KR102237941B1 - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch window according to the embodiment includes: a cover window; A first substrate disposed on the cover window; A second substrate disposed on the first substrate; A first alignment part formed on the cover window; A second alignment unit formed on the first substrate; And a third alignment unit disposed on the second substrate, wherein the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit are disposed to overlap each other, and the first alignment unit and the second alignment unit At least one of the alignment unit and the third alignment unit is disposed inside the other alignment unit.

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

The embodiment 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.

Such a touch panel can be largely divided into a resistive type touch panel and a capacitive type touch panel. In the resistive touch panel, the glass and the electrode are short-circuited by the pressure of the input device to detect the position. The capacitive touch panel detects a change in capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches it and detects a position.

Resistive touch panels may be deteriorated due to repeated use, and scratches may occur. Accordingly, interest in a capacitive touch panel having excellent durability and a long lifespan is increasing.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is most commonly used as an electrode material for a touch panel, and the indium tin oxide has recently attracted attention as an electrode using a metal thin-film mesh due to a limitation in implementing low resistance due to a large area.

Meanwhile, the touch panel may be manufactured by laminating and bonding substrate(s) on which electrodes are formed on a cover window.

At this time, the cover window and the substrate(s) should be joined at regular intervals in consideration of the interference of the electrodes, but due to the contraction of the substrate due to high temperatures during the bonding process, a tolerance is generated, so that the electrodes formed on the substrates align with each other. There is a problem that cannot be recognized.

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

The embodiment is to provide a touch window having improved reliability.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes: a cover window; A first substrate disposed on the cover window; A second substrate disposed on the first substrate; A first alignment part formed on the cover window; A second alignment unit formed on the first substrate; And a third alignment unit disposed on the second substrate, wherein the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit are disposed to overlap each other, and the first alignment unit and the second alignment unit At least one of the alignment unit and the third alignment unit is disposed inside the other alignment unit.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes a cover window and alignment portions formed on the substrate(s). The alignment portions are formed to have the same or different shape, or have the same or different size from each other, so that when the cover window and the substrates are stacked, it is possible to prevent electrodes from being displaced from each other due to a tolerance.

That is, in the related art, alignment marks were formed while having the same shape. Accordingly, when the cover window and the first substrate are stacked, the first substrate may be contracted during the process, so that the positions of the alignment marks formed on the cover window, the first substrate, and the second substrate are entirely shifted from each other. As a result, the sensing electrodes formed on the substrates as a whole may also be misaligned.

Accordingly, in the touch window according to the embodiment, alignment marks formed on the cover window, the first substrate, and the second substrate are formed to overlap each other and are formed to have different sizes, thereby aligning according to the contraction of the substrate. Since the alignment portions formed in different sizes may be exposed even if the position of the mark portion is partially shifted, it is possible to prevent shifting due to contraction of the substrate when stacking other substrates or cover windows.

Accordingly, the touch window according to the embodiment can prevent a tolerance due to contraction of a substrate occurring during a process, thereby preventing displacement of electrodes, thereby improving overall reliability and efficiency of the touch window.

1 is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating a side view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
3 is a view showing the flatness of a cover window according to an embodiment.
4 is a view showing the flatness of the first substrate according to the embodiment.
5 is a view showing the flatness of the second substrate according to the embodiment.
6 and 7 are views illustrating a stacked shape of alignment units according to an exemplary embodiment.
8 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.

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

In the drawings, the thickness or size of each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure may be modified for clarity and convenience of description, and thus the actual size is not entirely reflected.

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

A touch window according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch window 10 according to the embodiment may include a cover window 100, a first substrate 210, and a second substrate 220.

The cover window 100 may include glass. For example, the cover window 100 may include a glass substrate such as tempered glass, semi-tempered glass, or soda lime glass.

The cover window 100 may support the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220.

The first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 may include plastic. For example, the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 may include plastic such as polyetherene terephthalate (PET).

The first substrate 210 may be disposed on the cover window 100. In addition, the second substrate 220 may be disposed on the first substrate 210. That is, the cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 may be sequentially stacked.

The cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 may be adhered to each other by an adhesive layer. In detail, the cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 may be adhered to each other through an optically transparent adhesive (OCA).

That is, the cover window 100 and the first substrate 210 are bonded by a first adhesive layer 610, and the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 are bonded to each other by a second adhesive layer 620 Can be bonded by

Electrodes may be disposed on the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220. In detail, sensing electrodes and wiring electrodes may be disposed on the first and second substrates 210 and 220. In more detail, a first sensing electrode 310 and a first wiring electrode 410 are disposed on the first substrate 210, and a second sensing electrode 320 and a second wiring electrode are disposed on the second substrate 220. 420 may be placed.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a metal material having excellent electrical conductivity. For example, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include at least one of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, or an alloy thereof. Alternatively, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a transparent electrode such as indium tin oxide (ITO).

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may have a mesh shape. In detail, after forming a resin layer on the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220, the resin layer is imprinted using an embossed or engraved mold, and then the resin layer is applied to the resin layer by the mold. The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are filled with a metal paste constituting the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 in the formed positive or negative region. May be arranged in a mesh shape.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a mesh opening and a mesh wire portion. In this case, the line width of the mesh line portion may be 0.1 μm to 10 μm. A mesh wire portion having a line width of 0.1 μm or less may not be possible due to the manufacturing process. When the line width is 10 μm or less, the patterns of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be made invisible. Preferably, the line width of the mesh line may be 1 μm to 5 μm.

The mesh opening may have a rectangular shape. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the mesh opening may have various shapes such as a diamond shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal polygonal shape, or a circular shape.

Since the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 have a mesh shape, the pattern of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 on the effective area AA This can be made invisible. That is, even if the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are formed of metal, the pattern may not be seen. In addition, even when the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are applied to a large-sized touch window, resistance of the touch window may be lowered.

The first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA. The first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may apply an electrical signal to the sensing electrode. The first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be formed in the non-effective area UA, and may not be visually recognized by the printed layer formed on the inactive area.

The wiring electrode 300 may be made of a metal having excellent electrical conductivity. For example, the wiring electrode 300 may be formed of Cr, N), Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof.

Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawings, a circuit board connected to the first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be further positioned. As the circuit board, various types of printed circuit boards may be applied, and for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) may be applied.

The cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 may be adhered to each other through an adhesive layer. In detail, the cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 may be adhered using an optical clear adhesive (OCA).

The cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 may include an effective area AA and a non-effective area UA.

The effective area AA means an area in which a user's touch command input is possible. In addition, the ineffective area UA is a concept opposite to the effective area AA, and refers to an area in which a touch command input is not made because it is not activated even when a user's touch is made.

The cover window 100, the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 may include alignment portions. In detail, alignment portions may be formed at edges of the cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220. That is, alignment portions may be disposed on the cover window 100, the ineffective area UA of the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220.

The cover window 100 may include a first alignment unit 510. In addition, the first substrate 210 may include a second alignment unit 520. In addition, the second substrate 220 may include a third alignment unit 530.

The first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may be disposed at positions overlapping each other. That is, when the cover window 100, the first substrate 210, and the second substrate 220 are stacked and disposed on each other, the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and The third alignment units 530 may overlap each other.

The second alignment unit 520 and the third alignment unit 530 may be formed by the same process as that of forming the sensing electrodes. That is, the second alignment unit 520 and the third alignment unit 530 form an embossed or engraved region on the resin layer by using a mold in the resin layer formed on the substrate, and then the embossed or engraved region is formed. It can be formed by coloring with a colored material.

The first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may have the same shape. In the drawings, the alignment portions are shown in a circular shape, but embodiments are not limited thereto, and may be formed in various polygonal shapes such as a triangular shape or a square shape.

Alternatively, the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may have different shapes.

In detail, the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may include at least one of a dot shape or a ring shape. In the drawings, the alignment portions are illustrated in a circular dot and a circular ring shape, but embodiments are not limited thereto, and may be formed in various polygonal dots and ring shapes such as a triangular dot and a ring or a square dot and a ring shape.

In addition, the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may have different sizes. In detail, sizes of at least two of the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may have different sizes.

In detail, the first alignment portion 510, the second alignment portion 520, and the third alignment portion 530 may be formed to have a width of about 2 mm or less. When the width of the alignment portions exceeds about 2 mm. Since the width of the bezel area is increased, miniaturization of the touch window cannot be implemented.

In addition, the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 may be formed to be spaced apart from the effective area AA by a distance of about 1 mm to about 10 mm. I can.

If the separation distance is less than about 1 mm, the alignment portions may move into the effective area due to the tolerance during lamination, and visibility may decrease. If the separation distance is greater than about 10 mm, the bezel area, that is, the non-effective area, becomes wider. It is not possible to realize the miniaturization of the touch window.

5 and 6 are views showing perspective views in which the first alignment unit 510, the second alignment unit 520, and the third alignment unit 530 are stacked on each other.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cover window 100 includes a first alignment unit 510 having a first dot shape, and the first substrate 210 has a second ring shape overlapping the first dot shape. The alignment unit 520 may be included, and the second substrate 220 may include a third alignment unit 530 having a second dot shape overlapping the ring shape.

The first alignment unit 510 and the second alignment unit 520 are disposed to overlap each other, and the first alignment unit 510 may be disposed inside the ring-shaped second alignment unit 520. I can. In addition, the second alignment unit 520 and the third alignment unit 530 are disposed to overlap each other, and the third alignment unit 530 may be disposed inside the ring-shaped second alignment unit 520. I can.

A separation distance between the first alignment unit 510 or the third alignment unit 530 and the second alignment unit 520 disposed inside the second alignment unit 520 may be about to about.

When the separation distance is out of the above range, positions of electrodes formed on the substrate are staggered due to a tolerance due to contraction of the substrates during processing, so that the overall efficiency of the touch window may be deteriorated.

Further, referring to FIG. 6, the cover window 100 includes a first alignment portion 510 having a first ring shape, and the first substrate 210 is a second ring overlapping the first ring shape. A second alignment unit 520 having a shape may be included, and the second substrate 220 may include a third alignment unit 530 having a dot shape overlapping the second ring shape.

The first alignment unit 510 may be larger than the second alignment unit 520. That is, the first alignment unit 510 and the second alignment unit 520 may be disposed to overlap each other, and the second alignment unit 520 may be disposed inside the first alignment unit 510. have. In addition, the third alignment unit 530 is disposed to overlap with the second alignment unit 520 and disposed inside the first alignment unit 510 and/or the second alignment unit 520. I can.

A separation distance between the second alignment unit 520 or the third alignment unit 530 and the first alignment unit 510 disposed inside the first alignment unit 520 may be about to about.

When the separation distance is out of the above range, positions of electrodes formed on the substrate are staggered due to a tolerance due to contraction of the substrates during processing, so that the overall efficiency of the touch window may be deteriorated.

The embodiment is not limited to those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit overlap each other, and at least one or more alignment units are disposed inside the other alignment units. Of course, it can be formed in a variety of shapes.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes a cover window and alignment portions formed on the substrate(s). The alignment portions are formed to have the same or different shape, or have the same or different size from each other, so that when the cover window and the substrates are stacked, it is possible to prevent electrodes from being displaced from each other due to a tolerance.

That is, in the related art, alignment marks were formed while having the same shape. Accordingly, when the cover window and the first substrate are stacked, the first substrate may be contracted during the process, so that the positions of the alignment marks formed on the cover window, the first substrate, and the second substrate are entirely shifted from each other. As a result, the sensing electrodes formed on the substrates as a whole may also be misaligned.

Accordingly, in the touch window according to the embodiment, alignment marks formed on the cover window, the first substrate, and the second substrate are formed to overlap each other and are formed to have different sizes, thereby aligning according to the contraction of the substrate. Since the alignment portions formed in different sizes may be exposed even if the position of the mark portion is partially shifted, it is possible to prevent shifting due to contraction of the substrate when stacking other substrates or cover windows.

Accordingly, the touch window according to the embodiment can prevent a tolerance due to contraction of a substrate occurring during a process, thereby preventing displacement of electrodes, thereby improving overall reliability and efficiency of the touch window.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7, the touch window 10 according to the embodiment may be disposed on the display panel 30, which is a driver. The touch window 10 and the display panel 30 are bonded together to form a display device.

The display panel 30 has a display area for outputting an image. A display panel applied to such a display device may generally include an upper substrate 31 and a lower substrate 32. A data line, a gate line, and a thin film transistor (TFT) may be formed on the lower substrate 32. The upper substrate 31 may be bonded to the lower substrate 32 to protect components disposed on the lower substrate 32.

The display panel 30 may be formed in various shapes depending on what kind of display device the display device according to the present invention is. That is, the display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display, a plasma display (PDP), an organic light-emitting display (OLED), and an electrophoretic display (EPD). Accordingly, the display panel 30 may be configured in various forms.

Features, structures, effects, and the like described in the above-described embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in each embodiment may be combined or modified for other embodiments by a person having ordinary knowledge in the field to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, contents related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the embodiments have been described above, these are only examples and do not limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention pertains are illustrated above within the scope not departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It will be seen that various modifications and applications that are not available are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments can be modified and implemented. And differences related to these modifications and applications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

Cover windows;
A first substrate disposed on the cover window;
A second substrate disposed on the first substrate;
A first alignment part formed on the cover window;
A second alignment unit formed on the first substrate; And
Including a third alignment portion disposed on the second substrate,
The first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit are disposed to overlap each other,
At least one of the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit is disposed inside another alignment unit,
At least one of the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit has a dot shape,
At least one of the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit has a ring shape. delete delete The method of claim 1,
The dot-shaped alignment portion is a touch window disposed inside the ring-shaped alignment portion. The method of claim 1,
The first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit have the same shape. The method of claim 5,
At least two of the first alignment unit, the second alignment unit, and the third alignment unit have different sizes of alignment units. The method of claim 1,
The cover window includes a first alignment portion having a first dot shape,
The first substrate includes a ring-shaped second alignment portion overlapping the first dot shape,
The second substrate includes a third alignment portion having a second dot shape overlapping the ring shape. The method of claim 1,
The cover window includes a first alignment portion having a first ring shape,
The first substrate includes a second alignment portion of a second ring shape overlapping with the first ring shape,
The second substrate includes a third alignment portion having a dot shape overlapping the second ring shape. The method of claim 8,
The first ring and the second ring have different sizes of touch windows. The method of claim 1,
A resin layer is disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate,
The resin layer includes an embossed region or an engraved region,
At least one of the second alignment unit and the third alignment unit is formed by coloring the embossed or engraved region. The method of claim 1,
The first alignment portion, the second alignment portion, and the third alignment portion are formed to have a width of 2 mm or less. The method of claim 1,
The cover window, the first substrate, and the second substrate include an effective area and an ineffective area,
The first alignment portion, the second alignment portion, and the third alignment portion are formed on the ineffective area by a distance of about 1 mm to about 10 mm from the effective area AA.

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