KR20150129442A - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a touch window comprises: a substrate; and a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode arranged on the substrate. The sensing electrode includes a first mesh shape of a first pitch. The wiring electrode includes a second mesh shape of a second pitch. The first pitch and the second pitch have different sizes. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the touch window comprises: the substrate; and the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode arranged on the substrate. The sensing electrode includes the first mesh shape of the first pitch. The wiring electrode comprises: a first wiring electrode including the second mesh shape of the second pitch; a second wiring electrode including a third mesh shape of a third pitch; a third wiring electrode including a fourth mesh shape of a fourth pitch; and a fourth wiring electrode including a fifth mesh shape of a fifth pitch. The first pitch and at least one pitch of the second to fifth pitches have different sizes.

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

An embodiment relates to a touch window.

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.

The touch panel is typically divided into a resistive touch panel and a capacitive touch panel. The resistance film type touch panel senses that the resistance changes according to the connection between the electrodes when the pressure is applied to 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. Considering the convenience of the manufacturing method and the sensing power, recently, in a small model, the electrostatic capacity method has attracted attention.

In the touch panel, a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode are disposed on a substrate, and when a region where the sensing electrode is disposed is touched, a change in capacitance is detected to detect the position.

At this time, the sensing electrodes and the wiring electrodes may be disposed on one surface of the substrate using one substrate, or may be disposed on one surface of each substrate using a plurality of substrates.

When the sensing electrodes and the wiring electrodes are disposed on one surface of the substrate using one substrate, the wiring electrodes can be drawn out in various directions. For example, the wiring electrodes can be arranged extending from the effective area to the non- .

At this time, when the wiring electrodes disposed on the effective area include a metal, wiring electrodes can be visually recognized from the outside.

Therefore, a touch window having a new structure capable of solving the above problems is required.

Embodiments provide a touch window with improved reliability and visibility.

The touch window according to the first embodiment includes: a substrate; Wherein the sensing electrode comprises a first mesh shape of a first pitch and the wiring electrode comprises a second mesh shape of a second pitch, , And the sizes of the first pitch and the second pitch are different from each other.

The touch window according to the second embodiment includes: a substrate; And a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode disposed on the substrate, wherein the sensing electrode includes a first mesh shape of a first pitch, and the wiring electrode includes a second mesh shape of a second pitch A first wiring electrode; A second wiring electrode including a third mesh shape of a third pitch; A third wiring electrode including a fourth mesh shape of a fourth pitch; And a fourth wiring electrode including a fifth mesh shape of a fifth pitch, wherein a pitch of at least one of the first pitch and the second to fifth pitches is different from each other.

The touch window according to the embodiment may include a wiring electrode having a mesh pitch smaller than the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode. For example, the mesh pitch of the wiring electrode according to the embodiment may be about 0.5 times the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode. That is, the mesh pitch of the wiring electrode may be half of the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode.

Accordingly, the line width of one wiring electrode connected to one sensing electrode can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the non-touch region according to the line width of the wiring electrode disposed on the effective region.

Another wiring electrode, that is, another wiring electrode connected to the other sensing electrode is formed in a shape complementary to the adjacent wiring electrode so that the combined shape of the two wiring electrodes and the shape of the sensing electrode have the same mesh shape, The visibility of the touch window can be improved by preventing the formed wiring electrode and the sensing electrode from being visually recognized from the outside.

Accordingly, the touch window according to the embodiment can increase the touch area by reducing the width of the wiring electrode, and improve the visibility.

1 is a simplified perspective view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
2 is a top view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion A in Fig. 2, showing an enlarged wiring electrode.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion B in Fig. 2, showing an enlarged wiring electrode.
FIGS. 5 to 7 are sectional views for explaining an electrode forming process of the sensing electrode and / or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment.
8 to 11 are views showing an example of a touch device to which a touch window 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.

1 to 4, a touch window according to an embodiment may include a cover substrate 100, a substrate 200, a sensing electrode 300, a wiring electrode 400, and a printed circuit board 500 .

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

The substrate 200 may be disposed on the cover substrate 100. The substrate 200 may support the sensing electrode 300 and / or the wiring electrode 400. That is, the substrate 200 may be a supporting substrate for supporting the sensing electrode 300 and / or the wiring electrode 400.

The substrate 200 may be flexible. For example, the substrate 200 may comprise plastic. In detail, the substrate 200 may include plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

A valid region AA and a non-valid region UA may be defined in the cover substrate 100 and / or the substrate 200. [

The display may be displayed in the effective area AA and the display may not be displayed in the non-valid area UA disposed around the valid area AA.

In addition, the position of the input device (e.g., a finger or the like) can be sensed in at least one of the valid area AA and the ineffective area UA. When an input device such as a finger is brought into contact with such a touch window, a capacitance difference occurs at a portion where the input device is contacted, and a portion where such a difference occurs can be detected as the contact position.

The sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the substrate 200. In detail, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed in at least one of an effective area AA of the substrate 200 and the non-effective area UA. Preferably, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate.

The sensing electrode 300 may include a first sensing electrode 310 and a second sensing electrode 320.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on one side of the substrate 200. in details. The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the same side of the substrate 200. That is, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be spaced apart from each other so that they do not contact each other on the same side of the substrate 200.

At least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a transparent conductive material so that electricity can flow without disturbing the transmission of light. For example, The electrode 300 may include at least one of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, And the like.

Alternatively, the sensing electrode 200 may include a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowire film, a carbon nanotube (CNT), a graphene, or a conductive polymer.

Alternatively, the sensing electrode 200 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 200 may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, .

At least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may have a mesh shape. In detail, at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 includes a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be disposed in a mesh shape.

3, the sensing electrode of at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 is connected to the mesh line LA by a plurality of sub- And a mesh opening (OA) between the mesh lines. At this time, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 0.1 탆 to about 10 탆. The mesh line LA having a line width of the mesh line LA of less than about 0.1 mu m may not be possible in the manufacturing process. When the mesh line LA is more than about 10 mu m, the sensing electrode pattern may be visually recognized from the outside, resulting in decreased visibility. Alternatively, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 1 탆 to about 5 탆. Alternatively, the line width of the mesh line LA may be about 1.5 탆 to about 3 탆.

The mesh opening OA may be formed in various shapes. For example, the mesh opening OA may have various shapes such as a square, a diamond, a pentagon, a hexagon, a polygonal shape, or a circular shape. In addition, the mesh opening OA may be formed in a regular shape or a random shape.

In addition, the sensing electrode 300 having a mesh shape may have a first mesh shape of a first pitch. That is, the distance between the mesh line and the mesh line of the sensing electrode 300 may be defined as a first pitch P1.

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

FIGS. 5 to 7 are views for explaining an electrode forming process of the sensing electrode and / or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment.

5, a sensing electrode and / or a wiring electrode according to an embodiment includes a metal layer 330 disposed on a front surface of a substrate 200, and the metal layer 330 is etched in a mesh shape, Can be formed. For example, a metal layer such as copper (Cu) is deposited on the entire surface of a substrate 200 such as poly (ethylene terephthalate), and the copper layer is etched to form a metal mesh electrode can do.

6, a sensing electrode and / or a wiring electrode according to an embodiment may be formed by forming a resin layer 210 including a UV resin or a thermosetting resin layer on a substrate 200, The metal paste 340 may be filled in the depressed pattern. At this time, the engraved pattern of the resin layer can be formed by imprinting a mold having a relief pattern.

The metal paste 220 may be a metal paste containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof. Accordingly, by filling the metal paste in the mesh-shaped intaglio pattern P and curing it, a mesh-shaped metal mesh electrode can be formed

7, the sensing electrode and / or the wiring electrode according to the embodiment may be formed by forming a resin layer including a UV resin or a thermosetting resin layer on the substrate 200, At least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, and alloys thereof can be sputtered on the resin layer.

At this time, the nanopattern 211 and the micropattern 212 can be formed by imprinting the mold M having the engraved pattern.

Then, the metal layer formed on the nano pattern and the micro pattern is etched to remove only the metal layer formed on the nano pattern, and only the metal layer formed on the micro pattern is left, so that a mesh-shaped metal electrode can be formed.

At this time, when the metal layer is etched, a difference in etching rate may occur depending on the difference in bonding area between the nano pattern and the micro pattern and the metal layer. That is, since the area of contact between the micropattern and the gold layer is larger than the area of contact between the nanopattern and the metal layer, the etching of the electrode material 215 formed on the micropattern is less likely to occur, And the metal layer formed on the nano pattern 320 is etched and removed, so that a metal electrode of a micropatterned embossed mesh shape can be formed on the substrate 200.

The sensing electrode and / or the wiring electrode of the touch window according to the embodiment may be formed of a mesh-shaped electrode including a metal layer as shown in Figs. 5 to 7 described above.

The wiring electrode 400 may be connected to the sensing electrode 300. The wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on at least one of the effective area AA and the ineffective area UA of the substrate 200. [ In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed in the effective area AA and the non-valid area UA of the substrate 200. [ That is, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed so that the substrate 200 extends in the effective region direction from the non-effective region.

The wiring electrode 400 may extend in the direction of the ineffective area and may be connected to the printed circuit board 500. The wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the same surface of the substrate 200 on which the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are disposed.

3, the wiring electrode 400 may be formed of a material similar to or similar to the sensing electrode 300, as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, It can have a mesh shape. In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may include a second mesh shape of a second pitch. That is, the distance between the mesh line and the mesh line of the wiring electrode 400 may be defined as the second pitch P2.

The first pitch P1 of the first mesh shape of the sensing electrode 300 and the second pitch P2 of the second mesh shape of the wiring electrode 400 may have different sizes. In detail, the second pitch P2 may be smaller than the first pitch P1. For example, the second pitch P2 may have a size of about 0.1 to about 0.9 times the first pitch P1. Alternatively, the second pitch P2 may have a size of about 0.2 to about 0.8 times the first pitch P1. Alternatively, the second pitch P2 may have a size of about 0.3 to about 0.6 times the first pitch P1.

Alternatively, the second pitch P2 may have a size of about 0.5 times the first pitch P1. That is, the second pitch P2 may have a size of half the first pitch P1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the wiring electrode may include a first wiring electrode 410, a second wiring electrode, a third wiring electrode 430, and a fourth wiring electrode 440.

In detail, the wiring electrode 400 includes a first wiring electrode 410 including a second mesh shape of the second pitch P2, a second wiring electrode 410 including a third mesh shape of the third pitch P3 420 may include a third wiring electrode 430 including a fourth mesh shape of the fourth pitch P4 and a fourth wiring electrode 440 including a fifth mesh shape of the fifth pitch P5. have.

The first wiring electrode 410 to the fourth wiring electrode 440 may be connected to different sensing electrodes and extend in the same direction in the effective region.

In addition, the sensing electrode 300 may include a first mesh shape of the first pitch P1.

The first mesh shape may have a shape different from that of at least one of the second mesh shape, the third mesh shape, the fourth mesh shape, and the fifth mesh shape. In detail, the first mesh shape may have a shape different from the second mesh shape, the third mesh shape, the fourth mesh shape, and the fifth mesh shape.

In addition, the second mesh shape, the third mesh shape, the fourth mesh shape, and the fifth mesh shape may have the same or different shapes. In detail, the second mesh shape and the third mesh shape may have shapes complementary to each other. In addition, the fourth mesh shape and the fifth mesh shape may have shapes complementary to each other.

That is, the shape in which the second mesh shape and the third mesh shape are merged and the shape in which the fourth mesh shape and the fifth mesh shape are merged may be substantially the same as the first mesh shape.

The first pitch P1 is different from the pitch of at least one of the second pitch P2, the third pitch P3, the fourth pitch P4 and the fifth pitch P5 . In detail, the first pitch P1 may be different from the second pitch P2, the third pitch P3, the fourth pitch P4, and the fifth pitch P5. More specifically, the first pitch P1 may be larger than the second pitch P2, the third pitch P3, the fourth pitch P4, and the fifth pitch P5.

Also, the first pitch P1 may be substantially equal to the sum of the second pitch P2 and the third pitch P3. Alternatively, the first pitch P1 may be substantially equal to the sum of the fourth pitch P4 and the fifth pitch P5. Alternatively, the sum of the second pitch P2 and the third pitch P3 and the sum of the fourth pitch P4 and the fifth pitch P5 may be substantially the same.

Here, "substantially the same" does not mean that the lengths of the pitches are completely equal, but may also include cases in which the lengths of the pitches are slightly different depending on manufacturing processes, tolerances, and other variables.

That is, the magnitude of the sum of the lengths of the second pitch P2 and the third pitch P3 and the sum of the lengths of the fourth pitch P4 and the fifth pitch P5 may correspond to each other.

The pitch of at least one of the second pitch (P2), the third pitch (P3), the fourth pitch (P4) and the fifth pitch (P5) is about 0.1 Fold to about 0.9 times larger than that of the conventional resin. Alternatively, it may have a size of about 0.2 to about 0.8 times the first pitch Pl. Alternatively, it may have a size of about 0.3 to about 0.6 times the first pitch P1.

Alternatively, the second pitch (P2), the third pitch (P3), the fourth pitch (P4) and the fifth pitch (P5) all have pitches of substantially the same magnitude, and the second pitches P2 ), The third pitch P3, the fourth pitch P4 and the fifth pitch P5 may have a magnitude of about 0.5 times the first pitch P1.

The touch window according to the embodiment may include a wiring electrode having a mesh pitch smaller than the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode. For example, the mesh pitch of the wiring electrode according to the embodiment may be about 0.5 times the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode. That is, the mesh pitch of the wiring electrode may be half of the mesh pitch of the sensing electrode.

Accordingly, the line width of one wiring electrode connected to one sensing electrode can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the non-touch region according to the line width of the wiring electrode disposed on the effective region.

Another wiring electrode, that is, another wiring electrode connected to the other sensing electrode is formed in a shape complementary to the adjacent wiring electrode so that the combined shape of the two wiring electrodes and the shape of the sensing electrode have the same mesh shape, The visibility of the touch window can be improved by preventing the formed wiring electrode and the sensing electrode from being visually recognized from the outside.

Accordingly, the touch window according to the embodiment can increase the touch area by reducing the width of the wiring electrode, and improve the visibility.

Hereinafter, an example of a touch device to which a touch window according to the above-described embodiments is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. FIG.

 Referring to Fig. 8, a mobile terminal is shown as an example of a touch device. 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.

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

Referring to FIG. 10, such a touch window can be applied not only to a touch device such as a mobile terminal, but also to a car navigation system. Also, referring to Fig. 11, such a touch panel can be applied to a vehicle. That is, the touch panel can be applied to various parts to which the touch panel can be applied in the vehicle. Therefore, not only PND (Personal Navigation Display) but also dashboard can be applied to implement CID (Center Information Display). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that such a touch device device can be used for various electronic products.

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 (13)

Board;
And a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode disposed on the substrate,
Wherein the sensing electrode comprises a first mesh shape of a first pitch,
Wherein the wiring electrode includes a second mesh shape of a second pitch,
Wherein the first pitch and the second pitch are different from each other. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the second pitch has a size smaller than the first pitch. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the second pitch has a magnitude of 0.1 to 0.9 times the first pitch. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the second pitch has a magnitude of 0.5 times the first pitch. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the substrate comprises a valid region and a non-valid region,
And the wiring electrode is disposed extending from the effective region toward the non-valid region. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein at least one of the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode includes at least one of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide (CN), graphene, a conductive polymer, chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and the like, and a metal oxide such as a titanium oxide, a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowire film, ), Aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), and alloys thereof. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the wiring electrode
A first wiring electrode including a second mesh shape of a second pitch;
A second wiring electrode including a third mesh shape of a third pitch;
A third wiring electrode including a fourth mesh shape of a fourth pitch; And
And a fourth wiring electrode including a fifth mesh shape of a fifth pitch,
Wherein a pitch of at least one of the first pitch and the second through fifth pitches is different. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the second mesh shape and the third mesh shape have shapes complementary to each other,
Wherein the fourth mesh shape and the fifth mesh shape have a complementary shape. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein a sum of a length of the first pitch and a length of the second pitch and a pitch of the third pitch correspond to each other. 10. The method of claim 9,
And the sum of the lengths of the second pitch and the third pitch corresponds to the sum of the lengths of the fourth pitch and the fifth pitch. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the second to fifth pitches are smaller than the first pitch. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the second to fifth pitches have a magnitude of 0.1 to 0.9 times the first pitch. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the second to fifth pitches have a magnitude of 0.5 times the first pitch.

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