KR20130111785A - Touch device and manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A touch device and a manufacturing method are provided to form an electrode pattern which is embedded in a back side of a substrate and minimize the thickness of the whole touch panel, thereby implementing a slimming touch device. CONSTITUTION: An electrode pattern frame is formed on one side of a substrate. An electrode pattern is filled in the electrode pattern frame. When an insulating layer is formed on an intersection area of first and second axis electrode patterns (210,230), the electrode pattern frame receives the first axis electrode pattern including a first connection electrode (220) and the second axis electrode pattern excluding a second connection electrode (240). The electrode pattern frame includes the second connection electrode which connects the second axis electrode pattern.

Description

Touch device and manufacturing method thereof {Touch Device And Manufacturing Method}

The present invention relates to a touch panel and a manufacturing method, and more particularly, it is possible to ensure the reliability of electrode pattern formation by forming an electrode pattern embedded in a negative shape on one surface of the substrate, and to minimize the thickness of the entire touch panel slim The present invention relates to a touch device capable of implementing a touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same.

In electronic devices such as mobile phones, car navigation systems, computers, ticket machines, bank terminals, and the like, a tablet-type input device is recently disposed on the surface of a liquid crystal device and the like, while referring to an indication image displayed in the image display area of the liquid crystal device, the indicated image is displayed. In some cases, input of information corresponding to the instruction image is performed by touching a finger or the like with the displayed position.

The input device (touch panel) has a resistive film type and a capacitive type film. However, the resistive film type input device has a two-layer structure of film and glass, and is formed by contacting the lower glass by pressing the upper film. It has many exposures to shocks and has a weak drawback over time.

On the other hand, the capacitive input device has a strong durability because a transparent conductive film is formed on one substrate.

In such a capacitive input device, a surface type for detecting an input position by applying an in-phase or coin-operated alternating current to both ends of a transparent conductive film and detecting a weak current flowing when a capacitor is formed in contact with or near a finger. There is a type of surface capacitive touch sense.

There is also a projected capacitive touch sense type which extends the electrode pattern in a direction crossing each other and detects an input position by detecting a change in capacitance between electrodes when a finger or the like touches it.

However, since the conventional touch structure is a structure in which an X-axis sensor pattern, an insulating layer, and a Y-axis sensor pattern are stacked on a substrate, the thickness is greatly increased, thereby making it difficult to slim down the device.

In addition, since the electrode pattern is a fine unit pattern, when the electrode pattern is formed as an embossed pattern, defects are likely to occur due to an over pattern, etc. in the manufacturing process, and thus there is a problem in that the production yield is lowered.

In addition, since the height of the electrode protruding from the substrate increases, the resistance is greatly increased at the electrode pattern boundary, thereby causing a malfunction such as a short circuit, thereby deteriorating operation stability and reliability.

An object of the present invention as devised to solve the above problems is to form an electrode pattern frame in the intaglio form on the back of the flexible plastic substrate, and fill the electrode pattern frame with a transparent conductive film to form an electrode pattern touch The present invention provides a touch device and a method for minimizing the thickness of a panel, and eliminating malfunction, deterioration of stability, and poor visibility.

In order to achieve the above object, the touch device according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a substrate and an electrode pattern frame formed intaglio on one surface of the substrate and an electrode pattern filled in the electrode pattern frame.

The substrate may be formed of a glass material or a synthetic resin material.

In addition, when the insulating layer is formed only at an intersection area between the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern, the electrode pattern frame excludes the first axis electrode pattern and the second connection electrode including the first connection electrode. A second accommodating electrode pattern having a shape of accommodating a second axis electrode pattern, the first axis electrode pattern including the first connection electrode formed by filling a transparent conductive metal in the electrode pattern frame, and the second axis electrode pattern except the second connection electrode; And an insulating layer formed at an intersection area between the first axial electrode pattern and the second axial electrode pattern and a second connection electrode formed on the insulating layer to electrically connect the second axial electrode pattern.

In addition, when the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern are formed by separating the insulating layer, the electrode pattern frame is shaped to accommodate the first axis electrode pattern including the first connection electrode. And a second axis electrode pattern including the first axis electrode pattern formed by filling the transparent conductive metal, an insulating layer formed on the substrate on which the first axis electrode pattern is formed, and a second connection electrode formed on the insulating layer. It is characterized by.

In addition, when the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern is formed of a single electrode pattern that is not divided into X-axis, Y-axis, the electrode pattern frame is characterized in that the shape to accommodate the single electrode pattern.

The substrate is divided into a first substrate and a second substrate, the first axis electrode pattern frame formed intaglio on one surface of the first substrate and the second axis electrode pattern frame formed intaglio on one surface of the second substrate and the second substrate. A first axis electrode pattern formed by filling a transparent conductive metal in the axial electrode pattern frame and a second axis electrode pattern formed by filling a transparent conductive metal in the second axial electrode pattern frame, wherein the first axis electrode pattern is The first substrate and the second substrate on which the second electrode pattern is formed are laminated to each other.

On the other hand, the method for manufacturing a touch device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises the step of forming an electrode pattern frame in the intaglio form on one surface of the substrate and forming an electrode pattern by filling a transparent conductive metal in the formed electrode pattern tool .

The forming of the electrode pattern frame may include manufacturing a stamper having an embossed electrode pattern shape when the substrate is a synthetic main material, and transferring the stamper to one surface of the substrate by transferring the stamper to transfer the electrode pattern shape of the stamper. It is characterized by forming a pattern frame.

The forming of the electrode pattern frame may include forming the electrode pattern frame by a roll stamping method for passing the substrate between a first roller and a second roller having a stamper having an embossed shape formed on the outer circumference thereof. It is characterized by forming.

The forming of the electrode pattern frame may include forming an intaglio electrode pattern frame on the substrate by wet etching or dry etching when the substrate is made of glass.

In addition, the forming of the electrode pattern may include transmitting the deposition source only to the electrode pattern frame region to which the transparent conductive metal is to be filled, and rest of the electrode in a single deposition process using a shadow mask designed to block the transmission of the deposition source. An electrode pattern is formed by filling the transparent mold with the transparent conductive metal.

As described above, the touch panel and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention form an electrode pattern for sensing a touch embedded in the back surface of the substrate, thereby minimizing the thickness of the entire touch panel, thereby achieving a slim touch device. Occurs.

In addition, it is possible to increase the production yield by minimizing the defects occurring in the process of forming the electrode pattern of the fine unit, and to minimize the rise of the resistance by minimizing the height of the electrode pattern protruding from the electrode, thereby preventing malfunction, short circuit problem and stability deterioration problem. Excellent effect that can be solved.

1 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a touch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 schematically shows a stamper for forming an electrode pattern frame according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a process diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a touch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, step by step.
4 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a touch device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a touch device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

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

The first embodiment of the present invention relates to a structure in which both the first and the biaxial electrode patterns are embedded in a negative shape on one surface of a substrate, and the second embodiment is the electrode pattern of one of the first and biaxial electrode patterns. However, the present invention relates to a structure that is formed by buried in an engraved shape on one surface of a substrate.

In addition, the embodiment according to the present invention relates to an integrated touch window structure in which the first and second axis electrode patterns are integrally formed on the back surface of the substrate, but the first and the second axis electrode patterns are formed on separate films to be laminated. Applicable is obvious.

≪ Embodiment 1 >

1 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a touch device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch panel according to the present invention includes a first electrode pattern 210 and a second electrode having a substrate 10 and a first connection electrode 220 formed by being buried in an engraved shape on one surface of the substrate. Including an insulating layer 30 formed on the pattern 230 and the first and second electrode pattern crossing regions on the first connecting electrode 220 and a second connecting electrode 240 formed on the substrate on which the insulating layer is formed. Can be configured.

Referring to a more specific manufacturing method, first, an intaglio-type electrode pattern frame 110 is first formed on one surface of the substrate 10.

Here, the electrode pattern frame is formed in a concave shape on one surface of the substrate means a space in which the electrode pattern is filled.

The shape of the electrode pattern frame may be determined according to the design of the electrode pattern to be formed, and in the case of a window integrated touch device, it may be configured in three shapes.

First, when the first axial electrode pattern and the second axial electrode pattern are formed at the same time without layer division as in the first embodiment of the present invention, except for the second connection electrode between the first axial electrode pattern and the second axial electrode pattern The electrode pattern frame may be formed in the shape of all electrode patterns.

In addition, when the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern are formed by separating the insulating layer as a boundary as in the second embodiment to be described later, the electrode pattern frame has a shape of the first axis electrode pattern including the first connection electrode. This can be formed.

In the case where the electrode pattern is formed without distinction between the X-axis and the Y-axis, the electrode pattern frame may be formed in the shape of all the electrode patterns.

The substrate 10 may be a window substrate in which a touch panel is integrally formed, or may be a touch panel substrate formed separately from a window. When the substrate is a window substrate, a decoration or various logos are printed on an area other than the display on the substrate. The light blocking layer may be formed to block light therein.

 The substrate 10 may be formed of a transparent plastic material such as PC, PMMA, PI, etc., and has a flexible characteristic to form an electrode pattern frame by pressing a stamper on one surface of the substrate.

Figure 2 schematically shows a stamper for forming an electrode pattern frame according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the stamper has an embossed shape of an electrode pattern frame, and the electrode pattern is thermocompressed and transferred to the substrate to form an electrode pattern frame.

More specifically, when the substrate is inserted into a mold having a stamper, and the substrate is compressed by applying heat, an embossed electrode pattern frame formed on the stamper presses one surface of the substrate, and an intaglio is formed on one surface of the substrate. The electrode pattern frame 110 is formed.

Here, since the substrate 10 is formed of a plastic material, the substrate 10 becomes soft when heat is applied, and when the surface is compressed in this state, a negative electrode pattern frame is formed and cured to form a substrate having an negative electrode pattern frame. .

In addition, the stamper may be formed as a roll stamper, the roll stamper is a stamper is mounted on the outer periphery of the first roller, the substrate is thermally compressed while passing the substrate between the second roller that is not equipped with a stamper, the pattern is a substrate The electrode pattern frame may be transferred onto the substrate.

The electrode pattern frame 110 is formed in the shape of a first electrode pattern 210 including the first connection electrode 220 and a second electrode pattern 230 not including the second connection electrode 240.

Meanwhile, when the substrate is made of glass or tempered glass, the electrode pattern frame 110 may be formed by wet or dry etching.

More specifically, in the case of dry etching, after aligning a mask in which only the electrode pattern frame region is opened on the substrate surface, the open electrode pattern frame region may be irradiated with a laser to pattern the electrode pattern region in a negative shape.

In the case of wet etching, after forming a PR film having only an electrode pattern region open on a substrate, only the electrode pattern region is patterned in an intaglio form with an etchant such as HCl, HNO 3, H 3 PO 4, and other organic surfactants. The frame can be formed in an intaglio form.

Here, the process of forming the PR film having only the electrode pattern frame area open on the substrate may be formed by using a photoresist and a lithography process, but the film may be formed using a dry film photoresist (DFR). Can be.

When the height of the patterned electrode pattern frame is dry, the height of the laser may be controlled by adjusting the intensity and irradiation time of the laser. In the case of wet, the height of the electrode pattern frame may be controlled by adjusting the etching time and the etching rate.

In this embodiment, the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern are formed in a rhombus and are two-dimensionally arranged so as to alternate with each other in an oblique direction, but it is apparent that the first axis electrode pattern may be arranged in a different form. X-axis or Y-axis sensor pattern, the first axis electrode pattern is an X-axis electrode pattern, the second axis electrode pattern is composed of a Y-axis electrode pattern, the first axis electrode pattern is a Y-axis In the case of a sensor pattern, the second axis electrode pattern may be configured as an X axis electrode pattern.

When the electrode pattern frame 110 is formed on one surface of the substrate as described above, an electrode pattern is formed by filling a transparent conductive metal in the electrode pattern frame as shown in FIG. 3A.

The transparent conductive metal may be made of a conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), nano silver film, AgNW, CNT, graphene, or conductive polymer film.

The electrode pattern may be formed through a photolithography process, but may be filled and formed in the electrode pattern frame region through a single process of depositing a transparent conductive metal using a shadow mask.

When the shadow mask is designed, the electrode pattern frame region may be designed as a transmissive portion, and the remaining region may be designed as a blocking portion to form an electrode pattern by filling an electrode pattern in the electrode pattern frame with only a single deposition.

When the electrode pattern is formed as described above, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the insulating layer 30 is formed at the intersection of the first and second axis electrode patterns of the connection electrode.

The insulating layer 30 serves to electrically insulate the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern, and includes SiO ² , SiNx, Al ₂ O ₃ , an organic insulating layer, and spin-on-glass (SOG). It may be made of an insulating material such as.

The insulating layer may also be formed in an intersecting region of the first and second axis electrode patterns by a single process of depositing an insulating layer using a shadow mask.

When the insulating layer is formed as described above, as shown in FIG. 3C, the second connection electrode 240 is formed on the insulating layer to connect the second axial electrode pattern 230 which is not formed when the electrode pattern is formed. The axial electrode pattern is electrically connected.

The second connection electrode 240 may be formed of the same metal as the electrode pattern, and may be formed by depositing a transparent conductive metal only on the connection portion on the insulating layer using a shadow mask.

And forming each electrode wiring for transmitting the signals sensed by the first and second axis electrode patterns to the touch control device through an FPCB, and forming a passivation layer to protect the electrode pattern. Thus, the manufacture of the touch device may be completed.

The construction and formation of the electrode wiring and the passivation layer are obvious to those skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted since it is a part that deviates from the core of the present invention.

≪ Embodiment 2 >

4 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a touch device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The first embodiment relates to a structure in which an insulating layer is formed only in a region where the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern intersect, but the second embodiment separately separates the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern. And an insulating layer covering the display area of the substrate between the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern.

Accordingly, the first axial electrode pattern 210 including the first connection electrode 220 is formed to be embedded in an electrode pattern frame formed on one surface of the substrate, and the insulating layer 300 is formed on the substrate on which the first axial electrode pattern is formed. The second axis electrode pattern 230 including the second connection electrode 240 is formed on the insulating layer.

Therefore, the touch panel according to the present invention can reduce the thickness by the thickness of the first axis electrode pattern.

The first and second embodiments relate to a structure in which electrodes are integrally formed on a rear surface of a plastic touch window, but the electrode patterns are formed on two substrates, as well as the structure of the touch panel formed separately from the touch window. It is obvious that it can also be applied to a structure that is laminated.

If the electrode patterns are formed on each of the two substrates as shown in FIG. 5, each electrode pattern is formed in a form embedded in one surface of the substrate, thereby reducing the thickness by the thickness of the first and second electrode patterns.

110 substrate 121 first axis sensor
122: second axis sensor 130: insulating layer
140: signal wiring

Claims (11)

Claims [1]
An electrode pattern frame formed in an intaglio on one surface of the substrate;
And an electrode pattern filled in the electrode pattern frame.
The method of claim 1,
The substrate
Touch device, characterized in that formed of glass material or synthetic resin material.
The method of claim 1,
When the insulating layer is formed only in the cross region of the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern
The electrode pattern frame is
A shape for accommodating the first axis electrode pattern including the first connection electrode and the second axis electrode pattern except the second connection electrode;
A first axis electrode pattern including the first connection electrode formed by filling the electrode pattern frame with a transparent conductive metal and a second axis electrode pattern except the second connection electrode;
An insulating layer formed at an intersection area between the first and second axis electrode patterns;
And a second connection electrode formed on the insulating layer to electrically connect the second axis electrode pattern.
The method of claim 1,
When the first and second axis electrode patterns are divided into insulating layers
The electrode pattern frame is
A shape for receiving a first axial electrode pattern including a first connecting electrode;
The first axis electrode pattern formed by filling a transparent conductive metal in the electrode pattern frame;
An insulating layer formed on the substrate on which the first axis electrode pattern is formed;
And a second axis electrode pattern including a second connection electrode formed on the insulating layer.
The method of claim 1,
When the first axis electrode pattern and the second axis electrode pattern are formed as a single electrode pattern that is not divided into the X-axis, Y-axis
The electrode pattern frame is
And a shape for accommodating the single electrode pattern.
The method of claim 1,
The substrate
Separate the first substrate and the second substrate;
A first axial electrode pattern frame formed in an intaglio on one surface of the first substrate;
A second axial electrode pattern frame formed in an intaglio on one surface of the second substrate;
A first axis electrode pattern formed by filling a transparent conductive metal in the first axis electrode pattern frame;
A second axis electrode pattern formed by filling the second axis electrode pattern frame with a transparent conductive metal;
And a first substrate on which the first axis electrode pattern is formed and a second substrate on which the second electrode pattern is formed are laminated to each other.
Forming an electrode pattern frame in an intaglio form on one surface of the substrate;
And forming an electrode pattern by filling a transparent conductive metal in the formed electrode pattern tool.
8. The method of claim 7,
Forming the electrode pattern frame is
When the substrate is a synthetic main material
A method of manufacturing a touch device, comprising: manufacturing a stamper having an embossed electrode pattern shape and transferring the stamper to one surface of the substrate to transfer the electrode pattern shape of the stamper to form an electrode pattern frame.
The method of claim 8,
Forming the electrode pattern frame is
And forming the electrode pattern frame by a roll stamping method for passing the substrate between a first roller and a second roller having a stamper having an embossed shape of the electrode pattern formed on an outer circumference thereof.
8. The method of claim 7,
Forming the electrode pattern frame is
When the substrate is made of glass
A method of manufacturing a touch device, comprising forming an electrode pattern frame having a negative shape on the substrate through wet etching or dry etching.
8. The method of claim 7,
Forming the electrode pattern is
The transparent conductive metal is filled into the electrode pattern frame in a single deposition process by using a shadow mask designed to transmit the deposition source only to the electrode pattern frame region to which the transparent conductive metal is to be filled and to block the transmission of the remaining source. A method of manufacturing a touch device, comprising forming an electrode pattern.

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