KR100329576B1 - Touch panel and the fabrication method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The present invention provides a lower substrate made of a transparent polymer material, forms a patterned second transparent conductive film on the lower substrate, forms a plurality of dot spacers on the lower substrate, and conducts electricity to the second transparent conductive film. In the step of forming a conductive lower electrode, drying the formed lower electrode, cutting the lower substrate in units, and forming a second transparent conductive film and a dot spacer, the second transparent conductive film is completely coated. Printing a dielectric layer by placing a portion having a shape corresponding to a portion to be removed from the second transparent conductive film to be patterned on the lower substrate and a portion where the dot spacer is to be formed, and drying the dielectric layer.

Description

Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly, to a touch panel improved in structure and method according to the weight reduction and impact resistance of the touch panel, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Typically, input devices include a touch panel and a digitizer. Among them, the touch panel is analog resistive type, digital resistive type, capacitive type, saw type and infrared type. ).

When the touch panel comes into contact with a point on the upper substrate on which the plurality of upper electrodes are formed by using a predetermined input means such as a pen or a finger, the lower substrate maintains a proper distance with the upper electrode and the dot spacer interposed therebetween. The lower electrodes of the phase are in contact with each other at one point to conduct electricity, and after reading the voltage value changed by the resistance of the position, the control device converts the digital value according to the change of the potential difference to find the position coordinate.

The process of manufacturing such a touch panel will be described briefly as follows.

A substrate made of glass used as a lower substrate is prepared, and a patterned transparent conductive film is formed on the substrate. Next, a dot spacer having a height of about 4 to 5 micrometers is formed on the transparent conductive film, and silver paste used as the lower electrode is printed so as to conduct electricity with the transparent conductive film.

In addition, a film corresponding to the upper substrate corresponding to the lower substrate is prepared separately from the above process. The lower surface of the film is coated with a transparent conductive film. The silver paste used as the upper electrode is printed on the lower surface of the transparent conductive film.

Meanwhile, a taping process is added to mutually insulate the upper and lower electrodes while bonding the upper and lower substrates together. At this time, an adhesive tape made of a double-sided tape is provided, and a conductive hole is formed in the tape to be electrically connected to the upper electrode and the lower substrate to be electrically connected to the upper electrode.

Next, the double-sided tape is laminated to the upper substrate, and the adhesive is again adhered to the lower substrate, and a flexible printed cable to which a predetermined power is applied to the upper and lower electrodes is connected and then crimped. Thereafter, the touch panel is completed through a property inspection and an appearance inspection.

Here, the transparent conductive film formed on the lower substrate is subjected to the following process.

That is, a transparent conductive film is entirely coated on the lower substrate made of transparent glass, and a photoresist is formed on the transparent conductive film. Then, the photomask is aligned on the lower substrate to form a transparent conductive film of a desired pattern through exposure, development and etching.

On the other hand, in the case of a dot spacer, a photoresist is applied, the photomask is aligned on a lower substrate, and then the photoresist is peeled except for a portion where the dot spacer is formed, thereby completing a dot spacer having a predetermined height.

Here, in order to form a transparent conductive film or a dot spacer, a photolithography process such as applying a photoresist, exposing, developing, or etching is required, and thus, the process is somewhat complicated.

In addition, since soda lime glass is used as a material for the lower substrate, the touch panel is easily damaged by pressure or impact from the outside when the touch panel is miniaturized or moved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same in which the structure of the lower substrate and the manufacturing method thereof are improved, thereby reducing the size, weight and strength of the panel. .

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part in a state in which the touch panel of FIG. 1 is coupled;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment according to a process of manufacturing a lower substrate of the touch panel of FIG. 1;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment according to a process of manufacturing a lower substrate of the touch panel of FIG. 1.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10 ... Touch panel 11 ... Top board

12 lower substrate 13 upper electrode

14 Lower electrode 15 Extension cable

16 ... wiring 17 ... wiring

18 ... cable 21 ... PET

22 ... 1st transparent conductive film 23 ... 2nd transparent conductive film

24 ... adhesive tape

In order to achieve the above object, a touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention,

An upper substrate in the form of a film having a first transparent conductive film formed on one surface thereof;

An upper electrode of a strip shape formed on a lower surface of the first transparent conductive film;

A lower substrate formed opposite to the upper substrate and formed of a transparent polymer material having a patterned second transparent conductive film formed thereon;

A lower electrode formed on the lower substrate, the lower electrode having a strip shape capable of conducting electricity with the second transparent conductive film;

A dot spacer interposed between the upper and lower substrates to maintain a gap therebetween; And

And a cable electrically connected to the upper and lower electrodes to which a predetermined power is applied.

In addition, the lower substrate is characterized in that the polycarbonate.

According to another aspect of the present invention,

Preparing a lower substrate made of a transparent polymer material;

Forming a patterned second transparent conductive film on the lower substrate;

Forming a plurality of dot spacers on the lower substrate;

Forming a conductive lower electrode capable of conducting electricity with the transparent conductive film;

Drying the formed lower electrode; And

And cutting the lower substrate for each unit.

In the preparing of the lower substrate,

It is characterized in that the substrate is made of a polycarbonate material.

Further, in the step of forming the second transparent conductive film and the dot spacer,

Front coating the second transparent conductive film on the lower substrate;

Placing a portion having a shape corresponding to a portion to be removed from the second transparent conductive film to be patterned on the lower substrate and a portion where the dot spacer is to be formed, and printing a dielectric layer;

And drying the dielectric layer.

Hereinafter, a touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 illustrates an example of a touch panel 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of a state in which the touch panel 10 of FIG. 1 is coupled.

1 and 2, the touch panel 10 includes an upper substrate 11 and a lower substrate 12 disposed to face the upper substrate 11.

The upper substrate 11 is, for example, a film 21 having a high transmittance of a polyester series such as PET, and a first transparent conductive film 22 such as an ITO film is coated on the lower surface of the film 21. . An upper electrode 13 that is electrically conductive with the first transparent conductive film 22 is formed in a strip shape along both edges of the substrate 11 below the upper substrate 11.

The lower substrate 12 is made of a transparent polymer such as polycarbonate. The lower substrate 12 has a high transmittance and is preferably made of a polymer material having high hardness.

The patterned second transparent conductive film 23 is selectively coated on the upper surface of the lower substrate 12. On the upper surface of the second transparent conductive film 23, a plurality of lower electrodes 14 are provided along edges of the substrate 12 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the upper electrodes 13 are installed. An extension line 15 is drawn out from each end of 14). The lower substrate 12 is provided with a wiring 16 capable of conducting electricity with the upper electrode 11. The extension line 15 and the wiring 16 are gathered at a central portion of one side of the lower substrate 12 to form a power supply point.

Meanwhile, an adhesive tape 24 is formed at the edge between the upper and lower substrates 11 and 12 for adhesion of the upper and lower substrates 11 and 12 and mutual insulation of the electrodes 13 and 14. A plurality of conducting holes (not shown) are formed in the adhesive tape 24 for mutual energization between the upper electrode 13 and the wiring 16 formed on the lower substrate 12. have.

In addition, a dot spacer 17 is provided on the lower substrate 12, and the dot spacer 17 maintains a proper distance between the upper and lower substrates 11 and 12. The height of the dot spacer 17 is approximately 4 to 5 micrometers.

In addition, the lower substrate 12 is electrically connected to the flexible printed cable 18 having a flexible extension line 15 ′ wiring 16 which is collected at a central portion of one side thereof.

A manufacturing process of forming a functional layer on the lower substrate 12 of the touch panel 10 having such a structure will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, first, a lower substrate 12 made of polycarbonate, which is a polymer material having excellent transmittance and high hardness, is provided. (S10) An ITO and an upper surface of the lower substrate 12 are provided. The same second transparent conductive film 23 is applied to the entire surface. (S20)

After the second transparent conductive film 23 is completely coated, the mask is aligned on the lower substrate 12. The mask has the shape of the dot spacer 17 at a point corresponding to a portion where the dot spacer 17 is to be formed on the lower substrate 12 and a portion except for the patterned portion of the second transparent conductive film 23. And the same pattern as that of the portion of the second transparent conductive film 23 to be removed are formed. The dielectric layer is printed while the mask is placed on the lower substrate 12 (S30).

Accordingly, a dot spacer 17 is formed on the lower substrate 12, and a dielectric layer is buried in a portion other than the patterned transparent conductive layer 23.

Subsequently, the applied dielectric layer is dried at an appropriate temperature. (S40)

On the completed lower substrate 12, a mask is placed on both edges of the substrate 12 to form the lower electrodes 14, and then printed using a conductive material such as silver paste. (S50)

When the silver paste is printed to form the lower electrode 14, the silver paste is dried at an appropriate temperature.

The completed lower substrate 12 is finally completed through a scribing process of cutting to a size corresponding to each unit panel.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing process of the adhesive substrate 24 interposed between the lower substrate 12 and the upper substrate 11 and the upper and lower substrates 11 and 12 will be briefly described as follows.

In the case of the upper substrate 11, a film 21 made of PET, which is polyester series, is provided. The first transparent conductive film 22 is coated on either side of this film 21. The silver paste, which is a raw material for forming the upper electrode 13 by placing a mask on the upper substrate 11, is printed, dried at a predetermined temperature, and cut into sizes corresponding to each unit panel.

In the case of the adhesive tape 24, a plurality of conducting holes are formed to mutually conduct electricity between the upper electrode 13 formed on the upper substrate 11 and the wiring 16 formed on the lower substrate 12, Half cutting, that is, the adhesive tape 24 is made of a double-sided tape, so that only half is cut. The adhesive tape 24 is later attached to the upper substrate 11.

The upper substrate 11 and the lower substrate 12 to which the completed adhesive tape 24 is attached are attached to each other, and the extension line 15 and the wiring 16, which are the power application points formed on the lower substrate 12, are attached to each other. The flexible printed cable 18 is attached, crimped with an anisotropic adhesive, and subjected to a predetermined characteristic test and an external test to complete the touch panel 10.

As such, when the completed touch panel 10 is in contact with the transparent conductive film 22 on the lower substrate 12 with the transparent conductive film 22 formed on the upper substrate 11 and the dot spacers 17 interposed therebetween. The upper and lower electrodes 13 and 14 are energized, receive the voltage value changed by the resistance value of the position, and change the digital value according to the change of the potential difference in the main controller to find the position coordinate.

4 illustrates a second embodiment according to the manufacturing process of the functional layer on the lower substrate 12 of the touch panel 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1,2 and 4, the lower substrate 12 is provided. (T10) The lower substrate 12 is a polymer material having excellent transmittance and high hardness, and preferably polycarbonate.

The second transparent conductive film 23 such as ITO is coated on the entire surface of the lower substrate 12. After the transparent conductive film 23 is coated, a photoresist is formed, and the patterned second transparent conductive film 23 is formed by exposing, developing, and etching the same. (T20)

Subsequently, an image of the dot spacers 17 is formed on the lower substrate 12 on which the second transparent conductive layer 23 is patterned (T30), that is, a photoresist for forming the dot spacers 17 is formed, A plurality of dot spacers 17 having a height of 4 to 5 micrometers are formed by exposure, development and etching.

Next, silver, which is a conductive material, is placed on the lower substrate 12 so that the lower electrode 14 is formed on both edges of the substrate 12 on the lower substrate 12 so as to conduct electricity with the second transparent conductive film 23. Print using paste (T40).

When the silver paste is printed to form the lower electrode 14, the silver paste is dried at an appropriate temperature. (T50)

The completed lower substrate 12 is completed through a scribing process of cutting to a size corresponding to each unit panel. (T60)

Meanwhile, since the manufacturing process of the completed lower substrate 12 and the upper substrate 11 attached thereto and the adhesive tape 24 interposed between the upper and lower substrates 11 and 12 are as described above, here, It will be omitted.

As described above, the touch panel of the present invention and a method of manufacturing the same may use a polymer material having a high transmittance and a high hardness as a lower substrate, and a transparent conductive film and a spacer may be manufactured by a printing method when manufacturing the lower substrate. This simplifies the manufacturing process and improves the weight and impact resistance of the touch panel.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

An upper substrate in the form of a film having a first transparent conductive film formed on one surface thereof; An upper electrode of a strip shape formed on a lower surface of the first transparent conductive film; A lower substrate formed opposite to the upper substrate and formed of a transparent polymer material having a patterned second transparent conductive film formed thereon; A lower electrode formed on the lower substrate, the lower electrode having a strip shape capable of conducting electricity with the second transparent conductive film; A dot spacer interposed between the upper and lower substrates to maintain a gap therebetween; And And a cable electrically connected to the upper and lower electrodes to which a predetermined power is applied. The method of claim 1, The lower substrate is a touch panel, characterized in that the polycarbonate. Preparing a lower substrate made of a transparent polymer material; Forming a patterned second transparent conductive film on the lower substrate; Forming a plurality of dot spacers on the lower substrate; Forming a conductive lower electrode capable of conducting electricity with the transparent conductive film; Drying the formed lower electrode; And Cutting the lower substrate for each unit; manufacturing method of a touch panel comprising a The method of claim 3, wherein In the preparing of the lower substrate, A method of manufacturing a touch panel, comprising preparing a polycarbonate material as the substrate. The method of claim 3, wherein In the step of forming the second transparent conductive film and the dot spacer, Front coating the second transparent conductive film on the lower substrate; Placing a portion having a shape corresponding to a portion to be removed from the second transparent conductive film to be patterned on the lower substrate and a portion where the dot spacer is to be formed, and printing a dielectric layer; Drying the dielectric layer; manufacturing method of a touch panel comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein In the step of forming the second transparent conductive film, Front coating the second transparent conductive film on the lower substrate; Applying a photoresist on the second transparent conductive film; Exposing the second transparent conductive film; And And developing and etching the exposed second transparent conductive film to form a patterned second transparent conductive film. The method of claim 3, wherein In the step of forming the dot spacer, Applying a photo resistor; Exposing the photo register; And And developing and etching photoresists of portions of the exposed photoresist other than the dot spacers to be formed, to complete the patterned dot spacers.