KR20160090651A - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a touch window includes: a substrate; a first sensing electrode on the substrate; an intermediate layer on the first sensing electrode; a second sensing electrode on the intermediate layer; and a wire electrode connected to the first and second sensing electrodes. The wire electrode includes a first wire electrode connected to one end of the first sensing electrode, and a second wire electrode connected to one end of the second sensing electrode.

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

An embodiment relates to a touch window.

[0002] In recent years, a touch window has been applied to input images in a manner of touching an input device such as a finger or a stylus to an image displayed on a display device in various electronic products.

For example, the touch window may include a sensing electrode on the substrate and a wiring electrode connected to the sensing electrode. The touch window may detect a change in capacitance and the like when touching an area where the sensing electrode is disposed .

Meanwhile, the touch signal sensed from the sensing electrode is transmitted to the chip mounted on the printed circuit board through the wiring electrode, so that an operation according to the touch signal can be performed.

The touch window may include a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode extending in different directions, and the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode may be disposed on different layers.

For example, the first sensing electrode may be disposed on a substrate, the second sensing electrode may be disposed on another substrate, and a wiring electrode may be disposed on the substrate.

In this case, when the wiring electrode is connected to the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode, the number of processes may increase, and the reliability may deteriorate according to a process error.

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

The embodiment attempts to provide a touch window with improved reliability.

A touch window according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; A first sensing electrode on the substrate; An intermediate layer on the first sensing electrode; And a wiring electrode connected to the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode, wherein the wiring electrode includes a first wiring electrode connected to one end of the first sensing electrode, and a second wiring electrode connected to the second sensing electrode, And a second wiring electrode connected to one end of the sensing electrode.

In the touch window according to the embodiment, the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are first disposed on the substrate and the intermediate layer, respectively, and then the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode are formed, Can be connected.

Accordingly, in order to connect the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode, a process of forming a separate hole, that is, a connection hole, on the intermediate layer is not required, so that the process efficiency can be improved.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the contact failure between the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode due to the error of the connection hole, thereby improving the reliability of the touch window.

Thus, the touch window according to the embodiment is manufactured with improved process efficiency and can have improved reliability.

1 is a perspective view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
2 is a plan view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA 'in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB 'of FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch device including a touch window and a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 to 9 are views for explaining 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.

Also, when a part is referred to as being "connected" to another part, it includes not only a case of being "directly connected" but also a case of being "indirectly connected" with another member in between. Also, when an element is referred to as "comprising ", it means that it can include other elements, not excluding other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

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.

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch window according to an embodiment may include a substrate 100, an intermediate layer 200, a sensing electrode 300, and a wiring electrode 400.

The substrate 100 may be rigid or flexible.

For example, the substrate 100 may comprise glass or plastic. In detail, the substrate 100 may include chemically reinforced / semi- toughened glass such as soda lime glass or aluminosilicate glass, or may include polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , Propylene glycol (PPG) polycarbonate (PC), or the like, or may include sapphire.

In addition, the substrate 100 may include an optically isotropic film. For example, the substrate 100 may include a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), a cyclic olefin polymer (COP), a polycarbonate (PC), a light polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or the like.

Sapphire has excellent electrical properties such as dielectric constant, which not only greatly improves the speed of touch reaction but also can easily realize space touch such as hovering and is applicable as a cover substrate because of its high surface strength. Here, hovering means a technique of recognizing coordinates even at a small distance from the display.

Also, the substrate 100 may be curved with a partially curved surface. That is, the substrate 100 may be partially flat and partially curved with a curved surface. In detail, the end of the substrate 100 may have a curved surface, or may have a curved surface with a random curvature, and may be curved or bent.

In addition, the substrate 100 may be a flexible substrate having a flexible characteristic.

In addition, the substrate 100 may be a curved or a bended substrate. That is, the touch window including the substrate 100 may be formed to have a flexible, curved, or bent characteristic. Accordingly, the touch window according to the embodiment is easy to carry and can be changed into various designs.

A sensing electrode, a wiring electrode, and the like may be disposed on the substrate 100. That is, the substrate may be a supporting substrate.

The substrate may include a cover substrate. That is, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode may be supported by the cover substrate.

Alternatively, a separate cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate. That is, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode are supported by the substrate, and the substrate and the cover substrate can be directly or indirectly bonded through the adhesive layer.

In the 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 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 intermediate layer 200 may be disposed on the substrate 100. The intermediate layer 200 may be disposed on at least one of the effective region and the ineffective region of the substrate 100.

The intermediate layer 200 may include a different material from the substrate 100. For example, the intermediate layer 200 may comprise a dielectric material.

For example, the intermediate layer 200 may be formed of a halogen compound such as LiF, KCl, CaF2, or MgF2, or an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal such as fused silica, SiO2, SiNX, or the like; InP, InSb and the like as the semiconductor series; Transparent oxides used for semiconductors and dielectrics include In compounds used mainly for transparent electrodes such as ITO and IZO or transparent oxides used for semiconductors and dielectrics of ZnOx, ZnS, ZnSe, TiOx, WOx, MoOx and ReOx; As the organic semiconductor series, Alq3, NPB, TAPC, 2TNATA, CBP, Bphen and the like; (Hydrogen-silsesquioxane (H-SiO 3/2) n, methyl-silsesquioxane (CH 3 -SiO 3/2) n) as a low dielectric constant material, porous silica or fluorine Or porous silica doped with carbon atoms, porous ZnOx, fluorine-substituted polymeric compounds (CYTOP), or mixtures thereof, and the like.

In addition, the intermediate layer 200 may have a visible light transmittance of about 75% to about 99%.

At this time, the thickness of the intermediate layer 200 may be smaller than the thickness of the substrate 100. In detail, the thickness of the intermediate layer 200 may be about 0.01 to about 0.1 times the thickness of the substrate 100. For example, the thickness of the substrate 100 may be about 0.1 mm, and the thickness of the intermediate layer 200 may be about 0.001 mm.

The cross-sectional area of the intermediate layer 200 may be different from the cross-sectional area of the substrate 100. In detail, the cross-sectional area of the intermediate layer 200 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the substrate 100.

No separate adhesive layer is required between the substrate 100 and the intermediate layer 200. That is, the intermediate layer 200 may be disposed in direct contact with the substrate 100. Accordingly, the thickness of the adhesive layer can be reduced, and the overall thickness of the touch window can be reduced.

The sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the substrate 100. In detail, the sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the substrate 100 and the intermediate layer 200.

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 at different positions. The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may extend in different directions.

The first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on the substrate 100. The first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed in direct or indirect contact with the substrate 100. Accordingly, the first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed between the substrate 100 and the intermediate layer 200.

The first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate 100. The first sensing electrode 310 may extend in one direction on the effective area AA of the substrate 100.

The second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the intermediate layer 200. The second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed directly or indirectly in contact with the intermediate layer 200. Accordingly, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 are supported by different supporting members and may be disposed at different positions.

The second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the intermediate layer 200 corresponding to the effective area AA of the substrate 100. The second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the intermediate layer 200 in a direction different from a direction in which the first sensing electrode 310 extends.

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 may be formed of a metal such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, Oxide. ≪ / RTI >

Alternatively, at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowire film, a carbon nanotube (CNT), a graphene, a conductive polymer, And mixtures thereof.

When using such a nanowire or a nanocomposite such as a carbon nanotube (CNT), the nanocomposite may be made of black, and the color and reflectance can be controlled while securing the electric conductivity by controlling the content of the nano powder.

Alternatively, at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 300 may be formed of one selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, and Mo. Gold (Au), titanium (Ti), and alloys thereof.

Also, at least one of the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be arranged in a mesh shape. For example, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes disposed to intersect with each other, and the first sensing electrode 310 And / or the second sensing electrode 320 may be arranged in a mesh form as a whole.

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.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may include the same or different materials. For example, the first sensing electrode 310 on the substrate 100 may include a transparent conductive material, and the second sensing electrode 320 on the middle layer 200 may include nanowires, The examples are not limited thereto.

The wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the substrate 100. For example, the wiring electrode 400 may be disposed on the ineffective area UA of the substrate 100.

The wiring electrode 400 may include a first wiring electrode 410 and a second wiring electrode 420.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected to the first sensing electrode 310. For example, the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected to one end of the first sensing electrode 310. In detail, the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected to the first sensing electrode 310 disposed on the substrate 100 on the substrate 100. That is, the first wiring electrode 410 and the first sensing electrode 310 are disposed on the same surface of the substrate, and may be connected to the same surface of the substrate.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiring electrode 410 may be overlapped with each other. That is, on the substrate 100, a first overlap region OA1 may be formed in which the first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiring electrode 410 are overlapped.

The intermediate layer 200 may be disposed on the substrate 100 except for the first overlap region OA1. That is, the first overlap area OA1 is not covered by the intermediate layer 200 but can be exposed to the outside

The first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected in the overlapped region. For example, the first wiring electrode 410 may be disposed on one upper surface of the first sensing electrode 310. That is, in the region where the first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiring electrode 410 are overlapped, the first wiring electrode 410 may be disposed while covering the first sensing electrode 310 in whole or in part . That is, the first wiring electrode 410 may be disposed on the upper surface of the first sensing electrode 310 in a region where the first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiring electrode 410 are overlapped.

In addition, the first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiring electrode 410 may be disposed in direct contact with the substrate 100.

One end of the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected to the first sensing electrode 310 and the other end of the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected to a printed circuit board. For example, the other end of the first wiring electrode 410 may be connected to a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)

A driver chip or the like may be mounted on the printed circuit board and a touch signal sensed from the first sensing electrode may be received through the first wiring electrode to perform an operation according to the touch signal.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to the second sensing electrode 320. For example, the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to one end of the second sensing electrode 320. In detail, the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to the second sensing electrode 320 disposed on the intermediate layer 200 and the intermediate layer 200. That is, the second wiring electrode 420 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on different surfaces, and may be connected on a surface on which the second sensing electrode 320 is disposed.

The second sensing electrode 320 and the second wiring electrode 420 may overlap with each other. That is, a second overlap region OA2 may be formed on the intermediate layer 200 in which the second sensing electrode 320 and the second wiring electrode 420 are overlapped. The second sensing electrode 320 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected in the overlapped region. For example, the second wiring electrode 420 may be disposed on the upper surface of one end of the second sensing electrode 320. That is, in the region where the second sensing electrode 320 and the second wiring electrode 420 are overlapped, the second wiring electrode 420 may be disposed while completely or partially covering the second sensing electrode 320 . That is, the second wiring electrode 420 may be disposed on the upper surface of the second sensing electrode 320 in a region where the second sensing electrode 320 and the second wiring electrode 420 overlap each other.

For example, the second wiring electrode 420 on the substrate 100 may extend in the order of one surface of the substrate 100, a side surface of the intermediate layer 200, and an upper surface of the intermediate layer 200, And may be connected to the sensing electrode 320.

Accordingly, the second wiring electrode 420 may be disposed in contact with the side surface and the upper surface of the intermediate layer 320.

The region where the first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode are overlapped may be located on a different plane from a region where the second sensing electrode overlaps with the second wiring electrode.

That is, a region where the first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode are overlapped is located on one surface of the substrate 100, and a region where the second sensing electrode and the second wiring electrode are overlapped is formed in the middle layer 200, As shown in FIG.

In addition, the second sensing electrode 320 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be disposed in direct contact with the substrate 100.

One end of the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to the second sensing electrode 320 and the other end of the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to a printed circuit board. For example, the other end of the second wiring electrode 420 may be connected to a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)

A driver chip or the like may be mounted on the printed circuit board and a touch signal sensed from the second sensing electrode may be received through the second wiring electrode to perform an operation according to the touch signal.

The first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be formed by applying and curing a paste containing a conductive powder on the substrate 100.

For example, the first wiring electrode 410 and the second wiring electrode 420 may be formed of one selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, ). A conductive paste containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of gold (Au), titanium (Ti) and alloys thereof, a solvent and a binder to form a conductive paste, and coating the conductive paste on the substrate .

For example, in the touch window according to the embodiment, the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode can be formed by gravure printing or offset printing method using the conductive paste and the printing apparatus. Thus, a separate etching process is not required to form the wiring electrode pattern, and the wiring electrode pattern can be formed at one time.

The conductive paste may include a conductive powder, a solvent, and a binder.

The solvent may comprise an organic solvent. For example, the solvent may be selected from the group consisting of alcohols, glycols, polyols, ethers, glycol ethers, glycol ether esters, , But the embodiment is not limited thereto.

The binder may serve to impart an adhesive force between the conductive powder and the substrate. For example, the binder may be selected from the group consisting of an epoxy, an ester, an acryl, and a vinyl. However, the binder is not limited thereto.

As the wiring electrode 400 is formed by applying a conductive paste, the wiring electrode may further include an organic material together with the conductive material. Accordingly, the sensing electrode 300 and the wiring electrode 400 may include different materials.

In the touch window according to the embodiment, the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are first disposed on the substrate and the intermediate layer, respectively, and then the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode are formed, Can be connected.

Accordingly, in order to connect the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode, a process of forming a separate hole, that is, a connection hole, on the intermediate layer is not required, so that the process efficiency can be improved.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the contact failure between the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode due to the error of the connection hole, thereby improving the reliability of the touch window.

Thus, the touch window according to the embodiment is manufactured with improved process efficiency and can have improved reliability.

Hereinafter, a touch device in which the above-described touch window and the display panel are combined will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, the touch device according to the embodiment may include a touch window disposed on the display panel 800.

5, the touch device may be formed by combining the substrate 100 and the display panel 800. Referring to FIG. The substrate 100 and the display panel 800 may be bonded to each other through an adhesive layer 700. For example, the substrate 100 and the display panel 800 may be bonded to each other through an adhesive layer 700 including an optical transparent adhesive (OCA).

The intermediate layer 200 may be bonded to the cover substrate 101 on the intermediate layer 200 through an adhesive layer 700.

The display panel 800 may include a first substrate 810 and a second substrate 820.

When the display panel 800 is a liquid crystal display panel, the display panel 800 includes a first substrate 810 including a thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode, a second substrate 810 including color filter layers, And the liquid crystal layer 820 are bonded together with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.

The display panel 800 may include a thin film transistor, a color filter, and a black matrix formed on a first substrate 810, and a second substrate 820 may be adhered to the first substrate 810 with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween Or a liquid crystal display panel having a COT (color filter on transistor) structure. That is, a thin film transistor may be formed on the first substrate 810, a protective film may be formed on the thin film transistor, and a color filter layer may be formed on the protective film. In addition, a pixel electrode is formed on the first substrate 810 in contact with the thin film transistor. At this time, in order to improve the aperture ratio and simplify the mask process, the black matrix may be omitted, and the common electrode may be formed to serve also as the black matrix.

In addition, when the display panel 800 is a liquid crystal display panel, the display device may further include a backlight unit that provides light from the back surface of the display panel 800. [

When the display panel 800 is an organic light emitting display panel, the display panel 800 includes a self-luminous element that does not require a separate light source. In the display panel 800, a thin film transistor is formed on the first substrate 810, and an organic light emitting element which is in contact with the thin film transistor is formed. The organic light emitting device may include an anode, a cathode, and an organic light emitting layer formed between the anode and the cathode. The organic light emitting device may further include a second substrate 820 serving as an encapsulation substrate for encapsulation.

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. 6 to 9. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, a mobile terminal is shown as an example of a touch device. The mobile terminal 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. 7, 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. 8, 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. 9, 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 (10)

Board;
A first sensing electrode on the substrate;
An intermediate layer on the first sensing electrode; And
The second sensing electrode
And a wiring electrode connected to the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode,
Wherein the wiring electrode includes a first wiring electrode connected to one end of the first sensing electrode and a second wiring electrode connected to one end of the second sensing electrode. The method according to claim 1,
The first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode overlap each other,
Wherein the second sensing electrode and the second wiring electrode overlap each other. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the first wiring electrode is disposed in direct contact with the first sensing electrode,
Wherein the second wiring electrode is disposed in direct contact with the second sensing electrode. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the first wiring electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the first sensing electrode in a region where the first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode overlap,
Wherein the second wiring electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the second sensing electrode in a region where the second sensing electrode overlaps with the second wiring electrode. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein a region where the first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode overlap each other and a region where the second sensing electrode and the second wiring electrode overlap are located on different planes. The method according to claim 1,
The first sensing electrode and the first wiring electrode are connected on the substrate,
And the second sensing electrode and the second wiring electrode are connected on the middle layer. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the second wiring electrode (320) is disposed in contact with at least one of a side surface and an upper surface of the intermediate layer (320). The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode comprise a material different from the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode comprise an organic material. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein at least one of the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode is arranged in a mesh shape.

Images