KR102237791B1 - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

The present description relates to a touch window.
The touch window according to the present embodiment includes a substrate; Including an electrode part on the substrate,
The electrode unit may include a first sub-pattern; And a second sub-pattern disposed adjacent to the first sub-pattern, and an electrode layer is formed in the first sub-pattern, and the first sub-pattern is formed in an intaglio.

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

The present description relates to a touch window.

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

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

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

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

Meanwhile, in recent years, the demand for a touch window having a curved or bent surface is increasing. In this case, as the touch window, that is, the substrate is bent, stress is generated in electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a crack or the like is generated in the electrode due to this stress, which may cause damage to the electrode.

An embodiment is intended to provide a touch window having a new structure.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes a substrate; Including an electrode part on the substrate,

The electrode unit may include a first sub-pattern; And a second sub-pattern disposed adjacent to the first sub-pattern, and an electrode layer is formed in the first sub-pattern, and the first sub-pattern is formed in an intaglio shape.

In the touch window according to the embodiment, since the sensing electrode is formed in an intaglio shape, a separate film or substrate can be omitted, and a stacked structure of the touch window can be simplified. Accordingly, it is possible to have an effect of improving the transmittance and reducing the thickness.

In addition, cracks of electrodes applied to a curved touch window or a flexible touch window may be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the bending characteristics and reliability of the touch window.

1 is a plan view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA′ of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA′ of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA′ of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment.
5 to 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing a touch window according to an exemplary embodiment.
11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device in which a touch window is disposed on a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment.
12 to 15 are diagrams illustrating an example of a touch device apparatus to which a touch window according to an embodiment is applied.

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

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

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch window 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an effective area AA for detecting a position of an input device (eg, a finger, etc.) and a layout diagram around the effective area AA. Includes the substrate 100 on which an ineffective area UA is defined.

Here, the electrode part 200 may be formed in the effective area AA to detect the input device. In addition, a wiring 300 electrically connecting the electrode unit 200 may be formed in the non-effective area UA. In addition, an external circuit connected to the wiring 300 may be located in the invalid area UA.

When an input device such as a finger comes into contact with such a touch window, a difference in capacitance occurs at a portion where the input device is in contact, and a portion where the difference occurs may be detected as a contact position.

This touch window will be described in more detail as follows.

The substrate 100 may be formed of various materials capable of supporting the electrode portion 200, the wiring 300, and a circuit board formed thereon. The substrate 100 may be rigid or flexible. For example, the substrate 100 may include glass or plastic. In detail, the substrate 100 includes chemically strengthened glass such as soda lime glass or aluminosilicate glass, or includes plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyimide (PI), or sapphire. It may include.

Sapphire is a material that can be applied as a cover substrate due to its high surface strength and not only can dramatically increase the touch response speed due to its excellent electrical properties such as dielectric constant, but also can easily implement spatial touch such as hovering. Here, hovering refers to a technology that recognizes coordinates even at a distance from the display.

An outer dummy layer is formed in the non-effective area UA of the substrate 100. The outer dummy layer may be formed by coating a material having a predetermined color so that the wiring 300 and a printed circuit board connecting the wiring 300 to an external circuit are not visible from the outside. The outer dummy layer may have a color suitable for a desired appearance, and for example, may include black pigment and the like to exhibit black. In addition, a desired logo or the like can be formed on the outer dummy layer in various ways. Such an outer dummy layer may be formed by deposition, printing, wet coating, or the like.

The substrate 100 may be bent while having a partially curved surface. That is, the substrate may be bent while partially having a flat surface and partially having a curved surface. In detail, the end of the substrate 100 may be bent while having a curved surface or a surface including a random curvature and may be bent or bent.

The electrode part 200 may be formed on the substrate 100. The electrode unit 200 may detect whether an input device such as a finger is in contact. In FIG. 1, the electrode part 200 is shown to extend in one direction on the substrate, but the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the electrode part 200 may extend in another direction crossing one direction. In addition, the electrode unit 200 may include two types of electrode units 200 having a shape extending in one direction and a shape extending in the other direction.

Meanwhile, the electrode part 200 is disposed in a mesh shape. Specifically, the electrode part 200 includes a mesh opening OA and a mesh line LA. In this case, the line width of the mesh line LA may be 0.1 μm to 10 μm. If the line width is less than 0.1㎛, it may not be possible due to the manufacturing process. When the line width is 10 μm or less, the pattern of the electrode part 200 may be made visible. Preferably, the line width of the line part LA of the electrode part 220 may be 0.5 μm to 7 μm. More preferably, the line width of the line part LA of the electrode part 220 may be 1 μm to 3.5 μm.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, the mesh opening OA may have a rectangular shape. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the mesh opening OA may be formed in various shapes. For example, the mesh opening OA may have various shapes such as a square, diamond, pentagon, hexagonal polygonal shape or circular shape. In addition, the mesh opening OA may be formed in a regular shape or a random shape.

Since the electrode part 200 has a mesh shape, the pattern of the electrode part 200 may not be seen on the effective area AA. That is, even if the electrode part 200 is formed of metal, it is possible to make the pattern invisible. In addition, even when the electrode part 200 is applied to a large-sized touch window, resistance of the touch window may be lowered. In addition, when the electrode part 200 is formed by a printing process, a high-quality touch window may be secured by improving print quality.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electrode part 200 may include a first sub-pattern 211, a second sub-pattern 212, an electrode layer 222, and a first anti-reflection layer 231.

The first sub-pattern 211 is disposed on the substrate 100. The first sub-pattern 211 is disposed on the mesh line part LA. Accordingly, the first sub-pattern 110 is disposed in a mesh shape. The first sub-pattern 211 may be intaglio.

Meanwhile, a second sub-pattern 212 is disposed adjacent to the first sub-pattern 211. The second sub-pattern 212 is disposed on the substrate 100. The second sub-pattern 212 is disposed in the mesh opening OA. Accordingly, the second sub-pattern 212 may be disposed between the first sub-pattern 211. The second sub-pattern 212 may be embossed.

The first sub-pattern 211 and the second sub-pattern 212 may include resin or polymer.

The electrode layer 222 is disposed on the first sub-pattern 211. Accordingly, the electrode layer 222 is disposed on the mesh line LA, and the electrode layer 222 is disposed in a mesh shape. The electrode layer 222 may include various metals having excellent electrical conductivity. For example, the electrode layer 210 may include Cr, Mo, Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, or an alloy thereof.

A first antireflection layer 231 is formed so as to contact at least one surface of the electrode layer 222. For example, the first anti-reflection layer 231 may be formed only on the upper surface or only the lower surface of the electrode layer 222. In addition, the first anti-reflection layer 231 may be formed to be in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode layer 222.

The first antireflection layer 231 may be formed on at least one surface of the electrode layer 222 to prevent oxidation of the electrode layer 222 formed of metal, and may prevent reflection due to the total reflection property of the metal. In addition, when the first anti-reflection layer 231 is formed on the lower surface of the electrode layer 222, the first anti-reflection layer 231 is formed between the first sub-pattern 211 and the electrode layer 222, The adhesion between the electrode layer 222 and the first sub-pattern 211 may be improved.

The first antireflection layer 231 may be formed of a blackening material layer. The blackening material layer may be a black metal oxide. For example, any one selected from CuO, CrO, FeO, and Ni2O3 may be applied, but is not limited thereto, and a black-based material capable of suppressing the reflectivity of the electrode layer 222 may be applied.

The first antireflection layer 231 and the electrode layer 222 may be formed at the same time or may be formed by a separate process.

A touch window according to another exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second antireflection layer 232 may be formed on the electrode layer 222.

That is, in the touch window shown in FIG. 2, the first antireflection layer 231 is formed on one surface of the electrode layer 222 and the second antireflection layer 232 is formed on the back surface.

In detail, the electrode layer 222 is disposed on the first sub-pattern 211. A first antireflection layer 231 may be formed to contact one surface of the electrode layer 222. That is, the first anti-reflection layer 231 may be formed to come into contact with the lower surface of the electrode layer 222.

The first antireflection layer 231 is formed on the lower surface of the electrode layer 222 to prevent oxidation of the electrode layer 222 formed of metal, and may prevent reflection due to the total reflection property of the metal. In addition, when the first anti-reflection layer 231 is formed on the lower surface of the electrode layer 222, the first anti-reflection layer 231 is formed between the first sub-pattern 211 and the electrode layer 222, The adhesion between the electrode layer 222 and the first sub-pattern 211 may be improved.

A second anti-reflection layer 232 may be formed to contact the rear surface of the electrode layer 222. That is, the second antireflection layer 232 may be formed to come into contact with the upper surface of the electrode layer 222.

The second antireflection layer 232 may prevent reflection due to the total reflection property of the metal. In addition, when the second antireflection layer 232 is formed on the upper surface of the electrode layer 222, visibility may be increased. In addition, the second antireflection layer 232 may have a higher concentration of the blackening material compared to the first antireflection layer 231.

The second antireflection layer 232 may be formed of a blackening material layer. The blackening material layer may be a black metal oxide. For example, any one selected from CuO, CrO, FeO, and Ni2O3 may be applied, but is not limited thereto, and a black-based material capable of suppressing the reflectivity of the electrode layer 222 may be applied.

The first antireflection layer 231 and the second antireflection layer 232 may be formed of different materials. In detail, the first antireflection layer 231 may be formed of a material having a structure of CuOxNy, and the second antireflection layer 232 may be formed of a material having a structure of CuOwNz. That is, the first anti-reflection layer 231 and the second anti-reflection layer 232 have different ratios of x and w and y and z, so that the composition of the first anti-reflection layer 231 and the second anti-reflection layer 232 They can be different.

4, the electrode layer 222, the first antireflection layer 231, and the second antireflection layer 232 may be disposed on the other surface 100b of the substrate 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. I can. That is, the electrode part 200 is formed on the other surface 100b of the substrate, and the electrode part 200 includes a first sub-pattern 211, a second sub-pattern 212, an electrode layer 222, and a first reflection. An antireflection layer 231 and a second antireflection layer 232 may be included.

As the electrode part 200 is disposed on the other surface 100b of the substrate 100, the electrode part 200 may be disposed on the curved inner surface of the substrate 100 when the substrate includes both a flat surface and a curved surface. have. That is, the electrode part 200 may be disposed on the surface of the substrate 100 to be contracted.

Therefore, when the substrate 100 has a curved surface or is bent, the stress applied to the electrode unit 200 disposed on the substrate 100 is compared to the outer surface where the substrate 100 is bent, that is, the surface to be relaxed. It may be smaller when 100 is disposed on the curved inner surface and the contracted surface of the substrate 100. Accordingly, when the substrate 100 has a curved surface or is bent, an electrode disposed on the substrate 100 The part 200 may be prevented from being damaged by stress, and the bending characteristics and reliability of the touch window may be improved.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a touch window according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. 5 to 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing a touch window according to an embodiment.

First, referring to FIG. 5, a numerical certificate 200 ′ may be formed on a substrate 100, and a mold M on which a pattern to be formed may be formed may be positioned on the resin layer 200 ′.

The resin layer 200 ′ may be a UV or thermosetting resin layer.

Referring to FIG. 6, imprinting may be performed on the resin layer 200 ′ with a mold M1. The first sub-pattern 211 and the second sub-pattern 212 may be manufactured through the imprinting process.

Widths of the first sub-pattern 211 and the second sub-pattern 212 may be different from each other. For example, the first sub-pattern 211 may be in a micrometer unit, and the second sub-pattern 212 may be in a nanometer unit.

In this case, the first sub-pattern 211 may be formed lower than the second sub-pattern 212. That is, the first sub-pattern 211 and the second sub-pattern 212 are imprinted with a mold (M) having an embossed pattern and an engraved pattern, so that the first sub-pattern 211 is formed in an engraved shape, and 2 The sub-pattern 212 may be formed in an embossed shape.

Referring to FIG. 7, a first anti-reflection layer material 231 ′ may be formed on the first sub-pattern 211 and the second sub-pattern 212. The first antireflection layer material 231 ′ may be formed by a deposition or sputtering process.

Referring to FIG. 8, an electrode material 222 ′ may be formed on the first anti-reflection layer material 231 ′. The electrode material 222 ′ may be formed by a vapor deposition or sputtering process.

Referring to FIG. 9, a second anti-reflective layer material 232 ′ may be formed on the electrode material 222 ′. The second antireflection layer material 232 ′ may be formed by a deposition or sputtering process.

Referring to FIG. 10, the second anti-reflective layer material 232 ′, the electrode material 222 ′, and the first anti-reflective layer material 231 ′ may be etched. In this case, the second anti-reflection layer material 232 ′, the electrode material 222 ′, and the first anti-reflection layer material 231 ′ may be etched in a single process. That is, the second anti-reflection layer material 232 ′, the electrode material 222 ′, and the first anti-reflection layer material 231 ′ may be etched with one etching solution.

When etching the second anti-reflection layer material 232 ′, the electrode material 222 ′, and the first anti-reflection layer material 231 ′, the second sub-pattern 212 and the first sub-pattern 211 and the second anti-reflection layer A difference in etching rate may occur according to a difference in bonding area between the material 232 ′, the electrode material 222 ′, and the first anti-reflective layer material 231 ′. That is, the bonding area of the first sub-pattern 211 and the second anti-reflection layer material 232 ′, the electrode material 222 ′, and the first anti-reflection layer material 231 ′ is Since it is larger than the bonding area of the antireflection layer material 232', the electrode material 222', and the first antireflection layer material 231', etching of the electrode material formed on the first sub-pattern 211 occurs less, According to the same etching rate, the second antireflection layer material 232', the electrode material 222', and the first antireflection layer material 231' formed on the first sub-pattern 211 remain, and the second sub-pattern As the second antireflection layer material 232', the electrode material 222', and the first antireflection layer material 231' formed on the 212 are etched away, the first subpattern ( 211) of the second antireflection layer material 232', the electrode material 222', and the first antireflection layer material 231' may be formed.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 11, such a touch window 10 may be disposed on the display panel 20 that is a driver. The touch window 10 and the display panel 20 are bonded together to form a display device.

The driving unit 20 may include a display panel 21 and a light module 22.

The display panel 21 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display, a plasma display (PDP), an organic light emitting display (OLED), an electrophoretic display (EPD), and the like. Accordingly, the display panel may be configured in various forms.

The light module 22 may include a light source that emits light in the direction of the display panel. For example, the light source may include a light emitting diode (LED) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

The liquid crystal display device LCD may include a plurality of liquid crystal elements. These liquid crystal devices may have a certain pattern of directionality because the arrangement of internal molecules is changed according to an electrical signal applied from the outside.

The driver 20 may refract the lights in different patterns while the light emitted from the light module 22 passes through the display panel.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the driving unit may further include a polarization filter and a color filter disposed on the display panel.

Alternatively, the driving unit may include only the light module without a display panel. For example, it may include only a light module including a light source individually driven for each pixel.

Alternatively, the driving unit may include only a display panel without a light module. For example, in a field emission display, a plasma display (PDP), an organic light emitting display (OLED), and an electrophoretic display (EPD), the display panel itself may include a light module.

The touch window may be disposed on the driving unit. In detail, the touch window may be accommodated in a cover case and disposed on the driving unit. The touch window may be adhered to the driving unit. In detail, the touch panel and the driving unit may be adhered to each other through an optical clear adhesive (OCA) or the like. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the touch window has an on-cell structure in which electrodes are directly formed on a driving unit without the adhesive, or an in-cell structure in which a touch window is disposed inside the driving unit. Of course, it can be formed in a cell) structure.

The above-described embodiments can be applied to various types of touch windows.

For example, the touch window may include a substrate and a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode on the substrate.

In detail, a first sensing electrode, a second sensing electrode, a first wiring electrode and a second wiring electrode connected to the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are disposed on one surface of the substrate, respectively, connected in different directions, The first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode may be insulated from each other and disposed on the same surface of the substrate.

In addition, as another example, the touch window may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate, and may include a first sensing electrode on the second substrate and a second sensing electrode on the third substrate.

In detail, a first sensing electrode extending in one direction and a first wiring electrode connected to the first sensing electrode are disposed on one surface of the second substrate, and extend in a direction different from the one direction on one surface of the third substrate. A second sensing electrode and a second wiring electrode connected to the second sensing electrode may be disposed.

Hereinafter, an example of a display device to which a touch window according to the above-described embodiments is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15.

Referring to FIG. 12, as an example of a touch device device, a mobile terminal is shown. The mobile terminal 1000 may include an effective area AA and an invalid area UA. The effective area AA may sense a touch signal by a touch such as a finger, and a command icon pattern part and a logo may be formed in the ineffective area.

Referring to FIG. 13, the touch window may include a flexible touch window that is bent. Accordingly, the touch device device including the same may be a flexible touch device device. Thus, the user can bend or bend it by hand.

Referring to FIG. 14, such a touch window can be applied not only to touch device devices such as mobile terminals, but also to vehicle navigation. Further, referring to FIG. 15, such a touch window may be applied to a vehicle. That is, the touch window can be applied to various parts in the vehicle to which the touch window can be applied. Accordingly, it is applied not only to the PND (Personal Navigation Display), but also to an instrument panel (dashboard) to implement a CID (Center Information Display). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that such a touch device device may be used in various electronic products.

Claims (11)

A substrate that includes one side and the other side and is bent; And
Including an electrode portion on the substrate,
The electrode portion is formed in a mesh shape including a mesh wire portion and a mesh opening,
The electrode unit may include a first sub-pattern; And
A second sub-pattern disposed adjacent to the first sub-pattern,
The first sub-pattern is disposed on the mesh line,
The first sub-pattern is disposed in the mesh opening,
The width of the first sub-pattern is greater than the width of the second sub-pattern,
The first sub-pattern is formed in an intaglio,
The second sub-pattern is formed in an embossed shape,
An electrode layer is disposed in the first sub-pattern,
The electrode part is a touch window disposed on the curved inner surface of the substrate. The method of claim 1,
An anti-reflection layer is formed on at least one surface of the electrode layer formed in the first sub-pattern.
Touch windows. The method of claim 2,
The antireflection layer is
A first antireflection layer formed on a lower surface of the electrode layer; And
Containing a second anti-reflection layer formed on the upper surface of the electrode layer;
Touch windows. The method of claim 3,
The antireflection layer is
The concentration of the first antireflection layer is lower than that of the second antireflection layer.
Touch windows. The method of claim 3,
The first anti-reflection layer and the second anti-reflection layer are formed of different materials.
Touch windows. A touch window according to any one of claims 1 to 5; And
A touch device comprising a driving unit disposed on the touch window. The method of claim 6,
The touch window includes a curved touch window or a flexible touch window.
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