KR20130026923A - Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to uniformly form a crack on a protection film which wraps a transparent conductive material. CONSTITUTION: A material(32) for a first transparent electrode includes a first transparent electrode. A material(34) for a second transparent electrode includes a second transparent electrode. A protection layer(60) is formed on the first or the second transparent electrode. A crack is formed on a surface of the protection layer. The crack does not pass through the protection layer.

Description

TOUCH PANEL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME}

The present disclosure relates to a touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same.

Recently, various electronic products have been applied to a touch panel for inputting a method of contacting an input device such as a finger or a stylus to an image displayed on a display device.

The touch panel can be largely divided into a resistance film 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. A capacitance type touch panel senses a change in electrostatic capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches them, thereby detecting the position.

In particular, the capacitive touch panel has an advantage of being capable of multi-touch. Multi-touch is a technology for recognizing multiple touch points at the same time, it is possible to perform a variety of operations than to recognize only one common touch point. Unlike the conventional touch method, which requires the input of a change of position through touch, a separate operation such as an auxiliary button is required for various operations. Depending on the number of touch points detected, the response of the device to the touch can be specified. In addition, it is possible to operate by changing the touch point interval more intuitive, easy and comfortable operation.

The touch panel coats a conductive material or the like in one or two parts on tempered glass or film to form an optically and electrically favorable transparent conductive material film. Here, the one-part type means a method of coating the conductive material and the protective layer at once, and the two-part type means a method of coating the protective layer on the conductive material after coating.

Here, the protective layer prevents the conductive material from being exposed to the outside so that the conductive material can be stably coated on glass or film.

However, such a protective layer may be an obstacle when etching the glass or film coated with the conductive material. That is, an etching process using an etchant is required for the final product, but it is difficult to penetrate the etchant by the protective layer, so that a stable patterning process may be difficult.

Accordingly, there is a need for forming a protective layer to protect the conductive material, and at the same time, a protective layer for easily penetrating the etchant during the patterning process.

Embodiments provide a touch panel in which a crack is formed in a protective layer to facilitate penetration of an etchant during a patterning process, thereby enabling a stable patterning process.

The touch panel according to the first embodiment includes a substrate; A substrate for a first transparent electrode on which a first transparent electrode is formed; A substrate for a second transparent electrode on which a second transparent electrode is formed; And a protective layer formed on the first transparent electrode or the second transparent electrode, and a crack may be formed on a surface of the protective layer.

A touch panel according to a second embodiment includes a substrate; A first transparent electrode formed on the substrate; Substrates for transparent electrodes; A second transparent electrode formed on the transparent electrode base material; And a protective layer formed on the first transparent electrode or the second transparent electrode, and a crack may be formed on a surface of the protective layer.

A method of manufacturing a touch panel according to a first embodiment includes preparing a substrate for a substrate and a transparent electrode; Forming a transparent electrode having a protective layer formed on the substrate or the substrate for transparent electrode; It may include forming a crack in the protective layer.

A method of manufacturing a touch panel according to a second embodiment may include preparing a substrate and a substrate for a transparent electrode; Forming a transparent electrode on the substrate or the substrate for the transparent electrode; Forming a protective layer on the transparent electrode; And forming a crack in the protective layer.

The touch panel according to the embodiment may form a predetermined crack in the protective layer covering the transparent conductive material.

The protective layer serves to protect the conductive material of the substrate or the substrate for the transparent electrode against external contamination. In addition, cracks may be formed in the protective layer to facilitate penetration of the etchant during the patterning process.

That is, the protective layer protects the transparent conductive material against the outside by cracks formed in the protective layer, and at the same time, the penetration of the etchant may be facilitated through the crack formed in the protective layer even during the patterning process. The effect is that the patterning process is possible.

1 is a schematic plan view of a touch panel according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 1.
3 is a cross-sectional view of a touch touch panel according to a second embodiment.
4 is a photograph in which cracks are formed in the protective layers of FIGS. 2 and 3.
5 is a process flowchart of a touch panel manufacturing method according to an embodiment.

In the description of the embodiments, each layer, region, pattern, or structure is “on” or “under” the substrate, each layer, region, pad, or pattern. "Formed in" includes both those formed directly or through another layer. Criteria for the top / bottom or bottom / bottom 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 modified for clarity and convenience of description, and thus do not necessarily reflect the actual size.

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

First, the touch panel according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 is a schematic plan view of a touch panel according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1.

1 and 2, in the touch panel according to the embodiment, an effective area AA for detecting a position of an input device and a dummy area DA positioned outside the effective area AA are located. .

Here, the transparent electrode may be formed in the effective area to detect the input device. In the dummy area DA, a wiring connected to the transparent electrode and a printed circuit board for connecting the wiring to an external circuit (not shown) may be disposed. An outer dummy layer 20 may be formed in the dummy area DA, and a logo 20a may be formed in the outer dummy layer 20. The touch panel will be described in more detail as follows.

The touch panel according to the embodiment may include a substrate, an outer dummy layer, an optically clear adhesive, a transparent electrode, a substrate for a transparent electrode, and a protective layer.

The substrate 10 may be made of a glass substrate or a plastic substrate.

An optically clear adhesive (OCA) 50 may be positioned between the substrate 10 and the substrate for the transparent electrode. The optically clear adhesive 50 may bond the substrate 10 and the transparent electrode substrate. The optical transparent adhesive agent 50 may bond the substrate 10 and the substrate for transparent electrode without significantly reducing the transmittance of the touch panel.

The transparent electrode substrate may include a first transparent electrode substrate 32 and a second transparent electrode substrate 34.

The first transparent electrode base material 32 may be located on one side of the substrate 10, and the second transparent electrode base material 34 may be disposed on either side of the first transparent electrode base material 34. Can be located.

The transparent electrode substrates 32 and 34 may include glass, polyacrylate, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, fluoropolymer, polyamide, and poly Polyimide, polysulfone, silicone, glass resin, polyetheeretherketone, polynorbornene, polyester, polyvinyl, acryliconite May include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polycarbonates, copolymers, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or mixtures and laminates thereof have. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and may include various materials on which the transparent electrode may be formed.

The transparent electrode may include a first transparent electrode 42 and a second transparent electrode 44.

The first and second transparent electrodes 42 and 44 include a sensor unit that detects whether an input device such as a finger is in contact with a connection unit connecting the sensor unit. The connecting portion of the first transparent electrode 42 may connect the sensor portion in the first direction (left and right direction in the drawing), and the connecting portion of the second transparent electrode 44 may connect the sensor portion in the second direction (up and down direction in the drawing). have.

The transparent electrode may be formed in various shapes to detect whether an input device such as a finger is in contact.

Such a transparent electrode may include a transparent conductive material so that electricity can flow without disturbing the transmission of light. To this end, the transparent electrode may be made of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide. Metal oxides such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), gold nanowires (Au nanowire), silver nanowires (Ag nanowire), copper nanowires (Cu nanowire), and a variety of materials such as conductive polymer materials Can be.

The first transparent electrode 42 may be located on the substrate 32 for the first transparent electrode. In addition, the second transparent electrode 44 may be located on the substrate 34 for the second transparent electrode. Specifically, the first transparent electrode 42 may be positioned on one surface of the first transparent electrode substrate 32, and the second transparent electrode 44 may be disposed on one surface of the second transparent electrode substrate 34. ) May be located.

Since the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are formed on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which is a substrate for the transparent electrode, flexibility of the touch panel can be secured.

A protective layer 60 may be formed on front surfaces of the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. The protective layer 60 may include an epoxy-based, acrylic acrylate-based, urethane-based polymer material, or the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto and may include various materials capable of forming the protective layer. In addition, the protective layer 60 may be formed by the same process as the first and second transparent electrodes.

When the transparent conductive material is coated on a substrate or a substrate for a transparent electrode, the protective layer 60 serves to protect the transparent conductive material from scattering against external action and contamination.

However, the protective layer 60 may be an obstacle in a later patterning process. That is, the final product must be accompanied by an etching process using an etchant, and at this time, it is difficult to infiltrate the etchant by the protective layer, thus making it difficult to secure a stable patterning process.

Accordingly, the touch panel according to the embodiment may form a crack structure having a predetermined shape on the surface of the protective layer 60. Here, the crack of the protective layer facilitates the penetration of the etchant during etching, thereby enabling a stable patterning process.

Hereinafter, the touch panel according to the second embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. For the sake of clarity and simplicity, a detailed description of parts that are the same as or extremely similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different parts will be described in detail.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to a second embodiment.

In the touch panel according to the second embodiment, the first transparent electrode 42 may be formed on the substrate 10, and the second transparent electrode 44 may be formed on the transparent electrode substrate 30. That is, the first transparent electrode 42 may be the same as the touch panel according to the first embodiment except that the first transparent electrode 42 is formed on a substrate other than the transparent electrode substrate.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a touch panel according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a process flowchart of a method of manufacturing a touch panel according to an embodiment.

In the method of manufacturing a touch panel according to the embodiment, a step of preparing a substrate and a substrate for a transparent electrode (ST10), a step of forming a transparent electrode (ST20), a step of forming a protective layer (ST30) and a crack in the protective layer It may include forming a step (ST40).

In preparing the substrate and the substrate for the transparent electrode (ST10), a substrate may be prepared, and the same material as the first embodiment may be prepared as the substrate for the transparent electrode.

Subsequently, in the forming of the transparent electrode (ST20), the transparent electrode may be formed on the substrate or the substrate for the transparent electrode. The forming of the transparent electrode may include forming a first transparent electrode extending in one direction and a second transparent electrode extending in a direction crossing the first transparent electrode.

In the forming of the transparent electrode, the first transparent electrode may be formed on the substrate for the first transparent electrode, and the second transparent electrode may be formed on the substrate for the second transparent electrode.

The first and second transparent electrodes may be formed by evaporation or the like. For example, the first and second transparent electrodes may be formed by reactive sputtering. In this case, when the first and second transparent electrodes are formed of indium tin oxide, the content of tin may be 10% or less. As a result, the transmittance may be improved, and then the indium tin compound may be crystallized by an annealing process to improve electrical conductivity. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the first and second transparent electrodes may be formed in various ways.

In detail, the first and second transparent electrodes may coat a transparent conductive material on the substrate or the substrate for the transparent electrode. Herein, the transparent conductive material may be indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, or titanium oxide. Metal oxides such as c), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and conductive materials such as various materials.

Subsequently, in step ST30 of forming the protective layer 60, a protective layer may be formed on the first electrode and the second electrode. The protective layer 60 serves to protect the outside of the transparent conductive material from being exposed.

The protective layer may be formed by dip coating, slot die coating, spray coating, roll coating, screen printing, or gravure coating process.

The protective layer is polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride (polyvinylidene chloride) ), Polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl butyral, metal ion-crosslinked ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, polyurethanes, cellophane, Material of any one of the polyolefins or mixtures thereof.

Subsequently, in the step ST40 of forming a crack in the protective layer 60, a crack may be formed in the protective layer 60. The crack may be a passage that facilitates the penetration of the etchant during the patterning process.

The forming of the crack in the protective layer may include forming a crack due to a difference in shrinkage rate in the process of coating a material having a high functional group with respect to the protective layer on the protective layer and then curing the same, or hardness in the protective layer. A large material may be coated to pass through a roll to roll or the like to form cracks on the surface of the protective layer. That is, the protective layer is coated with a material having a different shrinkage from the protective layer, and the material coated on the protective layer and the protective layer may have a different shrinkage rate, so that cracks may occur at the boundary between different materials during curing.

The patterning process may be formed by wet etching. Wet etching is a method of using a chemical agent, and refers to a technique in which a component contained in a chemical chemical reacts with a substance to be etched and is etched while the component to be etched is dissolved in a chemical solution. For example, in the present embodiment, etching can be performed using an aqueous solution or an aqueous solution.

At this time, it may be difficult to penetrate the etchant as a chemical by the protective layer. Therefore, by forming a predetermined crack in the protective layer to form the passage of the etchant, the etchant penetrates well into the protective layer, thereby enabling a stable patterning process.

The features, structures, effects and the like described in the foregoing embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment. In addition, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in the embodiments may be combined or modified with respect to other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these combinations and modifications.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It can be seen that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments may be modified. It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Claims (15)

Board;
A substrate for a first transparent electrode on which a first transparent electrode is formed;
A substrate for a second transparent electrode on which a second transparent electrode is formed; And
A protective layer formed on the first transparent electrode or the second transparent electrode,
A crack is formed on the surface of the protective layer (crack). Board;
A first transparent electrode formed on the substrate;
Substrates for transparent electrodes;
A second transparent electrode formed on the transparent electrode base material; And
A protective layer formed on the first transparent electrode or the second transparent electrode,
A crack is formed on the surface of the protective layer (crack). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The protective layer is polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride (polyvinylidene chloride) ), Polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl butyral, metal ion-crosslinked ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, polyurethanes, cellophane, A touch panel comprising a material of any one of polyolefins or a mixture thereof. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The crack does not penetrate the protective layer. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The substrate for the transparent electrode is glass, polyacrylate, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, fluoropolymer, polyamide, polyimide, polyimide, Polysulfone, silicone, glass resin, polyetheeretherketone, polynorbornene, polyester, polyvinyl, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene Touch panel comprising an copolymer (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), polycarbonate, copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or mixtures thereof and laminates. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
An optically clear adhesive (OCA) is included between the substrate and the substrate for transparent electrode. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The touch panel further comprises an anti-reflection layer. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The transparent electrode may be indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, or the like. Metal oxide, carbon nano tube (CNT), gold nanowire (Au nanowire), silver nanowire (Ag nanowire), copper nanowire (Cu nanowire), or any one or mixture thereof Including touch panel. Preparing a substrate for the substrate and the transparent electrode;
Forming a transparent electrode having a protective layer formed on the substrate or the substrate for transparent electrode;
Forming a crack in the protective layer. Preparing a substrate for the substrate and the transparent electrode;
Forming a transparent electrode on the substrate or the substrate for the transparent electrode;
Forming a protective layer on the transparent electrode; And
Forming a crack in the protective layer. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
The transparent electrode may be indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, or the like. Metal oxide, carbon nano tube (CNT), gold nanowire (Au nanowire), silver nanowire (Ag nanowire), copper nanowire (Cu nanowire), or any one or mixture thereof Method of manufacturing a touch panel comprising. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
The crack is a method of manufacturing a touch panel formed by coating a heterogeneous material having a different shrinkage rate from the protective layer on the protective layer. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
The protective layer is polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride (polyvinylidene chloride) ), Polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl butyral, metal ion-crosslinked ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, polyurethanes, cellophane, A method of manufacturing a touch panel comprising a material of any one of polyolefins or a mixture thereof. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
The substrate for the transparent electrode is glass, polyacrylate, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, fluoropolymer, polyamide, polyimide, polyimide, Polysulfone, silicone, glass resin, polyetheeretherketone, polynorbornene, polyester, polyvinyl, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene A method of manufacturing a touch panel comprising an copolymer (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), polycarbonate, copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or mixtures thereof and laminates. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
An optically clear adhesive (OCA) is included between the substrate and the substrate for transparent electrode.

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