KR20190094963A - Method of printing transparent electrode for touch panel and transparent electrode for touch panel manufactured by the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel and a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured thereby. The method of printing a transparent electrode for the touch panel comprises a first forming step, a second forming step, a third forming step, and a fourth forming step. In the first forming step, first row first metal rings each of which the center is arranged on a virtual first row in a display area of a substrate and which are spaced at first intervals along a first direction are formed. In the second forming step, first row second metal rings each of which the center is arranged on a first row are formed at first intervals to be separated from the first row first metal rings in the first direction and to be adjacent thereto. In the third forming step, second row first metal rings which are connected to the first row first metal rings and the first row second metal rings and each of which the center is arranged on a second row in parallel with the first row are formed. In the fourth forming step, second row second metal rings each of which the center is arranged on the second row, which are separated from the second row first metal rings in the first direction to be adjacent thereto, and which are connected to the first row second metal rings connected to the second row first metal rings and to first row third metal rings adjacent to the first row second metal rings in the first direction are formed.

Description

Method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel and a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by the same TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel and a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by the same, and more particularly, to a method for printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel, which is easy to implement a large area and has improved flexibility. And it relates to a transparent electrode for a touch panel produced thereby.

The touch panel is a flat panel display device such as an electronic organizer, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescence (EL), and an image display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT). It is installed on the screen and used to allow the user to select the desired information while viewing the image display device. It is simple, has little malfunction, and enables input without using a separate input device. It is applied to various image display apparatuses because of the convenience of being able to operate quickly and easily.

1 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a general touch panel.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional touch panel includes a transparent substrate 10, a plurality of sensing electrodes 20 distributed over an entire display area 11 of the transparent substrate 10, and a plurality of sensing methods. The outer wiring 30 is electrically connected to the electrode 20 and disposed in the non-display area 12.

In general, the sensing electrode 20 is formed of a transparent electrode material such as ITO so that light can be transmitted, and as shown in the drawing, the sensing electrode 20 is formed in a form in which each of the sensing electrodes 20 is tightly filled.

However, since the sensing electrode 20 of this tightly filled form is easily cracked during bending, and in the severe case, the sensing electrode 20 may be broken, it is difficult to secure flexibility of the touch panel.

In addition, although the sensing electrode 20 is formed of a transparent electrode material to transmit light, the transmittance of the transparent electrode material is not very high, which is less than 90%, and is deposited, dried, and formed to form the sensing electrode 20 of the transparent electrode material. Since a plurality of processes such as exposure, development, etching, etc. have to be performed, the manufacturing process becomes complicated, the process efficiency is lowered, and the production cost is increased.

In particular, when the touch panel is implemented in a large area, this problem may become more serious because the amount of ITO required to generate the sensing electrode 20 must also be greatly increased.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2012-0101310 (2012.09.13.published)

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to provide a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel and to provide a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured thereby.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is not limited to the technical problem mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned above may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. There will be.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a center is disposed on a virtual first row of a display area of a substrate, and a first row first metal ring spaced at a first interval along a first direction. Forming a first step; A second forming step of forming a first row second metal ring having a center on the first row so as to be spaced apart from the first row first metal ring in the first direction so as to be adjacent to the first row; A third formation connected to the first row first metal ring and the first row second metal ring and forming a second row first metal ring centered on a second row parallel to the first row; step; And a center is disposed on the second row, the second row is formed to be adjacent to the first metal ring spaced apart from the first direction, and the first row second is connected to the second row first metal ring. And a fourth forming step of forming a metal ring and a second row second metal ring connected to the first row second metal ring and the first row third metal ring adjacent in the first direction. Provided is a method of printing a transparent electrode.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring are formed with the same first diameter. The first interval may be proportional to the first diameter.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring are formed with the same first diameter. The second row may be spaced apart from the first row in a direction perpendicular to the first row and spaced apart by a second interval smaller than the first diameter.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of the first row first metal rings, a plurality of the first row second metal rings, a plurality of the second row first metal rings and a plurality of the second row second metals The rings may each be formed simultaneously in the corresponding forming step.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring are formed of silver material, The silver nanoparticle solution sprayed simultaneously on the substrate in the form of droplets may be formed in a ring shape by a coffee stain effect.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring, and the second row of the display area of the substrate may be improved to improve visibility. The dummy which is not electrically connected to the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring in the outer space of the second metal ring. Metal rings may be further provided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the third forming step, the second row first metal ring may be circumscribed to the first row first metal ring and the first row second metal ring.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the fourth forming step, the second row second metal ring may be circumscribed to the first row second metal ring and the first row third metal ring.

On the other hand, in order to achieve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by a printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the transparent electrode material such as ITO is formed in the form of a surface filled with the entire inside of the transparent electrode, deposition, drying, exposure, development, While many processes, such as etching, have to be carried out and accordingly a device for each process is required, the production line can be complicated and the production cost can be increased, whereas the electrode ring according to the present invention has a ring shape, that is, a line It can be made in the form, and the process is formed by jetting the silver nanoparticle solution in the nozzle and the coffee stain effect is simple, the production line can be simplified, the production cost can be reduced and the process efficiency can be increased. In particular, when the touch panel is implemented in a large area, this effect may be further enhanced.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the transparent electrode is made of an electrode ring electrically connected, cracks are prevented from occurring when bending, as compared with the transparent electrode of a full-filled form as in the prior art. It may be easy to ensure the flexibility of the touch panel.

It is to be understood that the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above effects, and include all effects deduced from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention.

1 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a general touch panel.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a process chart showing a printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a photograph showing a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exemplary view showing a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected (connected, contacted, coupled)" with another part, it is not only "directly connected" but also "indirectly connected" with another member in between. Also includes the case where In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this means that unless otherwise stated, it may further include other components rather than excluding the other components.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms “comprise” or “have” are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

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

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a process diagram showing a printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 3, the method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel includes a first forming step S110, a second forming step S120, a third forming step S130, and a fourth forming step S140. It may include.

In the first forming step S110, a center is disposed on the virtual first row 210 of the display area of the substrate, and the first row first metal ring is spaced apart from the first interval P1 along the first direction. It may be a step of forming (310a, 310b, 310c).

The substrate may be divided into a display area and a non-display area disposed outside the display area. The display area may be an area in which various operations are performed with respect to the user's hand or the touch of the stylus pen, and the substrate may be made of a transparent material through which light such as polycarbonate (PC) or tempered glass may be transmitted.

The first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c may be formed in the display area for touch sensing.

The first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c may be formed in a ring shape instead of being filled with a transparent electrode material such as ITO. Conventionally, in the case of a transparent electrode made of a transparent electrode material, the entire inside of the transparent electrode is filled with the transparent electrode material, and a plurality of processes such as deposition, drying, exposure, development, and etching are performed to space the gap between the transparent electrode and the transparent electrode. Because of the need for equipment for each process, production lines can be complicated and production costs can increase.

On the other hand, in the present invention, by forming a transparent electrode made of a metal ring, it is not necessary to perform a plurality of processes, the production line can be simplified, the production cost can be reduced and the process efficiency can be increased.

The first row of the first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c has a silver nanoparticle solution sprayed in the form of droplets from the nozzle, and a solute component is formed as the solvent evaporates in the silver nanoparticle solution. It may be formed in a ring shape by forming a ring by the coffee stain effect (Coffee Stain Effect).

The first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c may be formed with a first diameter D1, and the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c may be along the first row 210. It may be formed at a first interval (P1).

In addition, the first interval P1 may be proportional to the first diameter D1. That is, as the first diameter D1 increases, the first interval P1 may also increase. As the first diameter D1 decreases, the first interval P1 may also decrease.

The first interval P1 may correspond to the interval of the nozzle in which the silver nanoparticle solution is injected. For example, when the silver nanoparticle solution is sprayed using a commercial inkjet nozzle, the first interval P1 may be appropriately calculated according to the number and pitch of the nozzles and the diameter of the metal ring to be produced.

The first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c may be formed by opening a plurality of nozzles for spraying the silver nanoparticle solution in the region where the transparent electrode is to be formed, and in the region where the transparent electrode is not formed. A plurality of nozzles for spraying the nanoparticle solution may not be formed while closed. That is, the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c may be formed by opening or closing the plurality of nozzles according to the region where the transparent electrode is formed.

The nozzle may be provided along the first row 210, and the silver nanoparticle solution is sprayed only at the nozzle corresponding to the first interval P1 to be provided, so that the first row first metal ring 310a, 310b and 310c may be generated. The silver nanoparticle solution may be sprayed from the nozzle at the same time, and thus the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c may be simultaneously formed.

If the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c are immediately adjacent to each other, droplets of the silver nanoparticle solution should be dropped from the neighboring nozzles. If dropped, the evaporation rate of the solvent may be slowed down. In the present invention, by dropping the silver nanoparticle solution to the first interval (P1), since the evaporation of the solvent can be made quickly and smoothly, the process can proceed quickly and the process efficiency can also be increased (Fig. 3) (A)).

The second forming step S120 includes a first row second metal having a center disposed on the first row 210 so as to be spaced apart from the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c in a first direction. The ring 320a, 320b, and 320c may be formed at the first interval P1.

The first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c may be formed with the same first diameter D1 as the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c, and the first row second metal rings The 320a, 320b, and 320c may be formed at the same time.

The first row second metal rings 320a, 320b, and 320c are formed to be spaced apart from the adjacent first row first metal rings 310a, 310b, and 310c in opposite directions in the first direction, and are not connected to each other. Can be. The first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c may be formed in the same manner as the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c (see FIG. 3B).

Thereafter, the first row third metal rings 330a and 330b are disposed on the first row 210 so that their centers are spaced apart from the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c in the first direction. Forming the 330c at the first interval P1 may be further performed.

This process of additionally planeting the metal ring on the first row 210 may be repeated until the metal ring is filled in the transparent electrode to be formed. In addition, all of the metal rings provided in the first row 210 may be formed to have the same diameter, and may be formed to have the same first interval P1 (see FIG. 3C).

The third forming step S130 is connected to the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c and the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c, and is parallel to the first row 210. A second row of first metal rings 410a, 410b, and 410c having a center disposed on the second row 220 may be formed.

The second row first metal rings 410a, 410b, and 410c may be formed with a first diameter D1, and the second row 220 may be spaced apart from the first row 210 in a direction perpendicular to the first row 210. It may be spaced apart by the interval P2. Here, the second interval P2 may be smaller than the first diameter D1.

In addition, the second row first metal rings 410a, 410b, and 410c may be formed at a first interval P1. The second row first metal ring 410a may be formed to be connected to the first row first metal ring 310a and the first row second metal ring 320a. Accordingly, the first row first metal ring 310a, the first row second metal ring 320a and the second row first metal ring 410a may be electrically connected to each other.

The second row first metal rings 410a, 410b and 410c may be circumscribed to the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c and the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and certain parts may be connected to overlap each other.

The second row first metal rings 410a, 410b and 410c may be formed on the second row 220 in the same manner as the metal rings formed in the first row 210 (see FIG. 3D). ).

The fourth forming step (S140) is centered on the second row 220, and is formed to be adjacent to the second row of the first metal rings 410a, 410b, and 410c in the first direction and to be adjacent to the second row. Neighbors in the first direction with the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b, 320c connected to the first metal rings 410a, 410b, 410c, and the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b, 320c. The second row of second metal rings 420a, 420b, and 420c connected to the first row of third metal rings 330a, 330b, and 330c may be formed.

The second row second metal rings 420a, 420b, and 420c may be formed to have a first diameter D1, and may be formed to have a first interval P1.

The second row second metal ring 420a may be formed to be connected to the first row second metal ring 320a and the first row third metal ring 330a, and thereby, the second row second metal ring 420a, the first row second metal ring 320a and the first row third metal ring 330a may be electrically connected to each other.

The second row second metal rings 420a, 420b and 420c may be circumscribed to the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c and the first row third metal rings 330a, 330b and 330c. It is not necessarily limited thereto, and certain portions may be overlapped and connected. The second row second metal rings 420a, 420b and 420c may be formed on the second row 220 in the same manner as the second row first metal rings 410a, 410b and 410c (see FIG. e).

Thereafter, the first row third metal rings 330a, 330b and 330c which are not electrically connected to the first row 210 and the first row third metal rings 330a, 330b and 330c along the first direction. The forming of the second row third metal rings 430a, 430b, and 430c connected to the first row first metal rings 310b, 310c, and 310d adjacent to each other may be further performed. This process may be repeated depending on the size of the transparent electrode to be formed. The metal rings provided in the second row 220 may be formed at the same diameter and the same interval, and may have the same diameter and the same distance as the metal rings provided in the first row 210 (see FIG. 3). (f)).

Through this process, it is possible to smoothly evaporate the solvent in the silver nanoparticle solution injected from the nozzle so that the metal ring can be stably formed quickly. In addition, the process speed may be increased by allowing the silver nanoparticle solution to be simultaneously sprayed for each process.

In the process, the injection of the silver nanoparticle solution may be performed by opening only the nozzle corresponding to the region where the transparent electrode is formed while the nozzle is fixed, but is not limited thereto. That is, the silver nanoparticle solution may be sprayed onto a region where the transparent electrode is to be formed while the nozzle provided at the first interval P1 moves to the first interval P1 along the first direction.

4 is a photograph showing a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, by repeating the above-described process, the transparent electrodes to be formed may be formed of a plurality of metal rings 310 electrically connected to each other.

According to the present invention, since the transparent electrode is made of a metal ring that is electrically connected, cracks can be prevented from occurring when the transparent electrode is bent, as compared with the transparent electrode having a full-filled shape as in the prior art. It is easy to secure the flexibility of the touch panel.

In addition, since the metal ring is formed by jetting the silver nanoparticle solution from the nozzle and the coffee stain effect, the metal ring does not have to go through many processes such as deposition, drying, exposure, development, and etching as in the prior art, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process. This can lead to higher process efficiency and lower production costs. In particular, when the touch panel is implemented in a large area, this effect may be further enhanced.

5 is an exemplary view showing a transparent electrode for a touch panel manufactured by a method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As further shown in FIG. 5, the first row first metal rings 310a, 310b and 310c, the first row second metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c, and the second row first metal rings 410a, The first row of first metal rings 310a, 310b, 310c, and the first row of outer metal spaces of the metal ring 310 including 410b and 410c and the second row second metal rings 420a, 420b and 420c. And metal rings 310 including the two metal rings 320a, 320b and 320c, the second row first metal rings 410a, 410b and 410c and the second row second metal rings 420a, 420b and 420c. The dummy metal ring 500 may be further provided. That is, a dummy metal ring 500 that is not electrically connected to the transparent electrode may be further provided between the transparent electrode and the transparent electrode.

While the dummy metal ring 500 should not be electrically connected to the metal ring 310 forming the transparent electrode, the dummy metal ring 500 may be connected between the dummy metal rings 500.

The dummy metal ring 500 reduces visibility of the refractive index between the transparent electrode and the non-transparent electrode region, that is, the transparent electrode and the non-transparent electrode region so that the transparent electrode and the non-transparent electrode region are not distinguished. This can be improved.

The transparent electrode for the touch panel may be manufactured by the printing method of the transparent electrode for the touch panel, and the transparent electrode may have excellent flexibility.

The foregoing description of the present invention is intended for illustration, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be easily modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims, and it should be construed that all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the invention.

210: row 1
220: second row
310: metal ring
310a, 310b, 310c, 310d: first row first metal ring
320a, 320b, 320c: first row second metal ring
330a, 330b, 330c: first row of third metal rings
410a, 410b, 410c: second row first metal ring
420a, 420b, 420c: second row second metal ring
430a, 430b, 430c: second row third metal ring
500: dummy metal ring
D1: first diameter
P1: first interval
P2: 2nd interval

Claims (9)

A first forming step of forming a first row first metal ring having a center disposed on an imaginary first row of the display area of the substrate and spaced at a first interval along a first direction;
A second forming step of forming a first row second metal ring having a center on the first row so as to be spaced apart from the first row first metal ring in the first direction so as to be adjacent to the first row;
A third formation connected to the first row first metal ring and the first row second metal ring and forming a second row first metal ring centered on a second row parallel to the first row; step; And
A center is disposed on the second row, the first row second metal is formed to be spaced apart from the second row first metal ring in the first direction and is connected to the second row first metal ring. And a fourth forming step of forming a ring and a second row second metal ring connected to the first row second metal ring and the first row third metal ring adjacent in the first direction. Printing method of the electrode. The method of claim 1,
The first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring are formed with the same first diameter,
And the first interval is proportional to the first diameter. The method of claim 1,
The first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring are formed with the same first diameter,
The second row is spaced in a direction perpendicular to the first row, the printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel, characterized in that spaced apart by a second interval smaller than the first diameter. The method of claim 1,
A plurality of the first row first metal rings, a plurality of the first row second metal rings, a plurality of the second row first metal rings and a plurality of the second row second metal rings, respectively, are simultaneously formed in a corresponding forming step. Printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel, characterized in that formed. The method of claim 4, wherein
The first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring and the second row second metal ring are formed of silver material and simultaneously inkjet onto the substrate in the form of droplets. Method of printing a transparent electrode for a touch panel, characterized in that the sprayed silver nanoparticle solution is formed in a ring shape by the coffee stain effect (Coffee Stain Effect). The method of claim 1,
In order to improve visibility, an outer space of the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring, and the second row second metal ring is formed in the display area of the substrate. And a dummy metal ring which is not electrically connected to the first row first metal ring, the first row second metal ring, the second row first metal ring, and the second row second metal ring. Printing method of a transparent electrode for a touch panel. The method of claim 1,
And in the third forming step, the second row first metal ring is circumscribed to the first row first metal ring and the first row second metal ring. The method of claim 1,
In the fourth forming step, the second row second metal ring is circumscribed to the first row second metal ring and the first row third metal ring. The transparent electrode for touch panels manufactured by the printing method of the transparent electrode for touch panels as described in any one of Claims 1-8.

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