion STP side of the in-cell touch panel 1 according to the embodiment. 9 to 13 are cross-sectional views of the in-cell touch panel 1 around the frame area 1b on the STP side of the source terminal portion. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through the first touch relay wiring 610, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken through the second touch relay wiring 620. 11 is a cross-sectional view passing through the first source relay wiring 510, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view passing through the second source relay wiring 520, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view passing through the gate relay wiring 410. .. Although the thickness of each layer is shown to be different in FIGS. 9 to 13 and 6 and 7, the thickness of each layer in FIGS. 9 to 13 and 6 and 7 is the same. .. It should be noted that FIGS. 9 to 13 schematically show a cross section when cut along each wiring.

As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of data lines 50 and the plurality of touch lines 60 in the image display area 1a are extended to the frame area 1b and connected to the source terminal portion STP. Since the plurality of data lines 50 and the plurality of touch lines 60 are integrated in the source terminal portion STP, diagonal wiring is performed inside and outside the seal portion. The sealing portion is a region in which a sealing member for bonding the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 to seal the liquid crystal layer 300 is formed.

In the source terminal portion STP, each of the plurality of touch wires 60 is connected to each touch terminal electrode 6b corresponding to the touch wire 60.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of touch lines 60 include a first touch line 61 and a second touch line 62 that pass through different wiring layers. Therefore, the plurality of touch terminal electrodes 6b include a first touch terminal electrode 6b1 connected to the first touch wire 61 and a second touch terminal electrode 6b2 connected to the second touch wire 62.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first touch wire 61 is connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 via the first touch relay wiring 610 formed in the diagonal wiring portion. That is, the first touch wire 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 are electrically connected to each other via the first touch relay wiring 610.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first touch relay wiring 610 has a first relay wiring portion 611 formed in a layer different from the first touch wire 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1. In the present embodiment, the first touch wire 61 is formed in the CMT layer, and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 is formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode 20 formed in the PIT layer. Therefore, the first relay wiring portion 611 is formed in a layer different from the first touch wire 61 formed in the CMT layer, and is a layer different from the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 formed in the PIT layer. Is formed in.

In the present embodiment, the first relay wiring portion 611 of the first touch relay wiring 610 is formed in the same layer as the gate wire 40 formed in the GAL layer. Therefore, the first touch relay wiring 610 is routed so that the first touch wire 61 is connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 after passing through the GAL layer lower than the CMT layer.

The first touch relay wiring 610 further has a second relay wiring unit 612 provided in the wiring path between the first touch line 61 and the first relay wiring unit 611 in the first touch relay wiring 610.

In the present embodiment, the second relay wiring portion 612 of the first touch relay wiring 610 is formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode 20 formed in the PIT layer. Therefore, the first touch relay wiring 610 is routed so that the first touch wire 61 is connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 after passing through the PIT layer which is a layer higher than the CMT layer.

The first touch relay wiring 610 further includes a third relay wiring section 613 provided in the wiring path between the second relay wiring section 612 and the first relay wiring section 611 in the first touch relay wiring 610. It has a fourth relay wiring section 614 provided in the wiring path between the first relay wiring section 611 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 in the first touch relay wiring 610.

In the present embodiment, the third relay wiring section 613 and the fourth relay wiring section 614 are formed in the same layer as the data line 50 formed in the SD layer. Therefore, in the first touch relay wiring 610, the first touch line 61 is not directly connected to the lowermost GAL layer, but is connected to the GAL layer after passing through the SD layer between the CMT layer and the GAL layer. It is routed like. Further, in the first touch relay wiring 610, the first touch wire 61 routed to the lowermost GAL layer is not routed so as to be directly connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 of the PIT layer. The first touch wire 61 routed to the lower GAL layer is routed so as to be connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 of the PIT layer after passing through the SD layer between the CMT layer and the GAL layer. There is.

As described above, the first touch line 61 formed in the CMT layer in the image display area 1a is formed in the CMT layer in the pixel portion and the diagonal wiring portion inside the connection portion, but is formed in the CMT layer outside the connection portion. It is connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 by switching to the wiring layers above and below the layer. Specifically, the first touch wire 61 has a pixel portion inside the seal portion and a CMT layer in the diagonal wiring portion → PIT layer (second relay wiring portion) → SD layer (third relay wiring portion) → GAL layer. The wiring layers are changed in the order of (first relay wiring section) → SD layer (fourth relay wiring section) → PIT layer (first touch terminal electrode 6b1).

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the second touch wire 62 is connected to the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 via the second touch relay wiring 620 formed in the diagonal wiring portion. That is, the second touch line 62 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 are electrically connected via the second touch relay wiring 620.

As shown in FIG. 10, the second touch relay wiring 620 has a first relay wiring portion 621 formed in a layer different from the second touch wire 62 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2. In the present embodiment, the second touch wire 62 is formed in the CMT layer, and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 is formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode 20 formed in the PIT layer. Therefore, the first relay wiring portion 621 is formed in a layer different from the second touch wire 62 formed in the CMT layer, and is a layer different from the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 formed in the PIT layer. Is formed in. The first relay wiring section 621 of the second touch relay wiring 620 is further formed in a layer different from that of the first relay wiring section 611 of the first touch relay wiring 610.

In the present embodiment, the first relay wiring section 621 of the second touch relay wiring 620 is formed in the same layer as the data line 50 formed in the SD layer. Therefore, the second touch relay wiring 620 is the second touch relay wiring 620. The two-touch wire 62 is routed so as to be connected to the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 after passing through the SD layer below the CMT layer.

The second touch relay wiring 620 further has a second relay wiring unit 622 provided in the wiring path between the second touch line 62 and the first relay wiring unit 621 in the second touch relay wiring 620.

In the present embodiment, the second relay wiring portion 622 of the second touch relay wiring 620 is formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode 20 formed in the PIT layer. Therefore, the second touch relay wiring 620 is routed so that the second touch line 62 is connected to the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 after passing through the PIT layer which is a layer higher than the CMT layer.

As described above, the second touch line 62 formed on the CMT layer is formed on the CMT layer by the pixel portion and the diagonal wiring portion inside the connection portion as in the case of the first touch line 61. On the outside, the wiring layers above and below the CMT layer are switched to and connected to the second touch terminal electrode 6b2. However, the second touch line 62 has a wiring path different from that of the first touch line 61. Specifically, the second touch wire 62 has a wiring layer in the order of CMT layer → PIT layer (second relay wiring section) → SD layer (first relay wiring section) → PIT layer (second touch terminal electrode 6b2). I'm changing.

In the portion where the first touch wire 61 and the second touch wire 62 switch between the wiring layers (connecting portion and mounting portion), one or a plurality of interlayer insulating films (first insulating film) existing between the upper and lower wiring layers are present. Contact holes are formed in 121, the second insulating film 122, the third insulating film 123, the fourth insulating film 124, and the fifth insulating film 125). By forming this contact hole, the upper and lower wiring layers can be connected to each other. Therefore, the conductive material of the upper wiring layer is embedded in the contact hole. This also applies to the first data line 51 and the second data line 52, which will be described later.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first touch relay wiring 610 that connects the first touch wire 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 and the second that connects the second touch wire 62 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2. The touch relay wiring 620 extends to the source terminal portion STP (mounting portion). Specifically, the outer end of the first touch relay wiring 610 and the outer end of the second touch relay wiring 620 are located below the source terminal STP. The outer end of the first touch relay wiring 610 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 are connected to each other via the first contact hole CH1, and the outer end of the second touch relay wiring 620 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b1. The touch terminal electrode 6b2 is connected to the touch terminal electrode 6b2 via the second contact hole CH2.

Further, in the present embodiment, in both the first touch wire 61 and the second touch wire 62, the wiring layer immediately before being connected to the touch terminal electrode 6b is the SD layer. That is, the outer end of the first touch relay wiring 610 connected to the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 via the first contact hole CH1 is located in the SD layer. Further, the outer end of the second touch relay wiring 620 connected to the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 via the second contact hole CH2 is also located in the SD layer.

As described above, according to the in-cell touch panel 1 according to the present embodiment, the plurality of touch terminal electrodes 6b are electrically connected to the first touch wire 61 via the first touch relay wiring 610. And the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 electrically connected to the second touch line 62 via the second touch relay wiring 620. The first touch relay wiring 610 has a first relay wiring portion 611 formed in a layer different from the first touch wire 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1, and the second touch relay wiring 620 has a second touch relay wiring 620. It has a first relay wiring section 621 formed in a layer different from the touch wire 62 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 and in a layer different from the first relay wiring section 611 of the first touch relay wiring 610.

That is, the first touch wire 61 and the second touch wire 62 are connected to the touch terminal electrode 6b via different wiring layers. As a result, the first touch line 61 and the second touch line 62 can be grade-separated in the middle, so that the design likelihood of the wiring layout between the first touch line 61 and the second touch line 62 in the frame area 1b can be determined. Can be enhanced. Therefore, even if the touch line 60 is formed in addition to the gate line 40 and the data line 50, a plurality of touch lines 60 can be easily integrated into the frame area 1b and formed on the touch terminal electrode 6b without increasing the frame area 1b. You can connect.

Further, as described above, not only the plurality of touch lines 60 but also a plurality of data lines 50 are connected to the source terminal portion STP. Each of the plurality of data lines 50 is connected to each source terminal electrode 6a corresponding to the data line 50.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of data lines 50 include a first data line 51 and a second data line 52 passing through different wiring layers. Therefore, the plurality of source terminal electrodes 6a include a first source terminal electrode 6a1 connected to the first data line 51 and a second source terminal electrode 6a2 connected to the second data line 52.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the first data line 51 is connected to the first source terminal electrode 6a1 via the first source relay wiring 510 formed in the diagonal wiring portion. That is, the first data line 51 and the first source terminal electrode 6a1 are electrically connected to each other via the first source relay wiring 510.

As shown in FIG. 11, the first source relay wiring 510 has a first relay wiring portion 511 formed in a layer different from the first data line 51 and the first source terminal electrode 6a1. In the present embodiment, the first data line 51 is formed in the SD layer, and the first source terminal electrode 6a1 is formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode 20 formed in the PIT layer. Therefore, the first relay wiring portion 511 is formed in a layer different from the first data line 51 formed in the SD layer, and is a layer different from the first source terminal electrode 6a1 formed in the PIT layer. Is formed in.

In the present embodiment, the first relay wiring portion 511 of the first source relay wiring 510 is formed in the same layer as the gate wire 40 formed in the GAL layer. Therefore, the first source relay wiring 510 is the first. The 1 data line 51 is routed so as to be connected to the first source terminal electrode 6a1 after passing through the GAL layer lower than the SD layer.

The first source relay wiring 510 further has a second relay wiring section 512 provided in the wiring path between the first data line 51 and the first relay wiring section 511 in the first source relay wiring 510.

In the present embodiment, the second relay wiring portion 512 of the first source relay wiring 510 is formed in the SD layer. Therefore, the first source relay wiring 510 is routed so that the first data line 51 passes through the GAL layer lower than the SD layer, returns to the SD layer, and is connected to the first source terminal electrode 6a1. Has been done.

As described above, the first data line 51 formed in the SD layer is formed in the SD layer by the pixel portion and the diagonal wiring portion inside the connection portion, but is a wiring lower than the SD layer outside the connection portion. It switches to a layer and is connected to the first source terminal electrode 6a1. Specifically, the first data line 51 is a wiring layer in the order of SD layer → GAL layer (first relay wiring unit) → SD layer (second relay wiring unit) → PIT layer (first source terminal electrode 6a1). I'm changing.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the second data line 52 is connected to the second source terminal electrode 6a2 via the second source relay wiring 520 formed in the diagonal wiring portion. That is, the second data line 52 and the second source terminal electrode 6a2 are electrically connected to each other via the second source relay wiring 520.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second source relay wiring 520 is formed in the same layer as the second data line 52. The second source relay wiring 520 is connected to the second source terminal electrode 6a2 formed on the PIT layer. That is, the second source relay wiring 520 extends below the source terminal portion STP without switching to the upper and lower wiring layers.

As described above, the second data line 52 formed in the SD layer is formed in the SD layer in the pixel portion and the diagonal wiring portion inside the connection portion as in the case of the first data line 51, but the first data Unlike the wire 51, it is connected to the second source terminal electrode 6a2 without switching to the upper and lower wiring layers. Specifically, the second data line 52 changes wiring layers in the order of SD layer → SD layer (second source relay wiring) → PIT layer (second source terminal electrode 6a2).

As for the first data line 51 and the second data line 52, similarly to the first touch line 61 and the second touch line 62, the wiring layer immediately before being connected to the source terminal electrode 6a is the SD layer. ing.

In this way, the first data line 51 and the second data line 52 are connected to the source terminal electrode 6a via different wiring layers. As a result, the first data line 51 and the second data line 52 can be grade-separated in the middle, so that the design likelihood of the wiring layout between the first data line 51 and the second data line 52 in the frame area 1b can be determined. Can be improved. Therefore, a plurality of data lines 50 can be aggregated in the frame area 1b and easily connected to the source terminal electrode 6a without increasing the frame area 1b.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the source driver with a touch function is connected to the source terminal portion STP, the plurality of data lines 50 and the plurality of touch lines 60 are aggregated in the same source terminal portion STP. The touch line 61, the second touch line 62, the first data line 51, and the second data line 52 are integrated into one source terminal portion STP via different wiring layers. As a result, the first touch line 61, the second touch line 62, the first data line 51, and the second data line 52 can be grade-separated in the middle, so that the first touch line 61, the second touch line 62, and the second data line 52 can be crossed. The design likelihood of the wiring layout of the 1 data line 51 and the 2nd data line 52 can be improved. Therefore, the plurality of data lines 50 and the plurality of touch lines 60 can be easily connected to one terminal portion without expanding the frame area 1b.

The gate wire 40 is connected to the gate terminal electrode 5a of the gate terminal portion GTP by the wiring path shown in FIG. Specifically, the gate wire 40 is connected to the gate terminal electrode 5a via the gate relay wiring 410. That is, the gate wire 40 and the gate terminal electrode 5a are electrically connected via the gate relay wiring 410.

As shown in FIG. 13, the gate relay wiring 410 has a first relay wiring portion 411 formed in the GAL layer which is the same layer as the gate wire 40, and a second relay wiring portion 412 formed in the SD layer. Specifically, the first relay wiring section 411 extends below the gate terminal section GTP and is connected to the second relay wiring section 412. The second relay wiring portion 412 is formed below the gate terminal portion GTP and is connected to the gate terminal electrode 5a. As for the gate wire 40, similarly to the first touch wire 61 and the second touch wire 62, the wiring layer immediately before being connected to the gate terminal electrode 5a is the SD layer.

(Modification example)
The in-cell touch panel, the image display device, and the like according to the present disclosure have been described above based on the embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the above embodiment, the end portion of the first touch relay wiring 610 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 are connected via one first contact hole CH1. Not limited to this. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, the end of the first touch relay wiring 610 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 may be connected via a plurality of first contact holes CH1. That is, the number of first contact holes CH1 for connecting the end of the first touch relay wiring 610 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 may be plural. Similarly, with respect to the second contact hole CH2 shown in FIG. 10, the number of the second contact hole CH2 may be not one but a plurality. That is, the number of contact portions between the touch wire 60 and the touch terminal electrode 6b may be plurality.

In this way, in the source terminal portion STP, by connecting the touch wire 60 and the touch terminal electrode 6b with a plurality of contact holes, disconnection due to corrosion or the like can be suppressed. It should be noted that forming a plurality of contact holes in the terminal portion can also be applied to the data line 50 and the gate line 40.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, in the above embodiment, the end of the first touch relay wiring 610 on the first touch line 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 of the PIT layer are directly connected to each other. Not limited to. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the end of the first touch relay wiring 610 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1 are connected via the first relay electrode 30A formed in the first contact hole CH1. You may be. The first relay electrode 30A is formed in the same layer as the common electrode 30 of the MIT layer located below the pixel electrode 20 of the PIT layer. Further, although not shown, similarly in FIG. 10, the end portion of the second touch relay wiring 620 on the second touch line 62 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 of the PIT layer are formed in the second contact hole CH2. It may be connected via the second relay electrode. In this case as well, the second relay electrode may be formed in the same layer as the common electrode 30 of the MIT layer located below the pixel electrode 20 of the PIT layer.

In this way, by forming the relay electrode in the contact hole for connecting the touch wire 60 and the touch terminal electrode 6b, the corrosion resistance can be improved. This point will be described below.

In the liquid crystal display device which is the in-cell touch panel in the above embodiment, it is necessary to insulate the plurality of common electrodes 30 and the touch line 60 in order to have the touch function, so that the liquid crystal display device does not have the touch function. , A fourth insulating film 124 (TPS layer) is added between the plurality of common electrodes 30 and the touch wire 60. Therefore, the number of insulating films on the metal layer (SD layer) at the terminal portion increases. Therefore, the atmospheric exposure time on the surface of the metal layer in etching the insulating film increases, and it tends to be a starting point of corrosion of the metal layer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, a relay wiring of the MIT layer is formed by utilizing photolithography and etching when forming a contact hole in the fourth insulating film 124 (TPS layer), and the SD layer in the terminal portion is formed. The MIT layer is connected, and the MIT layer and the PIT layer are connected by photolithography and etching of the fifth insulating film 125 (UPS layer). By inserting the relay electrode by the MIT layer in this way, the corrosion resistance can be improved. Further, since the number of insulating films in the terminal portion can be reduced from three to two, the damage due to etching is reduced. This also improves corrosion resistance.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, after forming a plurality of first contact holes CH1 for connecting the end of the first touch relay wiring 610 on the first touch line 61 and the first touch terminal electrode 6b1, the first contact hole CH1 is formed. The first relay electrode 30A of the MIT layer may be formed in the 1 contact hole CH1. Thereby, the corrosion resistance can be further improved. Although not shown, the second contact hole CH2 for connecting the end of the second touch relay wiring 620 and the second touch terminal electrode 6b2 is also similarly formed after forming a plurality of second contact holes CH2. A second relay electrode of the MIT layer may be formed in the 2 contact hole CH2.

Further, in the above embodiment, the data line 50 and the drain electrode 10D of the transistor 10 are connected, and the pixel electrode 20 and the source electrode 10S of the transistor 10 are connected, but the present invention is not limited to this. The data line 50 and the source electrode 10S of the transistor 10 may be connected, and the pixel electrode 20 and the drain electrode 10D of the transistor 10 may be connected.

Further, in the above embodiment, the gate line 40 extends in the row direction, and the data line 50 and the touch line 60 extend in the column direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The gate line 40 may extend in the column direction, and the data line 50 and the touch line 60 may extend in the row direction. That is, the first direction may be the column direction, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction may be the row direction. In this case, the three types of pixels, the red pixel PXR, the green pixel PXG, and the blue pixel PXB, may be periodically arranged in a predetermined arrangement in the column direction.

In addition, a form obtained by applying various modifications to the above-described embodiment and modification that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, and components and functions in the embodiment and modification are arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The form realized by this is also included in the present disclosure.

1 In-cell touch panel 1a Image display area 1b Frame area 2 Image display device 3 Backlight 4 Image processing unit 5 Gate driver 5a Gate terminal electrode 6 Source driver 6a Source terminal electrode 6a1 First source terminal electrode 6a2 Second source terminal electrode 6b Touch terminal Electrode 6b1 1st touch terminal electrode 6b2 2nd touch terminal electrode 10 Transistor 10G Gate electrode 10S Source electrode 10D Drain electrode 10SC Semiconductor layer 20 Pixel electrode 30 Common electrode 30A 1st relay electrode 40 Gate wire 50 Data line 51 1st data line 52 2nd data line 60 Touch line 61 1st touch line 62 2nd touch line 100 1st substrate 110 1st transparent base material 121 1st insulating film 122 2nd insulating film 123 3rd insulating film 124 4th insulating film 124a Contact hole 125 5th Insulation Film 200 2nd Substrate 210 2nd Transparent Base Material 220 Black Matrix 230 Color Filter 240 Spacer 300 Liquid Crystal Layer 410 Gate Relay Wiring 411, 511, 611, 621 1st Relay Wiring Part 412, 512, 612, 622 No. 2 Relay wiring part 510 1st source relay wiring 520 2nd source relay wiring 610 1st touch relay wiring 620 2nd touch relay wiring 613 3rd relay wiring part 614 4th relay wiring part PX pixel PXR Red pixel PXG Green pixel PXB Blue Pixel STP source terminal part GTP gate terminal part CH1 1st contact hole CH2 2nd contact hole

Claims (9)

An in-cell touch panel having an image display area composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and a frame area surrounding the image display area.
Transistors and pixel electrodes provided in each of the plurality of pixels
A plurality of common electrodes arranged in each of the first direction and the second direction, each facing one or more of the pixel electrodes and separately provided from each other.
A plurality of gate lines extending along the first direction and supplying a gate signal to the transistor in each of the plurality of pixels.
A plurality of data lines extending along the second direction and supplying a data signal to the transistor in each of the plurality of pixels.
A plurality of touch lines extending along the second direction and connected to the corresponding common electrodes,
A terminal portion provided in the frame region and including a plurality of touch terminal electrodes electrically connected to the plurality of touch wires is provided.
The plurality of touch lines include a first touch line and a second touch line.
The plurality of touch terminal electrodes are electrically connected to the first touch terminal electrode electrically connected to the first touch wire via the first touch relay wiring, and to the second touch wire via the second touch relay wiring. Includes a second touch terminal electrode connected to the
The first touch relay wiring has a first relay wiring portion formed in a layer different from the first touch wire and the first touch terminal electrode.
The second touch relay wiring is formed in a layer different from the second touch wire and the second touch terminal electrode, and is formed in a layer different from the first touch relay wiring of the first touch relay wiring. Has a first relay wiring section,
In-cell touch panel. The first relay wiring portion of the first touch relay wiring is formed in the same layer as the gate wire.
The first relay wiring portion of the second touch relay wiring is formed in the same layer as the data line.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 1. The first touch relay wiring has a second relay wiring portion provided in the wiring path between the first touch line and the first relay wiring portion in the first touch relay wiring.
The second touch relay wiring has a second relay wiring portion provided in the wiring path between the second touch line and the first relay wiring portion in the second touch relay wiring.
The second relay wiring portion of the first touch relay wiring and the second relay wiring portion of the second touch relay wiring are formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 2. The first touch relay wiring includes a third relay wiring portion provided in the wiring path between the second relay wiring portion and the first relay wiring portion in the first touch relay wiring, and the first touch. It has a fourth relay wiring section provided in the wiring path between the first relay wiring section and the first touch terminal electrode in the relay wiring.
The third relay wiring section and the fourth relay wiring section are formed in the same layer as the data line.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 3. The end of the first touch relay wiring and the end of the second touch relay wiring are located below the terminal portion.
The end of the first touch relay wiring and the first touch terminal electrode are connected via a first contact hole.
The end of the second touch relay wiring and the second touch terminal electrode are connected via a second contact hole.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 4. The first contact hole and the second contact hole are plural.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 5. The first touch terminal electrode and the second touch terminal electrode are formed in the same layer as the pixel electrode.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 5 or 6. The end of the first touch relay wiring and the first touch terminal electrode are connected via a first relay electrode formed in the first contact hole.
The end of the second touch relay wiring and the second touch terminal electrode are connected to each other via a second relay electrode formed in the second contact hole.
The first relay electrode and the second relay electrode are formed in the same layer as the common electrode, which is a layer below the pixel electrode.
The in-cell touch panel according to claim 7. Further, the terminal portion includes a plurality of source terminal electrodes electrically connected to the plurality of data lines.
Each of the plurality of source terminal electrodes is electrically connected to each of the plurality of data lines via a source relay wiring.
The source relay wiring is formed in a layer different from the data line.
In-cell touch panel.

Images