KR102303064B1 - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch window according to an embodiment includes a substrate; and an electrode part disposed on the substrate, wherein the electrode part includes: a substrate having a pattern part formed thereon; and an electrode layer on the pattern part, wherein the electrode layer includes a metal layer and a metal oxide layer on the metal layer.

Description

touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

Embodiments relate to touch windows.

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

Such a touch window may be typically divided into a resistive touch window and a capacitive touch window. The resistive touch window detects a position by detecting a change in resistance according to the connection between electrodes when pressure is applied to the input device. In the capacitive touch window, a position is detected by detecting a change in capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches the window. In consideration of the convenience and sensing power of the manufacturing method, the capacitive method has recently been attracting attention for small models.

Indium tin oxide (ITO), which is most widely used as a transparent electrode for such a touch window, is expensive and is easily physically damaged by bending and bending of the substrate, thereby deteriorating its properties as an electrode, and thereby There is a problem that it is not suitable for flexible) devices. In addition, when applied to a large-sized touch panel, a problem occurs due to high resistance.

In order to solve these problems, active research on alternative electrodes is being conducted. For example, there are studies to replace ITO by forming an electrode material in a mesh shape, and a mesh electrode can be formed by various methods using various electrode materials.

For example, the mesh-shaped electrode may be formed using a metal paste. However, in the case of such a metal paste, when an electrode having a small line width is formed, the paste is not filled properly, so there is a problem in that a defect occurs and reliability is lowered.

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

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

A touch window according to an embodiment includes a substrate; and an electrode portion disposed on the substrate, wherein the electrode portion includes: a substrate having a pattern portion formed thereon; and an electrode layer on the pattern part, wherein the electrode layer includes a metal layer and a metal oxide layer on the metal layer.

The touch window according to the embodiment may reduce the thickness of the electrode part. In detail, by forming the electrode layer, that is, the electrode layer constituting the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode as a plating layer, electrical characteristics can be maintained even when disposed with a thin thickness. can be reduced

In addition, by forming the electrode layer with the plating layer, the electrode layer can be disposed with a uniform thickness in the pattern part, and the characteristics of the electrode layer disposed in each pattern part can be made uniform, so that the reliability of the touch window can be improved. .

In addition, a portion of the electrode layer may be oxidized to form an oxide layer capable of preventing reflection. Accordingly, without forming a separate anti-reflection layer, the electrode layer itself can act as an anti-reflection, thereby improving the see-through properties of the touch window, and preventing an appearance defect due to the formation of the anti-reflection layer.

1 is a diagram illustrating a plan view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross-section taken along area AA′ of FIG. 1 .
3 to 6 are views for explaining a process of forming an electrode part according to an embodiment.
7 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of a device apparatus to which a touch window according to an embodiment is applied.
8 to 11 are diagrams illustrating examples of a device apparatus to which a touch window according to an embodiment is applied.

In the description of embodiments, each layer (film), region, pattern or structure is “on” or “under” the substrate, each layer (film), region, pad or patterns. The description of being formed in " includes all those formed directly or through another layer. The standards for the upper/above or lower/lower layers of each layer will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, the thickness or size of each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure may be changed for clarity and convenience of description, and thus does not fully reflect the actual size.

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

Referring to FIG. 1 , the touch window 10 according to the embodiment may include a substrate 100 and an electrode unit 200 on the substrate.

The substrate 100 may be rigid or flexible. For example, the substrate 100 may include glass or plastic. In detail, the substrate 100 may include chemically strengthened glass such as soda lime glass or aluminosilicate glass, or plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The substrate 100 may support the electrode part 200 . That is, the substrate 100 may be a support substrate supporting the electrode unit 200 .

An effective area AA and an invalid area UA may be defined in the substrate 100 .

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

Also, in at least one of the effective area AA and the ineffective area UA, the position of the input device (eg, a finger, etc.) may be detected. When an input device such as a finger is in contact with the touch window, a difference in capacitance occurs at a portion in contact with the input device, and the portion in which the difference occurs may be detected as a contact position.

The electrode part 200 may be disposed on the substrate 100 . The electrode unit 200 may include a sensing electrode 210 and/or a wiring electrode 220 .

The sensing electrode 210 may be disposed in at least one of the effective area AA and the ineffective area UA of the substrate 100 . Preferably, the sensing electrode 210 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate.

The sensing electrode 210 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 210 may include at least one of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), and alloys thereof. may include

The sensing electrode 210 may include a mesh shape. In detail, the sensing electrode 200 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be disposed while crossing each other in a mesh shape.

In detail, referring to FIG. 1 , the sensing electrode 210 may include a mesh line LA and a mesh opening OA between the mesh lines by a plurality of sub-electrodes crossing each other in a mesh shape.

The mesh opening OA may have a rectangular shape. However, embodiments are not limited thereto, and the mesh opening OA may have various shapes, such as a diamond shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal polygonal shape, or a circular shape. In addition, the mesh opening OA may be formed in a regular shape or a random shape.

Since the sensing electrode 210 has a mesh shape, the pattern of the sensing electrode may not be visible on the effective area AA. That is, even if the sensing electrode is formed of a metal, the pattern may be invisible. In addition, even when the sensing electrode is applied to a large-sized touch window, the resistance of the touch window may be lowered.

The wire electrode 220 may be disposed on an ineffective area of the substrate 100 .

The wire electrode 220 may be connected to the sensing electrode 210 , and may extend in a direction of the ineffective area UA to be connected to a printed circuit board in the ineffective area UA.

The wire electrode 220 may include the same or similar material as the sensing electrode 210 . In detail, the wiring electrode 220 includes indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium. Metal oxides such as titanium oxide, nanowires, photosensitive nanowire films, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene or conductive polymers, chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), or an alloy thereof may be included.

The wire electrode 220 may have a mesh shape like the sensing electrode 210 .

2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of a touch window.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the touch window according to the embodiment may include a substrate 211 on the substrate 100 and an electrode layer 212 on the substrate 211 .

The substrate 211 may include plastic. For example, the substrate 211 may include a resin. For example, the substrate 211 may include a UV resin or a photocurable resin.

The substrate 211 may include a pattern portion P. In FIG. 2 , an intaglio pattern portion P is formed on the substrate 211 , but the embodiment is not limited thereto, and an embossed pattern portion may be formed of course.

The pattern portion P may be formed in a mesh shape. In detail, the pattern portion P may be formed in a mesh shape that intersects each other.

The pattern portion P may have a wider width as it extends from the lower surface to the upper surface of the substrate 211 . In detail, the substrate 211 includes a lower surface 211a in contact with the substrate 100 and an upper surface 211b opposite to the lower surface 211a, and the pattern portion P is formed on the lower surface 211a. As it extends in the direction of the upper surface 211b, the width may increase.

The electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 . In detail, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the pattern portion P of the substrate 211 . For example, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed in the pattern portion P. Accordingly, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 in a mesh shape.

The electrode layer 212 may include a metal layer 212a and a metal oxide layer 212b. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may include a metal layer 212a disposed in the pattern portion P and a metal oxide layer 212b on the metal layer 212a.

At least one of the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may have a wider width as it extends from the lower surface 211a of the substrate to the upper surface 211b of the substrate.

Alternatively, the electrode layer 212 may include a conductive layer and a non-conductive layer. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may include a conductive layer disposed in the pattern portion P and a non-conductive layer on the conductive layer.

That is, the conductive layer may be the metal layer 212a, and the non-conductive layer may be the metal oxide layer 212b.

The metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may be integrally formed.

In addition, the electrode layer 212 , that is, the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may be a plating layer. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed in the pattern portion P through electroless plating.

The electrode layer 212 may include a metal. In detail, at least one of the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may include at least one of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, or an alloy thereof.

In addition, the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may include the same material among the metals. That is, the metal oxide layer 212b may be a layer in which one region of the metal layer 212a is oxidized.

The metal oxide layer 212b may have a constant color. For example, the metal oxide layer 212b may have a black-based color. In detail, the metal oxide layer 212b may include at least one of black, gray, and a mixture thereof.

The metal oxide layer 212b may prevent reflection. In detail, it is disposed on the metal layer 212a to prevent the metal layer from being visually recognized due to the glitter of the metal layer. That is, the metal oxide layer 212b may be an anti-reflection layer. Alternatively, the metal oxide layer 212b may be a blackening layer.

Also, the electrode layer 212 may be a plating layer. In detail, the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may be disposed in the pattern portion P through electroless plating.

The electrode layer 212 may be formed to have a constant thickness. The thickness T1 of the metal layer 212a may be about 3 μm or less. In detail, the metal layer 212a may be formed to a thickness of about 0.03 μm to about 3 μm. In more detail, the metal layer 212a may be formed to a thickness of about 0.1 μm to about 1.5 μm.

When the thickness of the metal layer 212a is formed to be less than about 0.03 μm, electrode resistance increases and thus efficiency may be reduced. When the thickness of the metal layer 212a is formed to exceed about 3 μm, the thickness of the sensing electrode is increased to increase the overall thickness of the touch window. , and process efficiency may be reduced.

Also, the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may have different thicknesses. In detail, the metal layer 212a may be disposed to have a greater thickness than the metal oxide layer 212b. For example, a thickness ratio of the metal layer 212a and the metal oxide layer 212b may be about 6:4 to about 9:1.

When the thickness ratio is less than about 6:4, the thickness of the metal oxide layer 212b may be too thin to deteriorate electrical properties, and when the thickness ratio exceeds about 9:1, the thickness of the metal oxide layer 212b is too thin. As a result, the metal oxide layer 212b may not play a role of preventing reflection, and thus visibility may be deteriorated.

In addition, the metal layer 212a may be disposed to have a constant width. In detail, the width W of the metal layer 212a, for example, an average width, is arranged to be about 4 μm or less, so that the pattern of the metal layer 212a is not visually recognized from the outside. In more detail, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed to have a width of about 1 μm to about 4 μm.

3 to 6 are views illustrating a manufacturing process of an electrode part according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a substrate 211 may be disposed on the substrate 100 . Subsequently, the pattern portion P may be formed on the substrate 211 with a constant width and height. In detail, a mesh-shaped pattern portion P may be formed on the substrate 211 .

Next, referring to FIG. 5 , an electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 . In detail, a metal electrode layer may be disposed on the substrate 212 .

The electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 while filling the pattern portion P. The electrode layer 212 may be deposited by an electroless plating method. By directly depositing the electrode layer 212 by an electroless plating method, a metal having superior electrical properties compared to a paste can be directly deposited on a substrate. Accordingly, the electrode layer can be deposited to a thin thickness, thereby reducing the thickness of the electrode layer.

In addition, by depositing by the electroless plating method, it is possible to deposit the electrode layer in a more uniform thickness in the pattern portion compared to applying a paste.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the touch window by reducing the thickness of the electrode part according to the embodiment, that is, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode, and also, since the electrode layer can be disposed with a uniform thickness, the reliability of the touch window can be improved. can

Referring to FIG. 6 , the electrode layer 212 may be etched. In detail, the remaining electrode layers may be removed by etching, except for the electrode layer disposed in the pattern portion 212 among the electrode layers disposed on the substrate 211 .

Then, referring to FIG. 7 , a metal oxide layer may be formed by oxidizing the surface of the electrode layer 212 . Accordingly, the electrode layer 212 may include a metal layer 212a and a metal oxide layer 212b. That is, by oxidizing the surface of the electrode layer 212 , the metal oxide layer 212b including at least one of black, white, and a mixture thereof as an example of a black-based color may be formed. The metal oxide layer 212b may be opaque.

The metal oxide layer 212b may be oxidized by various methods such as physical or chemical methods. For example, the electrode layer 212 may be oxidized using a chemical solution such as silver nitrate (AgNO3) or heated to a predetermined temperature to oxidize the surface of the electrode layer 212 .

The touch window according to the embodiment may be configured in various types.

That is, the sensing electrode 210 includes a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode extending in different directions, and may be configured in various types according to the position of each sensing electrode.

For example, the substrate 100 may be a cover substrate, and the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode may be insulated from each other and disposed on the same surface of the substrate 100 .

Alternatively, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate, a first sensing electrode may be disposed on one surface of the cover substrate, and a second sensing electrode may be disposed on one surface of the substrate 100 .

Alternatively, a cover substrate is further disposed on the substrate, and the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are disposed insulated from each other on the same one surface of the substrate, or on one surface of the substrate and the other surface opposite to the one surface. A first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode may be respectively disposed.

Alternatively, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate, a second substrate may be disposed on the substrate, and a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode may be disposed on one surface of the substrate and one surface of the second substrate, respectively. can

7 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of a touch device according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12 , the touch device according to the embodiment may include the aforementioned touch window and the display panel 400 on the touch window.

The display panel 400 may include a light module 410 and a liquid crystal panel 420 .

The light module 410 may include a light source emitting light in the direction of the liquid crystal panel 420 . For example, the light source may include a light emitting diode (LED) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

The liquid crystal panel 420 may include a plurality of liquid crystal elements. The liquid crystal device may have a specific pattern of directionality by changing the arrangement of molecules inside it according to an electric signal applied from the outside.

The display panel 400 may refract the light emitted from the light module 410 in different patterns while passing through the liquid crystal panel 420 .

Also, although not shown in the drawings, the display panel 400 may further include a polarization filter and a color filter disposed on the liquid crystal panel 420 .

The touch window may be disposed on the display panel 400 . In detail, the touch window may be accommodated in the cover case and disposed on the driving unit 400 . The touch window may be adhered to the driving unit 400 . In detail, the touch panel and the driving unit 500 may be adhered to each other through an optical clear adhesive (OCA).

The touch window according to the embodiment may reduce the thickness of the electrode part. In detail, by forming the electrode layer, that is, the electrode layer constituting the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode as a plating layer, electrical characteristics can be maintained even when disposed with a thin thickness. can be reduced

In addition, by forming the electrode layer with the plating layer, the electrode layer can be disposed with a uniform thickness in the pattern part, and the characteristics of the electrode layer disposed in each pattern part can be made uniform, so that the reliability of the touch window can be improved. .

In addition, a portion of the electrode layer may be oxidized to form an oxide layer capable of preventing reflection. Accordingly, the electrode layer itself can play a role of preventing reflection without forming a separate anti-reflection layer, so that the see-through property of the touch window can be improved, and poor appearance due to the formation of the anti-reflection layer can be prevented.

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. 8 to 11 .

Referring to FIG. 8 , as an example of a touch device apparatus, a mobile terminal is illustrated. The mobile terminal may include an effective area (AA) and an invalid area (UA). The effective area AA may sense a touch signal by a touch of a finger, and a command icon pattern unit and a logo may be formed in the ineffective area.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the touch window may include a flexible touch window that is bent. Accordingly, a touch device apparatus including the same may be a flexible touch device apparatus. Accordingly, the user can bend or bend it by hand.

Referring to FIG. 10 , such a touch window may be applied not only to a touch device such as a mobile terminal, but also to a car navigation system. Also, referring to FIG. 11 , such a touch window may be applied in a vehicle. That is, the touch window may be applied to various parts within the vehicle to which the touch window may be applied. Accordingly, it is applied to not only a personal navigation display (PND), but also a dashboard, etc. to implement a center information display (CID). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that such a touch device may be used in various electronic products.

Features, structures, effects, etc. described in the above-described embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment. Furthermore, features, structures, effects, etc. illustrated in each embodiment can be combined or modified for other embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. Accordingly, the contents related to such combinations and modifications should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the embodiments have been described above, these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains are exemplified above in a range that does not depart from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It can be seen that various modifications and applications that have not been made are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments may be implemented by modification. And the 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 (20)

Board; and
an electrode portion disposed on the substrate;
The electrode part,
a substrate having a pattern portion formed thereon; and
including an electrode layer on the pattern part;
The electrode layer includes a metal layer and a metal oxide layer on the metal layer,
The thickness of the metal layer is 0.03㎛ to 3㎛,
The thickness ratio of the metal layer and the metal oxide layer is 6:4 to 9:1,
The electrode layer has a width of 1 μm to 4 μm. delete The method of claim 1,
A touch window in which the metal layer and the metal oxide layer are integrally formed. The method of claim 1,
The metal layer and the metal oxide layer is a touch window comprising at least one of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, or an alloy thereof. 5. The method of claim 4,
wherein the metal layer and the metal oxide layer include the same metal. The method of claim 1,
The metal oxide layer is a touch window including at least one color of black, gray, and a mixture thereof. The method of claim 1,
The electrode layer is a touch window disposed in a mesh shape. The method of claim 1,
The electrode layer is a plating layer, the touch window. The method of claim 1,
The substrate includes a lower surface in contact with the substrate and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface,
At least one of the metal layer and the metal oxide layer has a wider width as it extends from the lower surface toward the upper surface. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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