KR20150098449A - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch panel includes: a cover window; a substrate placed on the cover window; a first electrode placed on one side of the substrate; and a second electrode placed on the other side of the substrate. The first and second electrodes include organic compounds.

Description

TOUCH PANEL {TOUCH WINDOW}

The present invention relates to a touch panel.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a touch panel has been applied to an image displayed on a display device in various electronic products by a method of touching an input device such as a finger or a stylus.

Such a touch panel can largely be 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 and the position is detected. A capacitance type touch panel senses a change in electrostatic capacitance between electrodes when a finger touches them, thereby detecting the position.

The resistance film type touch panel may be deteriorated in performance by repeated use, and scratch may occur. As a result, there is a growing interest in a capacitive touch panel having excellent durability and long life span.

On the other hand, indium tin oxide (ITO) is the most widely used electrode material of the touch panel, and since the indium tin oxide has a limitation in realizing a low resistance due to the large surface area, electrodes using metal thin film meshes have attracted attention.

When an electrode is formed using a metal thin-film mesh, a resin layer may be formed on a substrate, an intaglio region may be formed on the resin layer, and then a conductive material may be applied to the intaglio region to form an electrode.

At this time, in order to form an electrode on a substrate, a plurality of processes such as exposure, development, etching, and the like are required, thereby lowering the process efficiency. In addition, when electrodes are formed on both sides of one substrate, a plurality of processes such as exposure, development, etching, and the like must be sequentially performed on each of the surfaces.

Accordingly, a touch panel having a new structure capable of improving process efficiency is required.

Embodiments provide a touch panel that can reduce the thickness of a touch panel and can be manufactured with improved process efficiency.

A touch panel according to an embodiment includes: a cover window; A substrate disposed on the cover window; A first electrode disposed on one surface of the substrate; And a second electrode disposed on the other surface of the substrate, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode include an organic material.

The touch panel according to the embodiment may form both the first electrode and the second electrode on both sides of the substrate.

That is, the sensing unit and the wiring unit formed on one surface of the substrate can be formed at one time by a simultaneous process by a printing process, that is, a direct printing process, on the first electrode and the second electrode including the organic paste. Further, the sensing portion and the wiring portion formed on the other surface of the substrate can be formed at one time by the simultaneous process.

In addition, the first electrode and the second electrode formed on one surface and the other surface of the substrate can be simultaneously formed in one process.

Thus, the touch panel according to the embodiment can shorten the process time when the electrodes are formed on the substrate, thereby improving the process efficiency.

Conventionally, by using exposure, development and etching processes on both sides of each substrate or substrate, The process cost and the process time are long. However, in the touch panel according to the embodiment, the sensing part and the wiring part are formed at one time, that is, at the same time by the printing process on the one surface and the both surfaces of the substrate, The time can be shortened and the process efficiency can be improved.

In addition, by forming the electrodes simultaneously on both sides of the substrate by printing, the overall thickness of the touch panel can be reduced, thereby realizing miniaturization of the touch panel.

1 is a perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment.
2 is a plan view of one surface of a substrate according to an embodiment.
3 is a plan view showing the other surface of the substrate according to the embodiment.
4 and 5 are views showing an example of display devices to which the touch panel according to the embodiment is applied.

In the description of the embodiments, it is to be understood that each layer (film), area, pattern or structure may be referred to as being "on" or "under / under" Quot; includes all that is formed directly or through another layer. The criteria for top / bottom or bottom / bottom of each layer are described with reference to the drawings.

The thickness or the size of each layer (film), region, pattern or structure in the drawings may be modified for clarity and convenience of explanation, and thus does not entirely reflect the actual size.

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

A touch panel according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch panel according to an embodiment may include a cover window 100 and a substrate 200.

The cover window 100 may comprise glass or plastic. In one example, the cover window 100 may include tempered glass, semi-tempered glass, soda lime glass, reinforced plastic, soft plastic, and the like.

The cover window 100 may include a valid area AA and a non-valid area UA. The effective area AA indicates an area where a user can input a touch command. The non-valid area UA is a concept opposite to the valid area AA, which means an area that is not activated even when a user's touch is performed and thus the touch command input is not performed.

The substrate 200 may be disposed on the cover window 100. The cover window 100 and the substrate 200 may be adhered to each other. In detail, the cover window 100 and the substrate 200 may be adhered to each other using a transparent optical adhesive (Optical Clear Adhesive).

The substrate 200, like the cover window, may include a valid region AA and a non-valid region UA.

Electrodes may be disposed on the substrate 200. In detail, electrodes may be disposed on one surface and the other surface of the substrate 200. That is, electrodes may be disposed on both sides of the substrate 200.

2 is a view showing one surface 200a of the substrate.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first electrode may be disposed on one surface 200a of the substrate.

The first electrode may include a first sensing unit 310 and a first wiring unit 410. In detail, the first electrode may include a first sensing part 310 disposed on the effective area AA and a first wiring part 410 disposed on the non-valid area UA.

The first electrode may include an organic material. In detail, the first electrode may be an organic paste containing an organic material. That is, the first electrode may include a conductive material, a binder, and a solvent.

The first sensing unit 310 may include a first sensing electrode 311.

The first sensing electrode 311 may include a conductive material. In detail, the first sensing electrode 311 may include a metal material. For example, the first sensing electrode 311 may include at least one of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, or an alloy thereof. That is, the first sensing unit 310 may include metal powder having conductivity.

The first sensing electrode 311 may extend in the first direction on the substrate 200. For example, the first sensing electrode 311 may extend in the longitudinal direction on the effective area AA of the substrate 200, as shown in FIG. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the sensing electrode may be arranged to extend in various directions, such as a lateral direction, on the substrate 200.

The first sensing electrode 311 may include a mesh shape. In detail, the first sensing electrode 311 includes a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be arranged to intersect with each other in a mesh shape.

In detail, referring to FIG. 2, the first sensing electrode 311 may include a mesh opening OA and a mesh line portion LA. At this time, the line width of the mesh line portion LA may be about 0.1 mu m to about 10 mu m. The mesh line portion LA having a line width of about 0.1 mu m or less may not be possible in the manufacturing process, and when the line width exceeds about 10 mu m, the pattern of the first sensing electrode may be visually recognized from the outside, resulting in decreased visibility. Preferably, the line width of the mesh line portion LA may be about 1 [mu] m to about 5 [mu] m.

The mesh opening OA may have a rectangular shape. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the mesh opening OA may have various shapes such as a diamond shape, a pentagon, a hexagonal polygonal shape, or a circular shape.

Since the sensing electrode has a mesh shape, the pattern of the first sensing electrode can be made invisible on the effective area AA. That is, even if the first sensing electrode is formed of a metal, the pattern can be made invisible. Also, the resistance of the touch window can be lowered even if the first sensing electrode is applied to a touch window of a large size.

The first wiring part 410 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA. The first wiring portion may include a first connection portion 411, a first bonding portion 413, and a first trace portion 412.

The first connection unit 411 may be connected to the first sensing electrode 311. The first bonding unit 413 may be connected to an external printed circuit board 500. Accordingly, the touch signal generated in the sensing electrode can be transmitted to the printed circuit board on which the driving chip 510 is mounted. At this time, the printed circuit board may be flexible. That is, the printed circuit board may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

The first connection part 411 and the first bonding part 413 may be connected by a first trace part 412 extending along the ineffective area UA.

The first connection part 411, the first trace part 412, and the first bonding part 413 may be integrally formed.

In addition, the first connection part 411, the first trace part 412, and the first bonding part 413 may include the same material. For example, the first connection part 411, the first trace part 412, and the first bonding part 413 may include a conductive material. In detail, the first connection portion 411, the first trace portion 412, and the first bonding portion 413 include at least one of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, can do. That is, the first wiring part 410 may include a metal powder.

The metal powders of the first sensing part 310 and the first wiring part 410 may be mixed with the solvent and the binder to be coated on the substrate in the form of a paste.

The binder may serve to impart a binding force between the metal powder and the substrate. For example, the binder may include at least one selected from the group consisting of epoxy, ester, acryl, and vinyl. However, the binder is not limited thereto.

In addition, the solvent may include an organic solvent capable of dissolving the binder. For example, the solvent may be selected from the group consisting of alcohols, glycols, polyols, ethers, glycol ethers, glycol ether esters, , But the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition, the organic paste may further include a dispersant having an acryl-based or carboxyl functional group to improve the dispersibility of the metal powder.

Accordingly, the first sensing part 310 and the first wiring part 410 may be formed on the substrate in the form of an organic paste including a metal powder, a binder, a solvent, and a dispersing agent.

The first sensing unit 310 may further include a first dummy electrode 312. The first sensing unit 310 may further include a first dummy electrode 312 positioned between the first connection unit 411 and the first sensing electrode 311.

The first dummy electrode 312 may be disposed in direct contact with the first sensing electrode 311 and the first connection unit 411.

The first dummy electrode 312 may include the same or similar metal material as the first sensing electrode 311.

The first dummy electrode 312 may have the same pattern as the first sensing electrode 311. In detail, the first dummy electrode 312 may include a mesh shape.

The first dummy electrode 312 may improve the contact area between the first sensing electrode 311 and the first connection portion 411. The first sensing electrode 311 and the connection portion 411 are electrically connected to each other through the first dummy electrode 312 as compared with the case where the first sensing electrode 311 is directly connected to the first connection portion 411. [ The contact area can be improved. That is, the area where the first sensing electrode 311 is not connected to the first connection part 411 can be reduced by the first dummy electrode 312.

The first sensing electrode 311 and the first dummy electrode 312 may be formed at the same time. In detail, the first sensing electrode 311 and the second dummy electrode 3120 may be formed at the same time using a metal paste containing an organic material. For example, the first sensing electrode 311 and the first dummy electrode 312 may be printed at one time by a printing process.

The first connection portion 411, the first trace portion 412, and the first bonding portion 413 may be formed at the same time. In detail, the first connection part 411, the first trace part 412, and the first bonding part 413 may be formed at one time by using the paste containing the organic material by the same process. For example, the first connection part 411, the first trace part 412, and the first bonding part 413 may be printed at one time by a printing process.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, the other surface 200b of the substrate of the touch panel according to the embodiment will be described. In the description of the other surface 200b of the substrate, the same description as the one surface 200a described above will be omitted.

3 is a view showing the other surface 200b of the substrate. Here, the other surface of the substrate may mean a surface opposite to one surface of the substrate.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second electrode may be disposed on the other surface 200b of the substrate.

The second electrode may include an organic material such as the first electrode. In detail, the second electrode may be an organic paste containing an organic material. That is, the second electrode may include a conductive material, a binder, and a solvent.

The second electrode may include a second sensing unit 320 and a second wiring unit 420. In detail, the second electrode may include a second sensing part 320 disposed on the effective area AA and a second wiring part 420 disposed on the non-valid area UA.

The second sensing unit 320 may include a second sensing electrode 321.

The second sensing electrode 321 may extend on the substrate 200 in a direction different from the first direction. For example, the second sensing electrode 321 may extend in a second direction that intersects the first direction.

The second sensing electrode 312 may include a mesh shape. In detail, the second sensing electrode 312 includes a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be disposed in a mesh shape.

The second wiring part 420 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA. The second wiring portion may include a second connection portion 421, a second bonding portion 423, and a second trace portion 422.

The second connection portion 421, the second trace portion 422, and the second bonding portion 423 may be integrally formed.

The second sensing unit 320 may further include a second dummy electrode 322. The second sensing unit 320 may further include a second dummy electrode 322 positioned between the second connection unit 421 and the second sensing electrode 321.

The second dummy electrode 322 may include the same or similar metal material as the second sensing electrode 321.

The second dummy electrode 322 may have the same pattern as the second sensing electrode 321. In detail, the second dummy electrode 322 may include a mesh shape.

The second sensing electrode 321 and the second dummy electrode 322 may be formed at the same time. In detail, the second sensing electrode 321 and the second dummy electrode 322 may be formed at the same time using a metal paste containing an organic material. For example, the second sensing electrode 321 and the second dummy electrode 322 may be printed at one time by a printing process.

The second connection portion 421, the second trace portion 422, and the second bonding portion 423 may be formed at the same time. In detail, the first connection part 421, the second trace part 422, and the second bonding part 423 may be formed at one time by using the same process using a metal paste containing an organic material. For example, the second connection portion 421, the second trace portion 422, and the second bonding portion 423 may be printed at one time by a printing process.

The process of forming the first electrode and the second electrode on one surface 200b and the other surface 200b of the substrate may be performed simultaneously in one process. That is, the first electrode and the second electrode may be simultaneously processed in one process using a metal paste containing an organic material.

In detail, a first blanket, a second blanket, a first pattern roll, and a second pattern roll are disposed on both sides of the substrate 200, and array cameras are disposed on the first pattern roll and the second pattern roll, respectively, The first and second pattern rolls 200a and 200b are simultaneously formed on the first and second surfaces 200a and 200b of the substrate by using the first blanket, the second blanket, the first pattern roll, Can be printed.

The touch panel according to the embodiment may form both the first electrode and the second electrode on both sides of the substrate.

That is, the sensing unit and the wiring unit formed on one surface of the substrate can be printed at one time by a simultaneous process by a printing process, that is, a direct printing process. In addition, the sensing unit and the wiring unit formed on the other surface of the substrate can be printed at one time by the simultaneous process.

In addition, the first electrode and the second electrode formed on one surface and the other surface of the substrate can be simultaneously printed in one process.

Thus, the touch panel according to the embodiment can shorten the process time when the electrodes are formed on the substrate, thereby improving the process efficiency.

Conventionally, by using exposure, development and etching processes on both sides of each substrate or substrate, The process cost and the process time are long. However, in the touch panel according to the embodiment, the sensing part and the wiring part are formed at one time, that is, at the same time by the printing process on the one surface and the both surfaces of the substrate, The time can be shortened and the process efficiency can be improved.

In addition, by forming the electrodes simultaneously on both sides of the substrate by printing, the overall thickness of the touch panel can be reduced, thereby realizing miniaturization of the touch panel.

4 and 5 are views showing an example of a display device including the above-described touch panel.

 Referring to Fig. 4, as an example of a display device, a mobile terminal is shown. The mobile terminal 1000 may include a valid area AA and a non-valid area UA. The effective area AA senses a touch signal by touching a finger or the like, and a command icon pattern part and a logo are formed on the non-valid area.

5, a portable notebook is shown as an example of a display device. The portable notebook 2000 may include a touch panel 2200, a touch sheet 2100, and a circuit board 2300. A touch sheet 2100 is disposed on the upper surface of the touch panel 2200. The touch sheet 2100 can protect the touch area TA. In addition, the touch sheet 2100 can improve the touch feeling of the user. And a circuit board 2300 electrically connected to the touch panel 2200 on the lower surface of the touch panel 2200. The circuit board 2300 is a printed circuit board, and various components for constituting a portable notebook can be mounted.

4 and 5, the touch panel is not limited to a mobile terminal and a portable notebook, but may be used in various electronic products such as automobiles and household appliances to which a display is applied .

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. Further, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in the embodiments may be combined or modified in 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 and implemented. 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 (10)

Cover window;
A substrate disposed on the cover window;
A first electrode disposed on one surface of the substrate; And
And a second electrode disposed on the other surface of the substrate,
Wherein the first electrode and the second electrode comprise an organic material. The method according to claim 1,
The first electrode includes a first sensing portion and a first wiring portion,
Wherein the first sensing unit includes a first sensing electrode,
Wherein the first sensing electrode comprises a mesh shape. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the first wiring portion comprises:
A first connection unit connected to the first sensing unit;
A first bonding unit connected to the printed circuit board; And
And a first trace portion connecting the first connection portion and the first bonding portion. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first connection portion, the first bonding portion, and the first trace portion are simultaneously formed. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first sensing unit further comprises a first dummy electrode disposed between the first sensing electrode and the first connection unit. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the first sensing electrode and the first dummy electrode are simultaneously formed. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the first dummy electrode comprises a mesh shape. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the second electrode includes a second sensing portion and a second wiring portion,
Wherein the second sensing unit includes a second sensing electrode,
Wherein the second sensing electrode includes a mesh shape,
Wherein the second wiring portion comprises:
A second connection unit connected to the second sensing unit;
A second bonding unit connected to the printed circuit board; And
And a second trace portion connecting the second connection portion and the second bonding portion. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the second sensing unit further comprises a second dummy electrode disposed between the second sensing electrode and the second connection unit. 10. The method of claim 9,
The second sensing electrode and the second dummy electrode are formed at the same time,
Wherein the second connection portion, the second bonding portion, and the second trace portion are simultaneously formed.

Images