KR200492401Y1 - Touch sensor and image display device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch sensor of embodiments of the present invention includes a base layer, a plurality of sensing electrodes formed on the base layer, and a dummy line extending along the shape of an edge of the sensing electrode between the sensing electrodes. Electrode visibility may be prevented by the dummy line and touch sensing sensitivity may be improved.

Description

A touch sensor and an image display device including the same TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a touch sensor and an image display device including the same. More specifically, it relates to a touch sensor including a patterned sensing electrode and an image display device including the same.

With the recent development of information technology, demands for the display field have been suggested in various forms. For example, various flat panel display devices with features such as thinner, lighter, and low power consumption, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display panel device, Research is being conducted on an electroluminescent display device and an organic light-emitting diode display device.

On the other hand, a touch panel or a touch sensor, which is an input device that is attached on the display device and allows the user's command to be input by selecting the instruction content displayed on the screen as a human hand or object, is combined with the display device to provide an image display function and Electronic devices with an information input function are being developed.

In addition, as the resolution of the display device is improved to a level such as QHD (Quad High Definition) and UHD (Ultra High Definition), the resolution of the touch sensor also needs to be increased. Accordingly, it is necessary to minimize optical interference caused by the sensing electrode included in the touch sensor.

For example, when conductive patterns included in the sensing electrode are visually recognized by a user, image quality of the display device may be deteriorated. In addition, as structures included in the display panel of the display device overlap the conductive pattern of the sensing electrode, image quality may further deteriorate.

Accordingly, there is a need to develop a touch sensor having improved transmittance and optical characteristics while improving touch sensing sensitivity. For example, as in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2014-0092366, a touch screen panel in which a touch sensor is coupled to various image display devices has been recently developed, but as described above, the demand for a high-resolution touch sensor or a touch panel with improved optical characteristics. Is going on.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2014-0092366

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch sensor having high sensitivity, high resolution, and improved optical properties.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device including the touch sensor and having improved image quality.

1. Base layer; A plurality of sensing electrodes formed on the base layer; And a dummy line extending along a shape of an edge of the sensing electrode between the sensing electrodes.

2. The touch sensor according to the above 1, wherein an edge of the sensing electrode extends in a wavy or serrated shape, and the dummy line extends in the same wave shape as the edge.

3. In the above 1, the sensing electrodes are arranged in a first direction and a second direction that are parallel to the upper surface of the base layer and cross each other perpendicularly, and the dummy line is in the first direction or the second direction. A touch sensor that extends in a diagonal direction to the

4. The touch sensor according to the above 3, wherein the edge of the sensing electrode has a diamond shape, and the dummy line extends in a linear direction.

5. In the above 3, the sensing electrodes include first sensing electrodes arranged along the first direction and second sensing electrodes arranged along the second direction, and the first sensing electrodes are physically A touch sensor having an island pattern shape spaced apart from each other, and the second sensing electrodes are connected to each other by a connection part extending in the second direction.

6. The touch sensor according to the above 5, further comprising bridge electrodes electrically connecting the neighboring first sensing electrodes to each other.

7. The touch sensor according to the above 6, wherein the dummy line extends in a direction crossing the connection part or the bridge electrode in the diagonal direction.

8. The touch sensor according to 1 above, wherein dummy regions are defined between the borders facing the adjacent sensing electrodes, and the dummy lines are respectively disposed for each of the dummy regions.

9. The touch sensor according to the above 8, wherein the dummy line is divided into at least two or more lines within the dummy area.

10. The touch sensor of 1 above, wherein the sensing electrode includes electrode lines therein, and the dummy line extends in a diagonal direction to the electrode line.

11. The touch sensor according to the above 10, wherein the electrode lines extend in a straight shape, a wave shape, or a sawtooth shape.

12. The touch sensor according to the above 10, wherein the sensing electrode further includes connection patterns connecting the adjacent electrode lines.

13. The touch sensor according to the above 12, wherein the sensing electrode includes slits defined by the adjacent electrode lines and the connection patterns therein.

14. An image display device comprising the touch sensor according to any one of 1 to 13 above.

In the touch sensor according to embodiments of the present invention, a dummy line may be formed in a dummy area defined between neighboring sensing electrodes. The dummy line may extend in the same shape as the edge of the sensing electrode. Accordingly, pattern deviation for each region may be reduced by the dummy line, so that electrode visibility may be reduced.

In addition, linearity and continuity of mutual capacitance between the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are maintained by the dummy line, so that sensing sensitivity may be further improved.

According to exemplary embodiments, the dummy line is not visually recognized by the user, and may be divided into a plurality of lines within the dummy area with a width for improving sensing sensitivity and speed.

In some embodiments, the sensing electrode includes a plurality of slits therein, and the visibility of the sensing electrode may be suppressed by a light scattering effect and a light diffraction effect through the slit. In addition, since the aperture ratio of the touch sensor is improved by the slit, a high transmittance structure can be implemented.

The touch sensor may be effectively applied to a high-resolution image display device to improve optical, electrical, and mechanical properties.

1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic structure of a touch sensor according to example embodiments.
2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic structure of a touch sensor according to example embodiments.
3 to 6 are schematic plan views illustrating structures of sensing electrodes and dummy lines according to exemplary embodiments.
7 to 9 are schematic plan views illustrating a pattern structure of a sensing electrode according to exemplary embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch sensor including a plurality of sensing electrodes and a dummy line extending along the shape of an edge of the sensing electrode between the sensing electrodes. In addition, an image display device including the touch sensor is provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, the following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the contents of the above-described design, the present invention is described in such drawings. It is limited to matters and should not be interpreted.

1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic structure of a touch sensor according to example embodiments. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic structure of a touch sensor according to example embodiments.

For example, FIG. 2 includes a partial cross-sectional view of area "C" shown in FIG. 1.

1 and 2, the touch sensor 100 may include a base layer 105 and sensing electrodes 110 and 130 arranged on the base layer 105.

The base layer 105 is used to mean a film-type base material used as a base layer for forming the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 or an object on which the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 are formed. In some embodiments, the base layer 105 may refer to a display panel on which the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 are directly formed.

For example, the substrate layer 105 may be a substrate or film material commonly used for a touch sensor without particular limitation, and may include, for example, glass, a polymer, and/or an inorganic insulating material. Examples of the polymer include cyclic olefin polymer (COP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), poly Allylate (polyallylate), polyimide (PI), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), polyethersulfone (PES), cellulose triacetate (TAC), polycarbonate (PC), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), poly Methyl methacrylate (PMMA), and the like. Examples of the inorganic insulating material include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and metal oxide.

The sensing electrodes 110 and 130 may include first sensing electrodes 110 and second sensing electrodes 130.

The first sensing electrodes 110 may be arranged along a first direction (eg, an X direction) parallel to the top surface of the base layer 105, for example. In some embodiments, each of the first sensing electrodes 110 may be physically spaced apart from island-type unit electrodes. In this case, the first sensing electrodes 110 adjacent in the first direction may be electrically connected to each other by the bridge electrode 120.

Accordingly, a row of first sensing electrodes extending in the first direction may be formed by the plurality of first sensing electrodes 110. In addition, the plurality of first sensing electrode rows may be parallel to the upper surface of the base layer 105 and may be arranged along a second direction crossing the first direction. For example, the first direction and the second direction may cross each other perpendicularly.

The second sensing electrodes 130 may be arranged along a second direction (eg, Y direction), for example. Accordingly, a second sensing electrode row extending in the second direction may be formed by the second sensing electrodes 130. In addition, the plurality of second sensing electrode columns may be arranged along the first direction.

In some embodiments, the second sensing electrodes 130 adjacent to each other in the second direction may be physically or electrically connected to each other by the connection unit 140. For example, the connection part 140 may be integrally formed at the same level as the second sensing electrodes 130.

The sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and the bridge electrode 120 may include a metal, an alloy, a metal wire, or a transparent conductive oxide.

For example, the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and/or the bridge electrode 120 are silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) , Chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) , Zinc (Zn), or an alloy thereof (eg, silver-palladium-copper (APC)). These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and/or the bridge electrode 120 are, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), cadmium A transparent conductive oxide such as tin oxide (CTO) may be included.

In some embodiments, the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and/or the bridge electrode 120 may include a stacked structure of a transparent conductive oxide and a metal. For example, the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and/or the bridge electrode 120 may have a three-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer-transparent conductive oxide layer. In this case, while the flexible property is improved by the metal layer, a signal transmission speed may be improved by lowering resistance, and corrosion resistance and transparency may be improved by the transparent conductive oxide layer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the insulating layer 150 may at least partially cover the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 on the base layer 105. According to exemplary embodiments, the insulating layer 150 is formed at the intersection of the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 130 to cover the connection part 140 of the second sensing electrode 130. I can. The bridge electrode 120 may be formed on the insulating layer 150 to be connected to neighboring first sensing electrodes 110.

The insulating layer 150 may include an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride, or an organic insulating material such as an acrylic resin or a siloxane resin.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the touch sensor 100 may include a sensing area A and a wiring area B. The sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and the bridge electrode 120 may be disposed on the base layer 105 of the sensing area A. The pad 170 may be disposed on the base layer 105 of the wiring region B.

According to example embodiments, a trace branching from each of the first sensing electrode row and the second sensing electrode column extends to the wiring region B and may be electrically connected to the pad 170.

Accordingly, the physical touch information input to the touch sensor 100 is converted into an electric signal due to the difference in capacitance by the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 130, and the electrical signal is converted to the pad 170 ), for example, may be transmitted to the driving IC to implement touch sensing. The driving IC may be implemented in the form of, for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and bonded to the pad 170.

The passivation layer 180 protects the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and the bridge electrode 120 on the sensing area A, and may extend onto the wiring area B. The passivation layer 180 may include, for example, an opening exposing the pad 170.

The passivation layer 180 may include an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride, or an organic insulating material such as an acrylic resin or a siloxane resin.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 130 may be patterned into a predetermined shape.

According to exemplary embodiments, the edge or boundary of the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 130 may be patterned in a wavy shape. Accordingly, the moire phenomenon caused by regular overlapping with the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and electrodes or wires (data wires, gate wires, etc.) included in the display panel disposed under the touch sensor 100 may be reduced. I can.

3 to 6 are schematic plan views illustrating structures of sensing electrodes and dummy lines according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3, as described above, the edge 115 of the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 130 may have a wavy profile. A dummy region D may be defined between the edges 115 of the neighboring first sensing electrode 110 and second sensing electrode 130.

A dummy line 160 may be disposed in the dummy area D. The dummy line 160 may be spaced apart from and extend from the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 along the shape or profile of the edge 115 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130.

According to exemplary embodiments, the dummy line 160 is disposed in each dummy area D, and may have a shape substantially the same as or similar to the edges of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130. For example, the dummy line 160 has an edge having the same waveform as the edge of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 and may extend in one wave shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the dummy line 160 may extend substantially in a wavy shape.

Since the dummy line 160 having a shape substantially the same or similar to the edge 115 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 is also disposed in the dummy region D, electrode visibility according to the electrode arrangement deviation in the dummy region D Can be suppressed. In addition, the dummy line 160 is also formed in, for example, a wavy shape, so that a moire phenomenon with the display panel structure may be reduced.

In addition, since the dummy lines 160 are disposed for each dummy region D, an excessive increase in capacitance formed between the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 may be reduced, thereby improving an operation speed. In addition, the dummy line 160 maintains linearity and uniformity of capacitance, so that reliability of signal transmission may be improved.

According to example embodiments, the dummy line 160 may extend in a diagonal direction with respect to the bridge electrode 120 and the connection part 140. For example, the dummy line 160 may extend in a diagonal direction inclined at a predetermined angle to the first direction or the second direction. Accordingly, by forming the dummy line 160 in a direction different from the electrode arrangement direction, irregularity of the conductive pattern of the touch sensor may be increased, and an effect of suppressing electrode visibility due to light scattering may increase.

Referring to FIG. 4, the dummy line 161 may be divided into a plurality of dummy lines within each dummy area D. According to example embodiments, the dummy line 161 may be divided into a first dummy line 160a and a second dummy line 160b.

As the dummy line 161 is divided into a plurality of lines, the visibility of the dummy line 161 itself decreases, and the transmittance of the touch sensor may be further improved. In addition, by reducing the width of the dummy line 161, it is possible to prevent RC delay due to disturbance of the capacitance formed between the sensing electrodes 110 and 130.

The first dummy line 160a and the second dummy line 160b may extend substantially the same as or similar to the rim 115 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 in a wavy shape. For example, each of the first dummy line 160a and the second dummy line 160b may have a width of about 100 μm or less, and preferably about 50 μm or less.

Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the edge 115 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 may have a substantially serrated profile.

In this case, the dummy line 161 may also extend substantially in a sawtooth shape along the profile of the edge 115. The dummy line 161 has an edge having the same waveform as the edge 115 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130, and may extend in one wave shape.

As described above, the dummy line 161 may be divided into a plurality of lines within each dummy region D, and may include, for example, a first dummy line 161a and a second dummy line 161b. I can.

Referring to FIG. 6, each of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 is patterned in a substantially polygonal shape, and may have, for example, a diamond pattern shape.

In this case, the edges 116 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 may have a substantially linear shape. According to exemplary embodiments, the edge 116 of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 may have a linear shape extending in a diagonal direction inclined at an angle to the first or second direction.

The dummy line 162 has a linear shape that is substantially the same as or similar to the edge 116 and may extend in the diagonal direction. As described above, the dummy line 162 may be divided into a plurality of lines within each dummy area D, and may include, for example, a first dummy line 162a and a second dummy line 162b. I can.

7 to 9 are schematic plan views illustrating a pattern structure of a sensing electrode according to exemplary embodiments. For example, FIGS. 7 to 9 are partially enlarged views of the inside of the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 may include an electrode line 200 and a connection pattern 205.

The electrode line 200 extends in the first direction or the second direction, and a plurality of electrode lines 200a to 200e may be disposed substantially parallel to each other.

Connection patterns 205 are arranged between adjacent electrode lines 200 to physically and electrically connect the electrode lines 200 to each other. In addition, a slit 207 defined by the electrode lines 200 and connection patterns 205 adjacent to each other may be formed inside the sensing electrodes 110 and 130.

As the sensing electrodes 110 and 130 include the slits 207 repeatedly arranged, the transmittance and the aperture ratio of the touch sensor may be improved. In addition, electrode visibility may be prevented by the light scattering effect through the slit 207.

Further, as described above, when the dummy line is divided within the dummy region D, a dummy slit may be formed between the first and second dummy lines, for example. Accordingly, the light transmission or light scattering effect is increased in the entire sensing area and the dummy area, so that electrode visibility can be suppressed.

Referring to FIG. 8, the electrode line 210 may extend in a sawtooth shape. Further, the connection patterns 215 may be arranged between adjacent electrode lines 210a, 210b, and 210c to connect the electrode lines 210 to form slits.

In some embodiments, the connection pattern 215 may be disposed at each bent portion or bent portion of the electrode line 210. For example, the connection pattern 215 may include a first connection pattern 215a and a second connection pattern 215b.

According to exemplary embodiments, the first connection pattern 215a may be coupled to a bent portion, for example, a bent portion of the electrode line 210. The second connection pattern 215b may be coupled to an extension portion between adjacent inflection portions of the electrode line 210.

Referring to FIG. 9, the electrode line 230 may extend in a wavy shape. In addition, the connection patterns 235 may be arranged between adjacent electrode lines 230a, 230b, and 230c to connect the electrode lines 230 to form slits.

In some embodiments, the connection pattern 235 may be disposed at each inflection portion of the electrode line 230. For example, the connection pattern 235 may include a first connection pattern 215a and a second connection pattern 215b.

According to example embodiments, the first connection pattern 235a may be coupled to an inflection portion, for example, a convex portion or a concave portion of the electrode line 230. The second connection pattern 235b may be coupled to an extension portion between adjacent convex portions and concave portions of the electrode line 230.

As described above, the connection patterns 215 and 235 are distributed over the inflections and extensions of the electrode lines 210 and 230, so that the electrode lines 210 and 230 when bending or folding are performed in a flexible display. Can support more stably. In addition, by expanding the distribution area of the connection patterns 215 and 235, the moiré phenomenon may be further reduced. In addition, it is possible to reduce the visibility of the electrode generated due to variations in electrode shape in the convex portion and the concave portion.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an image display device in which the touch sensor is embedded.

For example, the touch sensor may be inserted between a window and a display panel of an image display device.

The display panel may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel or an organic electroluminescent display (OLED) panel. For example, the display panel may include a pixel circuit including a thin film transistor TFT and a pixel portion connected to the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit may include electrodes and wirings such as data lines, scan lines, and driving lines that are regularly arranged according to the arrangement of pixel units. The pixel portion includes a liquid crystal device or an OLED device, and may include a pixel electrode and a counter electrode. The touch sensor may be disposed on the pixel portion.

As described above, the touch sensor according to example embodiments may include dummy lines. By adding the dummy line, it is possible to effectively reduce electrode visibility and moiré phenomena due to regular overlapping with electrodes and wires included in the display panel.

110: first sensing electrode 115: border
120: bridge electrode 130: second sensing electrode
140: connection part 150: insulating layer
160, 161, 162: dummy line 170: pad
180: passivation layer 200, 210, 230: electrode line
215, 235: connection pattern

Claims (14)

Base layer;
A plurality of sensing electrodes formed on the base layer, disposed at the same level, and including electrode lines therein; And
A dummy line extending along a shape of an edge of the sensing electrode between the sensing electrodes,
The electrode lines extend in a wavy or serrated shape, and the sensing electrode further includes connection patterns that connect the adjacent electrode lines and are distributed over the entire area of the sensing electrode,
The connection patterns include first connection patterns connected to the inflection portions of the electrode line and arranged at regular intervals, and second connection patterns connected to the extension portions between neighboring inflection portions of the electrode line and arranged at regular intervals. and,
The electrode lines include a first electrode line, a second electrode line, and a third electrode line sequentially disposed adjacent to each other, and the first connection patterns are formed at the inflection portions of the first electrode line and the second electrode line. Are connected together, and the second connection patterns are connected together with extensions of the second electrode line and the third electrode line,
The edge of the sensing electrode extends in a wavy or sawtooth shape, and the dummy line extends in the same wave shape as the edge.
delete The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensing electrodes are arranged in a first direction and a second direction parallel to the upper surface of the base layer and perpendicular to each other,
The dummy line extends in a diagonal direction with respect to the first direction or the second direction.
delete The method according to claim 3, wherein the sensing electrodes include first sensing electrodes arranged along the first direction and second sensing electrodes arranged along the second direction,
The first sensing electrodes have an island pattern shape physically spaced apart from each other, and the second sensing electrodes are connected to each other by a connecting portion extending in the second direction.
The touch sensor according to claim 5, further comprising bridge electrodes electrically connecting the adjacent first sensing electrodes to each other.
The touch sensor of claim 6, wherein the dummy line extends in a direction crossing the connection part or the bridge electrode in the diagonal direction.
The method according to claim 1, wherein dummy regions are defined between the borders facing each other of the sensing electrodes,
The dummy line is disposed in each of the dummy areas.
The touch sensor of claim 8, wherein the dummy line is divided into at least two or more lines within the dummy area.
The touch sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dummy line extends in a diagonal direction to the electrode line.
delete delete The touch sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensing electrode includes slits defined by the adjacent electrode lines and the connection patterns therein.
An image display device comprising the touch sensor according to claim 1.

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