TW201514793A - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch panel including a substrate, a decoration layer, a buffer layer, a plurality of electrode patterns and a plurality of wirings is provided. The substrate has a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area. The decoration layer covers the peripheral area and exposes the touch area. The buffer layer covers the decoration layer. The electrode patterns are located on the touch area and are electrically insulated to each other. The wirings are located on the buffer layer and are electrically insulated to each other.

Description

Touch panel

The present invention relates to a panel, and more particularly to a touch panel.

In general, the touch panel includes a substrate, a plurality of electrode patterns, a plurality of traces, and a decorative layer, wherein the traces are electrically connected to the electrode patterns for data transmission. The decorative layer covers the traces around the electrode pattern to reduce the visibility of the traces to the human eye, and the color of the decorative layer can increase the aesthetics of the touch panel.

In recent years, with the user's appeal for the big screen, the operators have invested in the design of the narrow frame. The existing narrow bezel design for the touch panel generally reduces the size of the touch area by reducing the shielding area of the decorative layer. The width of the decorative layer usually depends on the line width and line spacing of the trace. The prior art usually produces traces through wet processes or printing. The process cost of the wet process is relatively high and less environmentally friendly. The printing process costs are relatively low, the steps are relatively simple and relatively environmentally friendly. However, existing printing techniques have difficulty printing lines with line widths below 50 microns. Therefore, if the trace is to be made by printing, it is generally after the coating layer is completely coated on the decorative layer. Traces with a line width of less than 50 microns are formed by a laser process. However, in the process of patterning the trace material layer, it is difficult to avoid damage to the decorative layer under the trace material layer, while leaving a strip of cut marks or openings exposing the substrate in the decorative layer. The aesthetics of the touch panel are affected when it is difficult to maintain the integrity of the decorative layer.

The present invention provides a touch panel that maintains the integrity of the decorative layer.

A touch panel of the present invention includes a substrate, a decorative layer, a buffer layer, a plurality of electrode patterns, and a plurality of traces. The substrate has a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area. The decorative layer covers the surrounding area and exposes the touch area. The buffer layer covers the decorative layer. The electrode patterns are located on the touch area and are electrically insulated from each other. The trace is located on the buffer layer and electrically connected to the electrode pattern.

In an embodiment of the invention, the decorative layer and the buffer layer have substantially the same contour.

In an embodiment of the invention, the decorative layer and the buffer layer are adjacent to each other adjacent to the sidewall of the touch area.

In an embodiment of the invention, the size of the buffer layer is smaller than the size of the decorative layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the positive projection of the buffer layer adjacent to the sidewall of the touch area on the substrate is spaced apart from the orthographic projection of the decorative layer adjacent to the sidewall of the touch area on the substrate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the distance is less than one part of each trace The shortest distance from the touch area is divided, and the portion of each trace is perpendicular to the electrode pattern electrically connected to the trace.

In an embodiment of the invention, the buffer layer further covers the touch area.

In an embodiment of the invention, the buffer layer is a light transmissive buffer layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the buffer layer described above falls within the range of 2 microns to 50 microns.

In an embodiment of the invention, the electrode pattern includes a plurality of first electrode patterns and a plurality of second electrode patterns, and the first electrode patterns and the second electrode patterns intersect each other and are electrically insulated.

Based on the above, the touch panel of the present invention is provided with a buffer layer on the decorative layer as a protective layer of the decorative layer. Therefore, the touch panel of the present invention can improve the formation of strip-shaped cutting marks or openings for exposing the substrate in the decorative layer due to the laser process, thereby maintaining the integrity of the decorative layer and the aesthetics of the touch panel.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100, 200, 300‧‧‧ touch panels

110‧‧‧Substrate

120‧‧‧decorative layer

130, 130A, 130B‧‧‧ buffer layer

140‧‧‧electrode pattern

142‧‧‧First electrode pattern

142a‧‧‧First electrode pad

142b‧‧‧first cable

144‧‧‧Second electrode pattern

144a‧‧‧Second electrode pad

144b‧‧‧second cable

150‧‧‧Wiring

D1‧‧‧ distance

D2‧‧‧ shortest distance

S1, S2‧‧‧ surface

A1‧‧‧ touch area

A2‧‧‧ surrounding area

D1‧‧‧ first direction

D2‧‧‧ second direction

Part P‧‧‧

W120‧‧‧Width

W150‧‧‧ line width

A-A’‧‧‧ cut line

1A is a top plan view of a touch panel in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 1A.

2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views of a touch panel in accordance with second and third embodiments of the present invention.

1A is a top plan view of a touch panel in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 1A. Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , the touch panel 100 of the present embodiment includes a substrate 110 , a decorative layer 120 , a buffer layer 130 , a plurality of electrode patterns 140 , and a plurality of traces 150 .

In the embodiment, the substrate 110 is used as a cover of the touch panel 100, for example. For example, the substrate 110 may be, but is not limited to, a glass substrate that transmits light and has high mechanical strength. In addition, the decorative layer 120, the buffer layer 130, the electrode pattern 140, and the trace 150 are disposed on the same surface S1 of the substrate 110, for example, and the surface S2 of the substrate 110 with respect to the surface S1 is, for example, a touch surface. That is to say, when the touch sensing is performed, the touch object (for example, the user's finger or the stylus) is in contact with the surface S2.

The substrate 110 has a touch area A1 and a peripheral area A2 adjacent to the touch area A1. This embodiment is illustrated by the peripheral area A2 surrounding the touch area A1. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can change the configuration relationship of the touch area A1 and the peripheral area A2 according to their design requirements.

The decorative layer 120 covers the peripheral area A2 and exposes the touch area A1. The decorative layer 120 is, for example, for reducing the visibility of an opaque material (such as the trace 150) located in the peripheral area A2 to the human eye. Moreover, the decorative layer 120 can also be used to enhance the aesthetics of the touch panel 100 through the color design. For example, the color of the decorative layer 120 can be black, white, blue, red, pink, or other colors.

The buffer layer 130 covers the decorative layer 120, which is, for example, as a decorative layer 120 Protective layer. In the present embodiment, the buffer layer 130 has a similar profile to the decorative layer 120, and the size of the buffer layer 130 is, for example, smaller than the size of the decorative layer 120. In detail, the sidewall of the buffer layer 130 adjacent to the touch area A1 is, for example, contracted by the decorative layer 120 adjacent to the sidewall of the touch area A1 by a distance d1. That is, the orthographic projection of the buffer layer 130 adjacent to the sidewall of the touch area A1 on the substrate 110 is separated from the orthographic projection of the decorative layer 120 adjacent to the sidewall of the touch area A1 on the substrate 110 by a distance d1. In addition, the distance d1 is, for example, less than the shortest distance d2 of the portion P of each of the traces 150 and the touch area A1, and the portion P of each of the traces 150 is perpendicular to the electrode pattern 140 electrically connected to the trace 150. For example, the distance d1 is, for example, less than 100 microns. In addition, the thickness H130 of the buffer layer 130 is, for example, falling within the range of 2 micrometers to 50 micrometers.

The material of the buffer layer 130 may be an organic or inorganic dielectric material or other suitable dielectric material such as Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA). The organic dielectric material is, for example, tantalum oxide, tantalum nitride, hafnium oxynitride, hafnium aluminum oxide or a stacked layer of at least two of the above materials. In addition, the material of the buffer layer 130 may be a transparent dielectric material or a dielectric material having a color. In the laser process, since the non-black material is less likely to absorb the energy of the laser, the buffer layer 130 is preferably made of a non-black material such as white, red, blue or other non-black materials. In this way, the arrangement of the buffer layer 130 can reduce the chance that the decorative layer 120 absorbs the laser energy directly or indirectly, thereby improving the problem of forming strip-shaped cutting marks or openings for exposing the substrate in the decorative layer 120 due to the laser process. . On the other hand, if the trace 150 is formed by a wet process, the color of the buffer layer 130 is not limited. That is to say, the material of the buffer layer 130 may be transparent or a dielectric material having a color.

The electrode patterns 140 are located on the touch area A1 and are electrically insulated from each other. In the present embodiment, the electrode pattern 140 includes, for example, a plurality of first electrode patterns 142 and a plurality of second electrode patterns 144, wherein the first electrode patterns 142 and the second electrode patterns 144 intersect each other and are electrically insulated. In detail, the first electrode patterns 142 are arranged, for example, along the first direction D1 and extend along the second direction D2, respectively, and the second electrode patterns 144 are arranged, for example, along the second direction D2, and extend along the first direction D1, respectively. . The first direction D1 is, for example, but not limited to, perpendicular to the second direction D2.

Each of the first electrode patterns 142 includes, for example, a plurality of first electrode pads 142a and a plurality of first connection lines 142b, and each of the first connection lines 142b serially connects the adjacent two first electrode pads 142a in the second direction D2. Each of the second electrode patterns 144 includes, for example, a plurality of second electrode pads 144a and a plurality of second connection lines 144b, and each of the second connection lines 144b serially connects the adjacent two second electrode pads 144a in the first direction D1. The second connection line 144b and the first connection line 142b intersect each other. In this embodiment, the touch panel 100 may further include a plurality of insulating patterns (not shown) at the intersection of the second connecting line 144b and the first connecting line 142b to electrically insulate the two. For example, each of the insulating patterns covers each of the first connecting lines 142b, and each of the second connecting lines 144b spans a corresponding insulating pattern to connect the adjacent two second electrode pads 144a in series.

The material of the electrode pattern 140 is preferably a metal oxide or a metal mesh or a combination of the two. However, under the above-described structure of the insulating pattern, the material of the second connecting line 144b spanning the insulating pattern may also be made of metal to have good electrical conductivity. It should be noted that although the electrode pattern 140 of the embodiment is exemplified above, the present invention is not used to define the electrode pattern 140. Configuration relationship or shape, etc. For example, in other embodiments, the electrode patterns 140 may not intersect each other, and each of the electrode patterns 140 may also be an electrode pattern of other shapes.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the first electrode pad 142a and the second electrode pad 144a adjacent to the peripheral area A2 are illustrated as extending from the touch area A1 to the peripheral area A2, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the sidewalls of the first electrode pad 142a and the second electrode pad 144a adjacent to the peripheral region A2 may also be aligned with the peripheral region A2.

The trace 150 is located on the buffer layer 130 and is electrically connected to the electrode pattern 140, for example, for data transmission. Therefore, the material of the trace 150 is, for example, a metal having good conductivity, an alloy, or a combination thereof, and the material of the trace 150 is described by silver paste. Since the width W120 of the decorative layer 120 is positively correlated with the line width W150 of the trace 150, by narrowing the line width W150 of the trace 150, a narrow bezel design can be realized. In the present embodiment, the line width W150 is, for example, but not limited to, 50 microns or less.

It is difficult to print the trace 150 having a line width W150 below 50 microns due to existing printing techniques. Therefore, in the embodiment, the method of forming the trace 150 is, for example, after the trace material layer (silver paste) is completely coated on the decorative layer 120, and then the trace 150 having a line width W150 of 50 μm or less is formed through the laser process. Without the buffer layer 130 disposed, the laser easily damages the decorative layer 120 under the silver paste while patterning the silver paste, while leaving a strip of cut marks or openings exposing the substrate 110 in the decorative layer 120, thereby affecting The overall beauty of the touch panel. In view of this, the buffer layer 130 is disposed on the decorative layer 120 as the protective layer of the decorative layer 120. As a result, in the patterning In the process of the silver paste, the buffer layer 130 can prevent the laser from directly irradiating to the decorative layer 120, thereby improving the problem of forming strip-like cutting marks or openings exposing the substrate 110 in the decorative layer 120 due to the laser process, thereby maintaining the decorative layer. 120 integrity.

On the other hand, if the trace 150 is formed by a wet process, the buffer layer 130 can also serve as an etch stop for the etchant, thereby protecting the decorative layer 120 under the buffer layer 130. As such, during the process of patterning the silver paste, the buffer layer 130 can prevent the decorative layer 120 from directly contacting the etchant, while avoiding the decorative layer 120 being eroded by the etchant, thereby maintaining the integrity of the decorative layer 120.

2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views of a touch panel in accordance with second and third embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the touch panels 200 and 300 are substantially the same as the touch panel 100 , and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the materials and functions thereof are not described herein. The main difference between the touch panels 200, 300 and the touch panel 100 is the design of the buffer layers 130A, 130B. In detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the decorative layer 120 and the buffer layer 130A have substantially the same contour. Specifically, the decorative layer 120A and the buffer layer 130A are adjacent to each other along the sidewall of the touch area A1, and the electrode pattern 140 extends from the touch area A1 to the buffer layer 130A on the peripheral area A2. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the buffer layer 130B may further cover the touch area A1. However, considering the light transmittance of the touch area A1, when the buffer layer 130 covers the touch area A1 and the peripheral area A2 at the same time, the buffer layer 130 preferably uses a light-transmissive buffer layer.

In summary, the touch panel of the present invention is provided with a buffer layer on the decorative layer to serve as a protective layer for the decorative layer. Therefore, the touch panel of the present invention can improve the problem of forming strip-shaped cutting marks or openings for exposing the substrate in the decorative layer due to the laser process. Thereby maintaining the integrity of the decorative layer and the aesthetics of the touch panel.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧ touch panel

110‧‧‧Substrate

120‧‧‧decorative layer

130‧‧‧buffer layer

140‧‧‧electrode pattern

142‧‧‧First electrode pattern

150‧‧‧Wiring

D1‧‧‧ distance

H130‧‧‧ thickness

S1, S2‧‧‧ surface

A1‧‧‧ touch area

A2‧‧‧ surrounding area

Claims (10)

A touch panel includes: a substrate having a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area; a decorative layer covering the peripheral area and exposing the touch area; a buffer layer covering the decorative layer a plurality of electrode patterns on the touch area and electrically insulated from each other; and a plurality of traces on the buffer layer and electrically connected to the electrode patterns. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer and the buffer layer have substantially the same contour. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the decorative layer and the buffer layer are adjacent to each other adjacent to a sidewall of the touch area. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer has a size smaller than a size of the decorative layer. The touch panel of claim 4, wherein an orthographic projection of the buffer layer adjacent to a sidewall of the touch region on the substrate and an orthographic projection of the sidewall adjacent to the decorative layer on the substrate A distance apart. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein the distance is less than a shortest distance between a portion of each of the traces and the touch area, and the portion of each trace is perpendicular to the trace. The electrode pattern. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer further covers the touch area. The touch panel of claim 7, wherein the buffer layer is Light-transmissive buffer layer. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer has a thickness ranging from 2 micrometers to 50 micrometers. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the electrode patterns comprise a plurality of first electrode patterns and a plurality of second electrode patterns, the first electrode patterns and the second electrode patterns intersect each other and Electrical insulation.