KR20160007224A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a touch panel to have improved reliability and a thin panel. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel comprises: a cover substrate having an effective area and an ineffective area; a printing layer on the ineffective area; a wiring electrode on the printing layer; and a protective layer on the printing layer. The protective layer is arranged to be in contact with the upper surface and a side surface of the printing layer.

Description

TOUCH PANEL {TOUCH PANEL}

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, the touch panel includes a cover substrate on which a valid area for sensing the position and an ineffective area disposed around the effective area are defined. A print layer may be disposed in such an ineffective area, and the print layer may be formed by printing a material having a predetermined color so that a printed circuit board or the like connecting the wiring electrodes and the wiring electrodes to an external circuit is not visible from the outside .

The print layer is disposed on the cover substrate at a constant height, that is, a constant thickness, and the wiring electrodes disposed on the print layer and the sensing electrodes disposed on the cover substrate can be contacted to each other.

On the other hand, a protective layer for protecting the wiring electrodes and the like may be further disposed on the print layer, thereby increasing the overall thickness of the touch panel.

Therefore, a touch panel having a new structure that can solve such a problem is required

It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch panel which can have improved reliability and a thin thickness.

A touch panel according to an embodiment includes: a cover substrate including a valid region and a non-valid region; A printing layer on the ineffective area; A wiring electrode on the print layer; And a protective layer on the print layer, wherein the protective layer is disposed in contact with an upper surface and a side surface of the print layer.

The touch panel according to embodiments forms a protective layer on the print layer so as to cover the upper surface and the side surface of the print layer, thereby enhancing the adhesion between the print layer and the cover substrate and preventing the de-filming of the print layer.

Further, since the protective layer is formed together in the insulating layer forming step in the effective region, it is not necessary to form a separate protective layer, so that the process can be shortened and a touch panel having a thin thickness can be realized.

In addition, by arranging the print layers at different widths, for example, in the inverted step shape in which the second print layer is disposed so as to surround the side surface of the first print layer, the steps of the print layers can be relaxed, It is possible to reduce the adhesion failure due to the step difference in layer bonding.

In addition, by thinning the thickness of the touch panel, that is, the thickness of the non-effective area, when the touch panel and the LCD module are bonded by the adhesive layer, the occurrence of the adhesion failure due to the step due to the thickness of the non- have.

1 is a perspective view of a touch panel according to an embodiment.
2 is a plan view of the touch panel according to the first embodiment.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment cut along the line A-A 'in Fig.
4 is another cross-sectional view of the first embodiment cut along the line A-A 'in Fig.
5 is a plan view of the touch panel according to the second embodiment.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment cut along the line B-B 'in FIG.
7 is another cross-sectional view of the second embodiment cut along the line B-B 'in FIG.
8 to 11 are views showing display devices to which the touch panel according to the embodiments 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 panel according to the first embodiment includes a cover substrate 100, a print layer 200, a sensing electrode 300, a wiring electrode 400, a protective layer 500, And may include a circuit board 600.

The cover substrate 100 may support the print layer 200, the sensing electrode 300, the wiring electrode 400, the protective layer 500, and the printed circuit board 600. That is, the cover substrate 100 may be a supporting substrate.

The cover substrate 100 may include glass or plastic. For example, 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).

In the cover substrate 100, a valid region AA and a non-valid region UA may be defined.

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 such an input device such as a finger touches the touch panel, a difference in capacitance 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 cover substrate 100. In detail, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the cover substrate 100. More specifically, the sensing electrode 300 may extend from the effective area AA of the cover substrate 100 in the direction of the ineffective area UA.

The sensing electrode 300 may include a conductive material. For example, the sensing electrode 300 may include a transparent conductive material to allow electricity to flow without disturbing the transmission of light. For example, the sensing electrode 200 may include indium tin oxide (ITO) Metal oxides such as indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide.

However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the sensing electrode 300 may include a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowire film, a carbon nanotube (CNT), a graphene, or a conductive polymer.

Alternatively, the sensing electrode 300 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 300 may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, .

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

The first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed extending in the first direction on the effective area AA of the cover substrate 100. In detail, the first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on one side of the cover substrate 100.

The second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the cover substrate 100 in a second direction. In detail, the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on one side of the cover substrate 100 while extending in the second direction different from the first direction. That is, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may extend in different directions on the same surface of the cover substrate 100.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be insulated from each other on the cover substrate 100. The first sensing electrodes 310 may be connected to each other by a first connection electrode 311 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be connected by a second connection electrode 321.

For example, a second connection electrode 321 is disposed on one surface of the cover substrate 100, an insulating layer 350 is partially disposed on the second connection electrode 321, 350 may include a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode. The first sensing electrodes 310 disposed on the insulating layer 350 are connected to each other by the first connecting electrodes 311 and the second sensing electrodes 320 are exposed from the insulating layer 350, The second connection electrodes 321 may be connected to each other.

Accordingly, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may not be in contact with each other, but may be disposed on the same surface of the cover substrate 100, that is, on one surface of the effective area.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along the line A-A 'of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the print layer 200 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA on the cover substrate 100.

The print layer may be disposed at a thickness of about 21 [mu] m to about 27 [mu] m. When the printed layer 200 is arranged to be less than about 21 mu m, the wiring electrodes on the printed layer may be visually recognized from the outside and the visibility may be deteriorated. When the printed layer 200 is disposed over about 27 mu m, the overall thickness of the touch panel is increased .

The printing layer 200 may be embodied in various colors according to a desired appearance. In detail, the print layer 200 may be embodied in various colors such as black, white, blue or red.

The print layer 200 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA. In detail, the ineffective area may include one end E1 having the interface with the effective area AA and the other end E2 opposite to the one end.

The printing layer 200 may be spaced apart from the other end E2 of the non-effective area UA. In detail, the print layer 200 may be spaced apart from the other end E2 of the ineffective area UA by a distance d of about 0.01 mm to about 0.05 mm.

It may be technically difficult to arrange the print layer 200 at a distance of less than about 0.01 mm from the other end E2 of the non-effective area UA. However, if the print layer 200 is disposed at a position exceeding about 0.05 mm, The wiring electrodes and the like can be visually recognized through the spaced apart portions, so that the visibility can be lowered.

The wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA of the cover substrate 100. [ In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the print layer 200. The wiring electrode 400 is connected to the sensing electrode 300 and may be disposed on the printing layer 200.

The wiring electrode 400 may include a first wiring electrode 410 and a second wiring electrode 420. In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may include a first wiring electrode 410 connected to the first sensing electrode 310 and a second wiring electrode 420 connected to the second sensing electrode 320. have.

One end of the first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to the sensing electrode 300 and the other end may be connected to the printed circuit board 500.

The wiring electrode 400 may include a conductive material. In detail, the wiring electrode 400 may include a material similar to the sensing electrode 300.

The wiring electrode 400 may be connected to the sensing electrode 300 on the printing layer 200. In detail, the sensing electrode 300 and the wiring electrode 400 may be in direct or indirect contact with each other.

The wiring electrode 400 receives a touch signal sensed by the sensing electrode 300 and the touch signal is electrically connected to the wiring electrode 400 through the wiring electrode 400 To the driving chip 610 mounted on the driving chip 610.

The printed circuit board 600 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA. The printed circuit board 500 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The printed circuit board 600 may be connected to the wiring electrode 400 disposed on the ineffective area UA. In detail, the printed circuit board 600 may be connected to the wiring And may be electrically connected to the electrode 400 through an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or the like.

A driving chip 610 may be mounted on the printed circuit board 600. In detail, the driving chip 510 receives a touch signal sensed by the sensing electrode 300 from the wiring electrode 400, and can perform an operation according to a touch signal.

A protective layer 500 may be further disposed on the print layer 200. In detail, the protective layer 500 may be disposed in contact with the upper surface and the side surface of the print layer 200.

For example, the ineffective area UA may be defined as a first area and a second area depending on whether the printing layer is disposed. In detail, the ineffective area UA may include a first area 1A in which the printing layer 200 is disposed and a second area 2A in which the printing layer is not disposed.

The protective layer 600 may be disposed on the top surface of the print layer in the first region 1A and may be disposed in contact with the side surface of the print layer 200 in the second region 2A. have. That is, the print layer 200 and the protective layer 500 may be disposed in the first region 1A, and the protective layer 500 may be disposed in the second region 2A.

The protective layer 500, that is, the protective layer 500 disposed on the first region 1A may be disposed while covering the wiring electrode 400 on the print layer 200.

The passivation layer 500 may include an insulating material. In addition, the passivation layer 500 may include a transparent, semi-transparent or opaque material. In detail, the protective layer 500 may include a transparent material.

The passivation layer 500 may include a material similar to the insulating layer 350 disposed on the effective area AA. In addition, the protective layer 500 may be formed simultaneously with the insulating layer 350.

An insulating material is deposited or coated on the entire surface of the cover substrate, that is, on the entire surface of the effective area AA and the non-effective area UA, and then the effective area AA is etched to form the insulating layer 350, The insulating layer 350 and the passivation layer 500 may be formed simultaneously using the same material by forming the passivation layer 500 by etching the inactive region UA.

The protective layer 500 and the insulating layer 350 may be disposed to have different thicknesses. In detail, the protective layer 500 may be disposed to have a larger thickness than the insulating layer 350. For example, the protective layer 500 and the insulating layer 350 may be formed using a photomask (PM) having a different shielding ratio during the exposure process in the etching process, Can be formed to have different thicknesses.

For example, the protective layer 500 may be disposed at a thickness of about 4 탆 to about 6 탆.

When the protective layer 500 is disposed at less than about 4 탆, the wiring electrode can not be sufficiently protected from external impacts or impurities through the protective layer, so that the reliability of the touch panel may deteriorate, The entire thickness of the touch panel is thickened by the protective layer, so that a slim touch panel can not be realized.

Although one print layer is shown in FIG. 3, the embodiment is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of print layers may be disposed on the ineffective area of the cover substrate. In the description of FIG. 4, description of the same components as those described above will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4, the print layer 200 may include a plurality of print layers. For example, the print layer 200 may include a first print layer 210 and a second print layer 220. The first print layer 210 may be disposed in contact with the cover substrate 100 and the second print layer 220 may be disposed in contact with the first print layer 210.

Although only the first printing layer and the second printing layer are shown in Fig. 4, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the printing layer may further include a plurality of printing layers such as a third printing layer on the second printing layer Of course.

The first print layer 210 and the second print layer 220 may be the same or different in width.

The first print layer 210 and the second print layer 220 may be spaced apart from each other by a distance different from the other end E2 of the non-effective area UA. For example, the first print layer 210 is spaced apart from the other end E2 of the ineffective area UA by a first spacing distance d1, and the second print layer 220 is spaced apart from the other end E2 of the non- The first distance d1 may be different from the second distance d2 by a second distance d2 from the other end E2 of the effective area UA.

The first spacing distance d1 may be greater than the second spacing distance d2.

That is, the second print layer 220 may be located closer to the second print layer 210 than the other end E2 of the ineffective area UA. Accordingly, the second print layer 220 may be disposed while covering the side surface of the first print layer 210. That is, the first print layer 210 and the second print layer 220 are disposed in an inverted step shape, and the second print layer 220 is disposed on the upper surface and one side surface of the first print layer 210 It can be arranged while wrapped.

As a result, the second printed layer 220 is disposed while covering the first printed layer 210, so that the first printed layer 210 and the second printed layer 210 The steps of the layer 220 can be alleviated.

Accordingly, when the protective layer 500 is disposed on the first region and the second region, it is possible to prevent the protective layer 500 from being removed by the step of the print layers, The adhesion between the printed layer and the cover substrate can be improved, and the reliability of the touch panel can be improved.

The first spacing distance d1 may be between about 0.02 mm and about 0.1 mm, and the second spacing distance d2 may be between about 0.01 mm and about 0.05 mm. The difference d3 between the first spacing distance d1 and the second spacing distance d2 may be about 0.05 mm to about 0.1 mm.

If the second distance d2 of the second printed layer 220 is less than about 0.01 mm, it may be technically difficult due to the tolerance. If the second distance d2 exceeds about 0.05 mm, The visibility can be lowered.

The difference d3 between the first separation distance d1 and the second separation distance d2 may be technically difficult due to the tolerance. If the difference d3 is more than about 0.1 mm, The interface between the first print layer and the second print layer is visually recognized, and the visibility may be lowered.

Hereinafter, the touch panel according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. Fig. In the description of the touch panel according to the second embodiment, description of the same components as those of the touch panel according to the first embodiment described above will be omitted, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components. That is, the description of the touch panel according to the second embodiment is essentially combined with the description of the touch panel according to the first embodiment.

5 to 7, the touch panel according to the second embodiment includes a cover substrate 100, a print layer 200, a sensing electrode 300, a wiring electrode 400, a protective layer 500, And may include a circuit board 600.

5 to 7, in the touch panel according to the second embodiment, unlike the touch panel according to the first embodiment, the connection electrode may be disposed on the sensing electrode.

6 and 7, in the touch panel according to the second embodiment, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are disposed on one surface of the effective area of the cover substrate 100 . The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be insulated from each other on the cover substrate 100. The first sensing electrode 310 may be connected by a first connection electrode 311 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be connected by a second connection electrode 321.

For example, the first sensing electrodes 310 are connected to each other by a first connection electrode 311, and an insulating layer 350 is formed on the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320, A through hole may be formed on the insulating layer 350 to expose the second sensing electrode 320.

A second connection electrode 321 may be disposed on the insulating layer 350 to connect the second sensing electrodes 320 to each other through the second connection electrode 321 and the through hole.

Accordingly, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may not be in contact with each other, but may be disposed on the same surface of the cover substrate 100, that is, on one surface of the effective area.

The touch panel according to the embodiments can improve the reliability of the touch panel and realize a touch panel with a thin thickness.

That is, in the touch panel according to the embodiments, the protective layer is formed to cover the top and side surfaces of the print layer on the print layer, thereby enhancing the adhesion between the print layer and the cover substrate and preventing the de-filming of the print layer.

Further, since the protective layer is formed together in the insulating layer forming step in the effective region, it is not necessary to form a separate protective layer, so that the process can be shortened and a touch panel having a thin thickness can be realized.

In addition, by arranging the print layers at different widths, for example, in the inverted step shape in which the second print layer is disposed so as to surround the side surface of the first print layer, the steps of the print layers can be relaxed, It is possible to reduce the adhesion failure due to the step difference in layer bonding.

In addition, by thinning the thickness of the touch panel, that is, the thickness of the non-effective area, when the touch panel and the LCD module are bonded by the adhesive layer, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of adhesion failure due to the step difference due to the thickness of the non- have.

8 to 11 are views showing an example of a touch device including the above-described touch panel.

Referring to FIG. 8, 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.

9, 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.

Referring to FIG. 10, such a touch panel may also be applied to a car navigation system 3000. Also, referring to Fig. 11, such a touch panel can be applied to a vehicle. That is, the touch window can be applied to various parts to which a touch window 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 to this, and it goes without saying that such a touch panel 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 (11)

A cover substrate including a valid region and a non-valid region;
A printing layer on the ineffective area;
A wiring electrode on the print layer; And
And a protective layer on the print layer,
Wherein the protective layer is disposed in contact with upper and side surfaces of the print layer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the non-valid region includes one end having the effective region and the interface, and the other end opposite to the one end,
And the print layer is spaced apart from the other end by 0.01 mm to 0.05 mm. The method according to claim 1,
The non-valid region includes a first region in which the print layer is disposed; And a second region in which only the insulating layer is disposed,
And in the second region, the protective layer is in contact with a side surface of the printing layer. 3. The method of claim 2,
The print layer comprising: a first print layer on the cover substrate; And a second printing layer on the first printing layer,
Wherein the first printed layer and the second printed layer are spaced apart from each other at different distances from each other. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the first print layer is disposed at a distance of only a first distance from the other end,
The second printed layer being disposed apart from the other end by a second distance,
Wherein the first distance is larger than the second distance. 6. The method of claim 5,
And the second distance is 0.01 mm to 0.05 mm. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the difference between the first distance and the second distance is 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm. The method according to claim 1 or 4,
A connecting electrode on the effective area;
An insulating layer on the connecting electrode;
A first sensing electrode on the insulating layer; And
And a second sensing electrode connected to the connection electrode,
Wherein the protective layer and the insulating layer comprise the same material. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the protective layer and the insulating layer are disposed at different thicknesses. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the protective layer is disposed in a larger thickness than the insulating layer. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the protective layer is disposed in a thickness of 4 to 6 占 퐉.

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