KR102238822B1 - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch window according to the embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode, wherein the substrate includes a first region in which the sensing electrode is disposed and a second region in which the wire electrode is disposed, and the second The sensing electrode is disposed in the first area by a first closing rate, the wiring electrode is disposed in the second area by a second closing rate, and the sizes of the first closing rate and the second closing rate are the same or different. .

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

The embodiment relates to a touch window.

Recently, in various electronic products, a touch window 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 window may be typically divided into a resistive type touch window and a capacitive type touch window. When a pressure is applied to an input device, the resistive touch window detects a change in resistance according to the connection between electrodes, and a position is detected. The capacitive touch window detects a change in capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches it to detect 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.

When the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode are disposed on one surface of the substrate using one substrate, the wiring electrode may be drawn out in various directions, and as an example, the wiring electrode may be disposed extending from an effective area to an ineffective area. .

In this case, when the wiring electrodes disposed on the effective area include metal, there is a problem in that the wiring electrodes can be visually recognized from the outside.

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

In implementation, it is intended to provide a touch window having improved visibility.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode, wherein the substrate includes a first region in which the sensing electrode is disposed and a second region in which the wire electrode is disposed, and the second The sensing electrode is disposed in the first area by a first closing rate, the wiring electrode is disposed in the second area by a second closing rate, and the sizes of the first closing rate and the second closing rate are the same or different. .

The touch window according to the embodiment may improve visibility of the touch window.

That is, by appropriately controlling the ratio of the area where the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode are disposed on the substrate and the area where the wiring electrode is not disposed, the light transmittance in the area where the zero-filtration wiring electrode is disposed, for example, the amount of light. By controlling the difference between, it is possible to prevent a decrease in visibility due to a difference in the amount of light between the sensing unit and the wiring unit.

1 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a substrate of a touch window according to an embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of area A of FIG. 2.
4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining a process of forming an electrode of a sensing electrode and/or a wiring electrode according to an exemplary embodiment.
7 to 9 are diagrams illustrating a touch device in which a touch window and a display panel are combined according to an exemplary embodiment.
10 to 13 are diagrams illustrating an example of a touch device apparatus to which a touch device according to an embodiment is applied.

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.

Further, when a part is said to be "connected" with another part, this includes not only a case in which it is "directly connected", but also a case in which it is "indirectly connected" with another member interposed therebetween. In addition, when a certain part "includes" a certain component, it means that other components may be further provided without excluding other components unless specifically stated to the contrary.

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.

1 to 3, a touch window according to an embodiment may include a substrate 100, a sensing electrode 200, a wiring electrode 300, and a printed circuit board 400.

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.

In addition, 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 may have a surface including a random curvature, and may be bent or bent.

The substrate 100 may be a cover substrate. Alternatively, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate 100.

An effective area AA and a non-effective area UA may be defined on the substrate 100.

A display may be displayed in the effective area AA, and the display may not be displayed in the ineffective area UA disposed around the effective area AA.

In addition, the position of the input device (eg, a finger, etc.) may be sensed in at least one of the effective area AA and the non-effective 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.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first region 1A and a second region 2A may be defined in the substrate 100. In detail, a first area 1A and a second area 2A may be defined as the effective area AA of the substrate 100.

The first area 1A may be defined as an area in which the sensing electrode 200 is disposed, and the second area 2A may be defined as an area in which the wiring electrode 300 is disposed.

The sensing electrode 200 may be disposed on the substrate 100. In detail, the sensing electrode 200 may be disposed in at least one of the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA of the substrate 100. Preferably, the sensing electrode 200 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate. That is, the sensing electrode 200 may be disposed on the first area 1A of the effective area AA of the substrate.

The sensing electrode 200 may include a first sensing electrode 210 and a second sensing electrode 220.

The first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 may be disposed on one surface of the substrate 100. in details. The first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 may be disposed on the same surface of the substrate 100. That is, the first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other so as not to contact each other on the same surface of the substrate 100.

The sensing electrode 200 may include a transparent conductive material to allow electricity to flow without interfering with the transmission of light. For example, the sensing electrode 200 may include indium tin oxide and indium zinc oxide. Metal oxides such as (indium zinc oxide), copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide may be included.

Alternatively, the sensing electrode 200 may include a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowire film, a carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, or a conductive polymer.

In addition, the sensing electrode 200 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 200 may contain at least one metal of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), and alloys thereof. Can include.

At least one of the first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 may have a mesh shape. In detail, at least one of the first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be disposed to cross each other in a mesh shape.

In detail, referring to FIG. 3, at least one of the first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 is a mesh line LA by a plurality of sub-electrodes crossing each other in a mesh shape. And a mesh opening OA between the mesh lines. In this case, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm. The mesh line portion LA having a line width of less than about 0.1 μm of the mesh line LA may not be possible due to a manufacturing process, and when it exceeds about 10 μm, the sensing electrode pattern may be visually recognized from the outside and visibility may be deteriorated. Alternatively, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 1 μm to about 5 μm. Alternatively, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 1.5 μm to about 3 μm.

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.

When the sensing electrode has a mesh shape, the pattern of the sensing electrode may not be seen on the effective area AA. That is, even if the sensing electrode is formed of metal, the pattern can be made invisible. In addition, even when the sensing electrode is applied to a large-sized touch window, the resistance of the touch window can be lowered.

The sensing electrode 200 may be disposed on the first region 1A. In detail, the first region 1A may be defined as a closed portion, which is an area in which the sensing electrode 200 is disposed, and an opening in which the sensing electrode 200 is not disposed. Here, the closed portion may mean an area in which mesh lines intersecting each other are disposed when the sensing electrode is disposed in a mesh shape, and the opening is formed by an area in which the mesh line is not disposed and mesh lines. It may mean a mesh opening.

The sensing electrode 200 may be disposed with respect to the entire first area by a first closing rate. That is, the sensing electrode may be disposed in the first region 1A by a first closing rate defined as an area in which the sensing electrode is disposed with respect to the entire first region. That is, the first closing rate may be defined as an area in which the sensing electrode is disposed with respect to the entire area of the first area.

The wiring electrode 300 may be connected to and disposed with the sensing electrode 200. The wiring electrode 300 may be disposed on at least one of the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA of the substrate 100. In detail, the wiring electrode 300 may be disposed in the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA of the substrate 100.

The wiring electrode 300 may include a first wiring electrode 310 connected to the first sensing electrode 210 and the second wiring electrode 320 connected to the second sensing electrode 220. .

In addition, the wiring electrode 300 may include a first sub-wiring electrode and a second sub-wiring electrode. In detail, the wiring electrode 300 may include the first sub-wiring electrode disposed on the effective area AA and the second sub-wiring electrode disposed on the non-effective area UA. The first sub-wiring electrode and the second sub-wiring electrode may be integrally formed.

The wiring electrode 300 may be disposed extending from the effective area to the non-effective area of the substrate 100. In detail, the wiring electrode 300 may be disposed on the second area 2A of the effective area AA of the substrate 100, and may be disposed extending in a direction of the ineffective area.

The wiring electrode 300 may extend in the direction of the non-effective area to be connected to the printed circuit board 400. In addition, the wiring electrode 300 may be disposed on the same surface of the substrate 100 on which the first sensing electrode 210 and the second sensing electrode 220 are disposed.

Like the sensing electrode, the wiring electrode 300 may have a mesh shape. In addition, the first sub-wiring electrode and the second sub-wiring electrode may have a mesh shape. In addition, the wiring electrode 300 may include a material that is the same as or similar to the sensing electrode described above.

The wiring electrode 300 may be disposed on the second region 2A. In detail, the first sub-wiring electrode disposed on the effective area AA may be disposed on the second area 2A.

The second region 2A may be defined as a closed portion, which is an area in which the wiring electrode 300 is disposed, and an opening in which the wiring electrode 300 is not disposed. Here, the closed portion may mean an area in which mesh lines intersecting each other are disposed when the wiring electrode is disposed in a mesh shape, and the opening is formed by an area in which the mesh line is not disposed and mesh lines. It may mean a mesh opening.

The wiring electrode 300 may be disposed with respect to the entire second area by a second closing rate. That is, in the second area 2A, the wiring electrode may be disposed with respect to the entire second area by a second closing rate defined as an area in which the wiring electrode is disposed. That is, the second closing rate may be defined as an area in which the wiring electrode is disposed with respect to the entire area of the second area.

In detail, referring to FIG. 3, a second unit area 2CU having a width W in a row direction and a width 3 W in a column direction may be defined in the wiring electrode 300. In addition, a first unit area 1CU having the same area as the second unit area 2CU may also be defined in the sensing electrode 200.

In this case, the first pegu rate may be defined as an area in which the mesh line of the sensing electrode is disposed within the first unit area (1CU), and the second pegu rate is a wiring within the second unit area (2CU). It may be defined as an area in which the mesh line of the electrode is disposed.

The area ratio of the sensing electrode 200 and the wiring electrode 300 disposed on the effective area AA may be the same or different from each other. In detail, the first closing rate, defined as the area in which the sensing electrode 200 is disposed with respect to the entire first region on the first region 1A, is applied to the entire second region on the second region 2A. On the other hand, the second closing ratio, defined as the area in which the wiring electrode 300 is disposed, may be the same or different from each other.

The size of the second closing rate may be about 0.8 to about 1.2 times the size of the first closing rate. In detail, it may be about 0.9 times to about 1.1 times the size of the first closing rate. In more detail, it may be about 0.98 times to about 1.02 times the size of the first closing rate.

That is, the sizes of the first closing rate and the second closing rate may be the same or different from each other. In detail, the size of the first closing rate and the size of the second closing rate are the same, the size of the first closing rate is greater than the size of the second closing rate, or the size of the second closing rate is the It may be larger than the size of the first closing rate.

Preferably, the size of the first closing rate may be larger than the size of the second closing rate. When the size of the first closing rate is greater than the size of the second closing rate, the second closing rate may have a size of 0.8 to less than 1 times of the first closing rate. In detail, the second closing rate may have a size of 0.9 times to less than 1 times of the first closing rate. In more detail, the second closing rate may have a size of 0.98 times to less than 1 times of the first closing rate.

That is, the first closing rate and the second closing rate may have a difference in size ratio of about 2% to about 20%.

When the size ratio of the first closing rate and the second closing rate exceeds about 20%, it is transmitted through the openings of the first area and the second area, that is, the openings in which the electrode is not disposed in the first area and the second area. As the difference in light transmittance becomes large, the visibility of the touch window may be deteriorated.

4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining a process of forming an electrode of a sensing electrode and/or a wiring electrode according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the sensing electrode and/or wiring electrode according to the embodiment may form a mesh-shaped electrode by disposing a metal layer M on the front surface of the substrate 100 and etching the metal layer in a mesh shape. I can. For example, after depositing a metal layer M such as copper (Cu) on the entire surface of the substrate 200, the copper layer may be etched to form a copper metal mesh electrode having an embossed mesh shape.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 5, after forming a resin layer (R) including a photocurable resin or a thermosetting resin on the substrate 100, the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment, the resin layer (R ) After forming the mesh-shaped intaglio pattern P, the conductive material C described above may be filled in the intaglio pattern. In this case, the intaglio pattern of the resin layer may be formed by imprinting a mold having a relief pattern.

Accordingly, by filling and curing a conductive material in the mesh-shaped intaglio pattern P, it is possible to form an intaglio mesh-shaped metal mesh electrode.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 6, after forming a resin layer including a photocurable resin or a thermosetting resin on the substrate 200, the sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment are meshed with the resin layer R. After forming the embossed nano-pattern R1 and the micro-pattern R2, a conductive material, for example, a metal may be sputtered onto the pattern on the resin layer.

At this time, the positive pattern of the nano-pattern and the micro-pattern may be formed by imprinting a mold (m) having an intaglio pattern.

Subsequently, as an example of the conductive material formed on the nano-pattern and the micro-pattern, by etching the metal layer to remove only the metal layer formed on the nano-pattern, and leaving only the metal layer formed on the micro-pattern, a mesh-shaped metal electrode can be formed. I can.

In this case, when etching the metal layer, a difference in etching rate may occur according to a difference in bonding area between the nano-pattern R1 and the micro-pattern R2 and the metal layer. That is, since the bonding area of the micropattern and the gold metal layer is larger than the bonding area of the nanopattern and the metal layer, less etching of the electrode material formed on the micropattern occurs, and according to the same etching rate, the metal layer formed on the micropattern Silver remains, and as the metal layer formed on the nanopattern is removed by etching, a metal electrode having a micro-pattern embossed mesh may be formed on the substrate.

The sensing electrode and/or the wiring electrode of the touch window according to the embodiment may be formed of a mesh-shaped electrode including a metal layer as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 described above.

Hereinafter, a touch device in which a touch window and a display panel are combined according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

7 and 8, a display panel 700 may be coupled on the touch window.

When the display panel 700 is a liquid crystal display panel, the display panel 700 includes a first substrate 701 including a thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode, and a second substrate including color filter layers. 702 may be formed in a structure bonded with a liquid crystal layer therebetween.

In addition, in the display panel 700, a thin film transistor, a color filter, and a black matrix are formed on the first substrate 701, and the second substrate 702 is bonded to the first substrate 101 with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. It may be a liquid crystal display panel having a color filter on transistor (COT) structure. That is, a thin film transistor may be formed on the first substrate 701, a protective layer may be formed on the thin film transistor, and a color filter layer may be formed on the protective layer. Further, a pixel electrode in contact with the thin film transistor is formed on the first substrate 701. In this case, in order to improve the aperture ratio and simplify the mask process, the black matrix may be omitted, and the common electrode may be formed to serve as the black matrix.

In addition, when the display panel 700 is a liquid crystal display panel, the display device may further include a backlight unit that provides light from a rear surface of the display panel 700.

When the display panel 700 is an organic light emitting display panel, the display panel 700 includes a self-luminous device that does not require a separate light source. In the display panel 700, a thin film transistor is formed on a first substrate 701, and an organic light emitting device in contact with the thin film transistor is formed. The organic light-emitting device may include an anode, a cathode, and an organic light-emitting layer formed between the anode and the cathode. In addition, a second substrate 702 serving as an encapsulation substrate for encapsulation on the organic light emitting device may be further included.

Referring to FIG. 7, the touch window described above is disposed on the display panel 700, and the display panel and the touch window may be adhered to each other using a first adhesive layer 66. In addition, a cover substrate 500 is disposed on the touch window, and the touch window and the cover substrate 500 may be adhered to each other using a second adhesive layer 67.

Referring to FIG. 8, a sensing electrode may be disposed on at least one surface of the display panel 700. In detail, the sensing electrode 200 may be disposed on at least one surface of the first substrate 701 or the second substrate 702. In addition, a cover substrate 500 is disposed on the touch window, and the touch window and the cover substrate 500 may be adhered to each other using an adhesive layer 60.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 9, a sensing electrode 200 may be disposed between the first substrate 701 and the second substrate 702.

Accordingly, in the touch device according to the embodiment, the substrate supporting the sensing electrode may be omitted, and thus, a touch device having a thin thickness and a light weight may be formed.

Hereinafter, an example of a touch device apparatus to which a touch window according to the above-described embodiments is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13.

Referring to FIG. 10, 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. 11, 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. 12, such a touch window can be applied not only to touch device devices such as mobile terminals, but also to vehicle navigation.

In addition, referring to FIG. 13, such a touch panel may be applied to a vehicle. That is, the touch panel may be applied to various parts in a vehicle to which the touch panel can be applied. Therefore, it is applied to not only a PND (Personal Navigation Display), but also an instrument panel (dashboard) to implement a CID (Center Information Display). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and of course, such a touch device device may be used in various electronic products.

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 (19)

Board; And
A sensing electrode disposed on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode,
The substrate includes a first region in which the sensing electrode is disposed and a second region in which the wiring electrode is disposed,
The sensing electrode includes a first mesh line and a first mesh opening between the first mesh line,
The wiring electrode includes a second mesh line and a second mesh opening between the second mesh line,
The second area is defined as an area in which the second mesh line is disposed with respect to a second unit area defined by a row defined by the width of the wiring electrode and a column having a size three times the width of the wiring electrode. Have a closing rate,
The first area has a first closing ratio defined as an area in which the first mesh line is disposed with respect to a first unit area having the same area as the second unit area,
The first closing rate is smaller than the second closing rate. The method of claim 1,
The first closing rate and the second closing rate is a touch window having a difference in size ratio of 2% to 20%. The method of claim 1,
The size of the second closing rate is 0.8 times or more to less than 1 times the size of the first closing rate. The method of claim 1,
The size of the second closing rate is 0.9 times or more to less than 1 times the size of the first closing rate of the touch window. The method of claim 1,
The size of the second closing rate is 0.98 times or more to less than 1 times the size of the first closing rate. delete delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The substrate includes an effective area and an inactive area,
The sensing electrode includes a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode,
The wiring electrode includes a first wiring electrode connected to the first sensing electrode and a second wiring electrode connected to the second sensing electrode. The method of claim 10,
At least one wiring electrode of the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode is disposed in the effective area and the non-effective area. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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