KR20170089157A

KR20170089157A - Inkjet printer electrode for manufacturing touch panel

Info

Publication number: KR20170089157A
Application number: KR1020160009203A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 오용민
Original assignee: 주식회사 케이비티
Priority date: 2016-01-26
Filing date: 2016-01-26
Publication date: 2017-08-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer electrode for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising: an ink chamber for accommodating an inkjet head and a nozzle ink; a capillary tube connected to the ink chamber and having a discharge port through which the ink is discharged; and an electric field forming unit for forming an electric field for inducing ejection of the ink. Since a microelectrode (patterning needle) to which (+) charge is applied is inserted in an EHD nozzle, and a solution in the nozzle is transferred to a substrate through the up-and-down movement, and the solution is transferred to the substrate due to the voltage difference between the solution, to which the (+) charge of the nozzle end is applied by Ground or (?) charge being applied, and the ground, it is possible to manufacture a touch panel electrode which is excellent in flexibility and applicable to a flexible substrate. Particularly, since a fine electrode portion performs both of the functions of ink supply and high voltage energization, the intervals of nozzles are reduced, thereby increasing the degree of integration of circuit wiring so as to realize a more precise miniaturized circuit.

Description

INKJET PRINTER ELECTRODE FOR MANUFACTURING TOUCH PANEL -

The present invention relates to an ink jet printer electrode for manufacturing a touch panel, and more particularly, to an electrostatic induction deposition type ink jet head capable of stably maintaining an electrostatic field for inducing ink discharge, thereby forming a uniform print pattern, And more particularly, to an ink-jet printer electrode for manufacturing a touch panel capable of effectively forming a fine patterned touch panel electrode.

In recent years, demand for portable terminals has surged, and most of the portable terminals are also equipped with a touch panel function, so that demand for touch panels is rapidly increasing.

ITO using a sputtering process is widely used as a transparent electrode material. However, the method using ITO has a problem that the flexibility of the ITO layer is poor and is not suitable for a flexible substrate, and the process for forming the ITO layer is very expensive.

Due to these problems, new material / process technology is required to be applied to low-cost flexible devices. Therefore, in order to replace the ITO with the fine electrode wiring using the printing electronic technique, it is difficult to form the thin and uniform wiring at the time of forming the electrode wiring by using the ink jet, thereby securing the reliability of the uniform wiring, There has been a demand for a new method of manufacturing a touch screen panel capable of enhancing durability by minimizing occurrence of electrode wiring damage due to use due to insufficient adhesion with a substrate.

In particular, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2015-0091380 discloses a composition comprising (A) an inorganic particle, (B) a solvent, (C) a polymer containing a structural unit having an acid- D) a photoacid generator, and component B has a boiling point of 177 DEG C or higher and 227 DEG C or lower and an I / O value of 0.50 or higher and 1.00 or lower. "And,

Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2012-0044268 discloses a process for forming a second axial pattern including a first axial pattern including a plurality of first axial electrostatic electrodes and a plurality of second axial electrostatic electrodes on an ITO film ; Electrically connecting the first axial electrostatic electrodes to each other; Applying an insulator on a connection portion between the first axial electrostatic electrodes; And electrically connecting the second axial electrostatic electrode on the insulator. &Quot; The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a capacitive touch panel.

However, the above-mentioned patent technology does not provide a specific method for increasing the adhesive force of the electrode or having a strong adhesive force to the flexible substrate by providing only the general technique for forming the electrode. Therefore, even if the thickness of the wiring is thin, So that electrode wiring damage due to use of the touch panel hardly occurs, and it is inevitable to develop a manufacturing technology for forming a touch panel electrode which is excellent in flexibility and applicable to a flexible substrate.

Citation 1: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0091380, Disclosure Date (Aug. 10, 2015) Citation 2: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0044268, publication date (May 07, 2012)

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic force ink jet head having a structure capable of forming a uniform print pattern by stably holding an electrostatic field for inducing ink ejection in an electrostatic induction deposition type ink jet head, And to provide an ink jet printer electrode for manufacturing a touch panel which is excellent in flexibility and is also suitable for a flexible substrate.

The object is achieved by an inkjet head comprising: an ink chamber for containing a nozzle ink; A capillary connected to the ink chamber and having a discharge port through which the ink is discharged; And an electric field forming unit for forming an electric field for inducing the ejection of the ink. A microelectrode (patterning needle) to which positive electrical charge is applied is inserted into the EHD nozzle, (+) Charge is applied to the substrate, and the solution is transferred to a difference in voltage between the solution to which the (+) charge of the nozzle tip is applied and the substrate.

The pneumatic pressure part for precise flow control is formed in the head and is connected to the solution supply line to precisely control the supply flow rate. The pneumatic pressure range for precise flow control is -100 kPa to 1 MPa, and the supply flow rate is precisely controlled with a resolution of 0.1 kPa ,

Also, only the micro solution of the microelectrode tip is transferred to the substrate, and only the solutions of several pl to several fl are dissolved in the solution inside the nozzle (+) Charge is applied to the inside of the EHD nozzle, and micro-solution is ejected from the nozzle to the substrate. After the microelectrode is inserted into the EHD nozzle, a positive charge is applied to the electrode, There is no discharge electrode on the substrate.

In addition, the metal tube 132 is formed not to be deformed by an electrostatic field or external vibration, and a metal wire is used as a structure for applying an electrode to the inside of the capillary tube 120. When a high voltage is applied to the metal wire, the metal wire is deformed or vibrated, and the metal wire is deformed or vibrated by the vibration generated when the metal wire is moved, and the deformation or vibration of the metal wire changes the size and direction of the electric field.

In another embodiment, when the electrode applying unit 133 is operated, positive and negative electrodes are applied to the metal pipe 132 and the electrode 131, respectively, and the inks in the metal pipe are electrically connected to the metal pipe 132 And an electrostatic field E having a predetermined size and direction is formed between the metal tube 132 and the electrode 131. The positive electrode is applied to the metal tube 132 and the electrode 131 The direction of the electrostatic field E is formed in the top-down direction, and the ink charged to the anode is discharged in the downward direction by the electrostatic force of the electrostatic field E.

According to the present invention, as a structure for applying an electrode to a capillary, a metal tube having a rigidity of at least a certain level is used to stably maintain the direction and size of the electrostatic field by preventing high- It is possible to form an effective touch panel electrode even in the case of a fine electrode and a flexible substrate.

1 to 3 are views showing an embodiment of an electrode shape manufactured by the ink-jet printer system for manufacturing a touch panel of the present invention.
Figs. 4 to 6 are views showing an embodiment showing a electrostatic ink jet head capable of printing touch panel electrodes. Fig.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an analysis for analyzing the size of discharged droplets with and without microelectrodes.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the comparison of electric field intensities according to microelectrode positions.
10 is a view showing a characteristic according to the shape of the end of the patterning needle.
11 is a diagram of an embodiment showing a pneumatic configuration for precise flow control.
12 is a diagram showing a transition droplet phenomenon caused by the patterning needle,
13 is a view of an embodiment showing a patterning technique using needles (electrodes).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configuration of the present invention and the operation and effect thereof will be clearly understood through the following detailed description.

Further, a detailed description of a known technology may be omitted.

1 to 3 are views showing an embodiment of an electrode shape manufactured by the ink-jet printer system for manufacturing a touch panel of the present invention.

The electrostatic capacity type is provided with a function plate on which a window plate or a protection plate is provided on the upper side and a conductive layer or ITO layer is formed under the window plate or the protection plate. At this time, one layer may be formed, two layers may be formed, or more layers may be formed. Therefore, two functional plates coated with a conductor layer may be used.

For example, FIG. 1 illustrates that two functional plates 241a are used, each having a conductive layer 223 formed therein, and the two functional plates are coupled together with an insulating layer interposed therebetween.

2 is a view showing an embodiment in which a lattice-shaped electrode pattern 244 is formed on a conductor layer, each pattern is connected to an electrode line 243, and lead wires 222 are provided at each four corners.

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment showing a pattern of another type, in which a conductor layer is patterned in a stripe shape. That is, the active area 223 of the input device (the touch panel activation area in which the conductive material is formed and information can be input) is patterned to form a conductor 223a layer.

At this time, lead wires 222a are connected to both sides of the patterned conductor 223a.

1 to 3 are views showing embodiments of a touch panel in which an electrode pattern is formed. The ink-jet printer system for manufacturing a touch panel of the present invention is not necessarily applied to only the pattern shapes of FIGS. 1 to 3, The ink-jet printer system for manufacturing a touch panel of the present invention can be applied to the manufacture of a touch panel.

Figs. 4 to 6 are views showing an embodiment showing a electrostatic ink jet head capable of printing touch panel electrodes. Fig.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrostatic inkjet head includes an ink chamber 110, a capillary tube 120, and an electric field forming unit 130. The ink chamber 110 is for providing a space for temporarily accommodating the ink, and has a receiving space 111 for storing ink therein. The ink chamber 110 may be formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. As the ink to be applied to the present invention, various kinds of inks such as a conductive ink, an organic compound ink and the like can be used.

The capillary tube 120 is connected to the ink chamber 110 and discharges the ink moved from the ink chamber 110. At the end of the capillary tube 120, a discharge port 121 for discharging ink is provided. The discharge port 121 may have a size of several micrometers, and a minute amount of the ink is discharged through the discharge port 121.

The capillary tube 120 according to the present invention can be formed of a glass material. At the end of the capillary tube 120, a tapered portion 122 formed to be tapered toward the discharge port 121 is formed. The tapered portion 122 can be formed by extending the semi-cured glass capillary in the lengthwise direction, and thus the discharge port 121 having a small size can be formed.

The electric field forming unit 130 forms an electrostatic field to induce ejection of the ink contained in the capillary 120. The electric field forming unit 130 includes an electrode 131 disposed at one side of the discharge port 121, a metal pipe disposed inside the capillary 120,

And an electrode applying unit 133 electrically connected to the metal pipe 131 and the metal pipe 132.

The electrode 131 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the discharge port 121 and is formed of a conductive material so that a voltage can be applied.

The metal tube 132 provides space for the ink in the ink chamber 110 to move and extends in the longitudinal direction from the ink chamber 110 in communication with the ink chamber 110 for this purpose. The metal pipe 132 may be formed of a metal such as copper. The metal tube 132 may be arranged to have the same central axis as the capillary tube 120 and have a smaller radius than the capillary tube. That is, the outer circumferential surface of the metal tube 132 is formed to be spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the capillary tube 120 by a predetermined distance.

The metal tube 132 is mounted on the bottom of the ink chamber 110 and can extend from the ink chamber 110 to the starting position of the tapered portion 122 of the capillary tube 120, have. The ink located under the metal pipe 132 is discharged by the electrostatic force of the electrostatic field generated when the electrode applying unit 133 operates.

The electrode applying section 133 is implemented as a power supply for applying a voltage to the electrode 131 and the metal tube 132. The electrode application unit 133 is configured to apply an anode to one of the electrode 131 and the metal pipe 132 and to apply the cathode to the other one of the electrode 131 and the metal pipe 132. In the present embodiment, an anode is applied to the metal pipe 132 and a cathode is applied to the electrode 131, but the opposite case is also possible.

As the electrode applying section 133 applies a voltage to the electrode 131 and the metal tube 132, An electrostatic field is generated between the metal tube 132 and the electrode 131, thereby discharging ink contained in the capillary tube 120 is induced.

A cap 150 for sealing the ink chamber 110 may be additionally mounted on the upper portion of the ink chamber 110. The cap 150 is mounted on the upper portion of the ink chamber 110 to cover the inner space of the ink chamber 110. The cap 150 is formed with a through hole 151 for communicating with the inner space of the ink chamber 110, and a tube for supplying ink is connected to the through hole 151.

A holder 140 for fixing the capillary tube 120 may be additionally attached to the lower portion of the ink chamber 110. The holder 140 has a function of fixing the capillary tube 120 and a function of connecting the capillary tube 120 and the ink chamber 110. A capillary tube 120 is attached to the bottom of the holder 140 and a metal tube 132 extends from the ink chamber 110 through the holder 140 and into the capillary tube 120.

One end of the metal tube 132 is exposed to the outside of the capillary tube 120 by a predetermined height and the other end of the metal tube 132 is positioned at the start position of the tapered portion 122. A conductive wire 134 for electrical connection is connected to one end of the metal pipe 132. The conductive wire 134 electrically connects the metal pipe 132, the electrode 131, and the electrode applying unit 133.

6 is an operational state view showing an operation state of the electrostatic force ink jet head related to the present invention. 6 shows that the printing object, for example, the substrate 101 is placed between the capillary tube 120 and the electrode 131. In Fig.

When the ink is supplied to the inside of the ink chamber 110 through the tube for ink supply, the ink moves to the inside of the metal pipe 132 communicating therewith, thereby filling the capillary 120 with ink.

When the electrode applying unit 133 is operated, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are applied to the metal pipe 132 and the electrode 131, respectively. The electrostatic field E having a predetermined size and direction is formed between the metal tube 132 and the electrode 131. The electrostatic field E having a predetermined size and direction is formed between the metal tube 132 and the electrode 131 do. According to this embodiment, the positive electrode is applied to the metal pipe 132, and the negative electrode is applied to the electrode 131 positioned below the negative electrode 132. The direction of the electrostatic field E is formed in the top-down direction. The ink charged by the positive electrode is discharged in the downward direction by the electrostatic force of the electrostatic field (E).

According to the present invention, the metal pipe 132 is formed to have a rigidity of at least a certain level so as not to be deformed by an electrostatic field or external vibration. Metal wires may be used as a structure for applying electrodes to the inside of the capillary tube 120. However, in this case, when a high voltage is applied to the metal wire, deformation or vibration may occur on the metal wire,

Deformation or vibration may occur in the metal wire due to vibration generated during the movement. Such deformation or vibration of the metal wire is a factor that changes the size and direction of the electric field.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an analysis for analyzing the size of discharged droplets with and without microelectrodes.

(+) Charge is applied to the EHD nozzle without a microelectrode, and the microdroplet can be discharged from the nozzle to the substrate. However, since the discharge liquid droplet becomes relatively large, a microelectrode is inserted into the EHD nozzle, The ejected droplet becomes smaller as compared with the case where there is no electrode when the minute solution is applied to the substrate after application. This phenomenon can be verified as a result of fluid-electric field multi-physics simulation with or without needle electrodes,

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the comparison of electric field intensities according to microelectrode positions.

As a result of the simulation analysis of the electric field strength between the microelectrode with positive charge and the substrate with negative or negative charge, the intensity of the electric field increases as the microelectrode moves toward the substrate, An increase in the intensity indicates that the solution in the nozzle can be easily discharged.

Therefore, in the present head, the position of the electrode can be controlled through the electrode (needle) transfer device, and the uniform discharge can be achieved through the optimum electrode position control for each material.

That is, a technique of transferring the solution in the nozzle to the substrate through the up / down movement by inserting a microelectrode (patterning needle) to which positive electrical charge is applied in the EHD nozzle, The solution is stably transferred due to the voltage difference between the solution to which the (+) charge at the end is applied and the substrate.

Then, only the micro solution of the microelectrode tip is transferred to the substrate, and only the solutions of several pl to several fl are dissolved in the solution inside the nozzle And then transferred to a substrate.

In order to stably transfer the fine solution, it is necessary to control the flow rate of the solution in the nozzle, so that a precise flow rate control device is used for the solution supply line. In order to transfer the fine solution to the heterogeneous material in the same head, Thereby cleaning the solution supply line through the solution channel distribution and the interior of the nozzle,

By adding a solution supply line, a precision flow control device and a cleaning line to the other side, fine solution transfer of a different material is possible in the same way,

In order to discharge the fine solution onto the substrate, it is necessary to supply precisely to the inside of the nozzle as much as the discharged fine solution, and the pneumatic part for precision flow control is formed on the head, and it is connected to the solution supply line to precisely control the supply flow rate, The range of air pressure is -100kPa ~ 1MPa, and the supply flow rate can be precisely controlled with a resolution of 0.1kPa.

In addition, it is possible to control precise flow rate by material from low viscosity to high viscosity separated by differential pressure and static pressure.

10 is a view showing a characteristic according to the shape of the end of the patterning needle.

The amount of the solution contact of the needle in the patterning needle depends on the surface area of the needle, and thus the surface area needs to be changed in order to change the contact amount.

When the shape of the tip of the needle changes, the contact surface of the solution contacting the needle changes to change the amount of contact, and the amount of contact of the needle with the solution can be controlled according to the shape of the needle, In the case of a flat tip of the needle as in No. 5, the solution of the basic hemisphere is transferred. However, if the shape of the tip of the needle is changed as in No. 6, a more stereoscopic For example, droplets having a high aspect ratio).

11 is a diagram of an embodiment showing a pneumatic configuration for precise flow control.

In order to discharge the minute solution to the base material, it is necessary to precisely supply the minute amount of the discharged minute solution to the inside of the nozzle, and the pneumatic pressure portion for controlling the precision flow rate is formed in the head and is connected to the solution supply line to precisely control the supply flow rate.

In addition, the pneumatic pressure range for precision flow control is -100 kPa to 1 MPa, and the supply flow rate can be precisely controlled with a resolution of 0.1 kPa. In addition, it is possible to control precise flow rate by material from low viscosity to high viscosity separated by differential pressure and static pressure.

In addition to the function of controlling the position of the electrode in the nozzle, the needle transfer device and the needle (electrode) portion in the present head can transfer the fine solution to the substrate by the needle itself, and the needle (electrode) is connected to the needle transfer device, So that the fine solution at the end of the needle can be transferred to the substrate as it is.

The high viscosity solution of tens of thousands of cP that can not be discharged by the conventional ink jet or piezo method can be easily transferred through the up and down movement of the patterning needle.

12 is a diagram showing a transition droplet phenomenon caused by the patterning needle,

When the solution in the nozzle is transferred to the substrate through the up-and-down motion of the patterning needle, the solution is transferred to the hemispherical shape generally, and the fine solution can be transferred to the droplet displaced through the aligning camera in an overlapping manner. The result of transferring the secondary droplet to the primary droplet displaced through the transfer device control is as shown in the above figure,

By controlling the micro-needle transfer device, not only the secondary droplet transfer but also the tertiary droplet transfer can be performed, so that the high aspect ratio droplet can be transferred and the height of the transfer droplet can be controlled to be applied as a spacer of the LCD panel.

13 is a view of an embodiment showing a patterning technique using needles (electrodes).

In this head, the needle transfer device and the needle (electrode) part can control the position of the electrode inside the nozzle, and the needle can transfer the fine solution to the substrate by itself.

The needle (electrode) is connected to the needle transfer device and moves up and down inside the nozzle to transfer the fine solution at the needle end to the substrate as it is.

It is possible to easily transfer the high viscosity solution of tens of thousands cP which can not be discharged by the conventional ink jet or piezo method through the up and down motion of the patterning needle.

110: ink chamber 120: capillary tube
121: discharge port 122: tapered portion
130: electric field forming part 131: electrode
132: metal tube 133: electrode applying section

Claims

An ink jet head, an ink chamber for accommodating a nozzle ink; A capillary connected to the ink chamber and having a discharge port through which the ink is discharged; And an electric field forming unit for forming an electric field for inducing ejection of the ink,
(+) Charge is applied to the inside of the EHD nozzle, the solution inside the nozzle is transferred to the substrate through the up-and-down motion, and ground or (?) Charge is applied to the substrate, ) An ink jet printer electrode for manufacturing a touch panel in which a solution is transferred due to a voltage difference between a solution to which a charge is applied and a substrate.

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pneumatic pressure part for precision flow control is formed in the head and is connected to a solution supply line to precisely control the supply flow rate, and the air pressure range for precise flow control is -100 kPa to 1 MPa, Wherein the electrode of the ink-jet printer is precisely controlled.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the solution exiting the discharge port through the microelectrode through the nozzle end is formed into a cone shape in the direction of the substrate, only the minute solution at the end of the microelectrode is transferred to the substrate, Wherein the solvent is removed from the solution and transferred to the base material.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microelectrode is injected into the substrate from the nozzle after applying (+) charge to the substrate without applying a microelectrode to the inside of the EHD nozzle, inserting the microelectrode into the EHD nozzle, Wherein the substrate is free of a discharge electrode.

The capillary tube according to claim 1, wherein the metal tube (132) is formed so as not to be deformed by an electrostatic field or external vibration, and uses a metal wire as a configuration for applying an electrode to the inside of the capillary tube (120). Wherein when a high voltage is applied to the metal wire, deformation or vibration occurs in the metal wire.

The ink-jet printer electrode for manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 1, wherein deformation or vibration occurs in the metal wire due to vibration generated during movement, and deformation or vibration of the metal wire changes the size and direction of the electric field.

The method of claim 1, wherein when the electrode applying unit (133) is operated, an anode and a cathode are respectively applied to the metal pipe (132) and the electrode (131) And an electrostatic field (E) having a predetermined size and direction is formed between the metal tube (132) and the electrode (131).

The method according to claim 1, wherein the positive electrode is applied to the metal tube (132), the negative electrode is applied to the electrode (131) located below the negative electrode, the direction of the electrostatic field (E) And discharging is induced downward by the electrostatic force of the electrostatic field (E).