TW201723768A - Touch panel capable of reducing exposure of etching wires - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a touch panel capable of reducing exposure of etching wires. The touch panel includes a substrate and an electrode layer. The electrode layer includes a plurality of sensing electrodes and a plurality of dummy electrodes. Each dummy electrode is formed with partition etching wires to divide the dummy electrode to multiple sub-blocks. Each sensing electrode has matched etching wires corresponding to the partition etching wires so that both the sensing electrodes and the dummy electrodes have consistent or similar appearances. With the matched etching wires widely distributed over the touch panel, the vision seen by human eyes may be interfered so that all etching wires of the touch panel are almost imperceptible to human eyes. Thus, the extent of exposure of the etching wires or electrodes patterns is reduced to improve visual effects.

Description

Avoid touching the exposed touch panel

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly to a touch panel that can prevent the electrode pattern from being exposed.

With the continuous improvement of process technology, a variety of different types of capacitive touch panel structures have been developed, such as GFF (Glass-Film-Film), G1F (Glass-Film), GG (Glass-Glass), etc., but Regardless of the type of touch panel, an electrode layer is formed on a substrate, and the electrode layer includes a plurality of sensing electrodes, and the substrate may be a film or a transparent substrate.

The sensing electrode is mainly formed by an etching process, and a transparent conductive material (ITO) is etched by an etching process to obtain a plurality of sensing electrodes, and the sensing electrodes of each touch panel can have different patterns, and common sensing electrodes The pattern includes a diamond shape, a fishbone shape, a strip shape, and the like.

Referring to the example shown in FIG. 11 , the touch panel includes a plurality of sensing electrodes 100 and dummy patterns 110 . The invalid electrodes 110 fill the regions other than the sensing electrodes 100 . The shape, installation position and area of the ineffective electrode 110 are determined by the respective touch panels according to their own design requirements, and are merely described as an example. Although each of the ineffective electrodes 110 is not connected to the surrounding sensing electrodes 100, since the ineffective electrodes 110 and the sensing electrodes 100 are both formed of a transparent conductive material (ITO), a coupling effect is generated between them to generate a coupling capacitance. When the user touches the touch panel to touch the sensing electrode 100, a large parasitic capacitance is generated between the invalid electrode 110 and the surrounding sensing electrode 100, which affects the sensitivity of the touch determination operation.

Therefore, in order to reduce the degree of coupling between the ineffective electrode 110 and the surrounding sensing electrode 100, each of the invalid electrodes 110 may be divided into a plurality of independent sub-blocks, one of which is possible, as shown in FIG. A plurality of longitudinal and lateral etch lines 114 are formed by etching in 110, and the etch lines 114 divide the invalid electrodes 110 into a plurality of sub-blocks 112. When the invalid electrode 110 is divided into the sub-blocks 112, the degree of coupling between the ineffective electrode 110 and the surrounding sensing electrodes 100 can be reduced, the coupling capacitance can be reduced, and the parasitic capacitance generated when the user operates the touch panel can be avoided, thereby improving Touch to determine the sensitivity of the job.

However, since the invalid electrode 110 has a plurality of etching lines 114, the appearance of the sensing electrode 100 is significantly different from that of the sensing electrode 100, and the touch panel is in a specific case, for example, in a strong light environment or a specific angle, due to light. Through the two different materials of the substrate and the conductive material (ITO), the etching line 114 is easy to be exposed or emerged, which affects the user's visual perception of the touch panel. Therefore, how to overcome the problem of the etching line 114 is still to be further improved.

Since the invalid electrode of the existing touch panel is not matched with the appearance of the surrounding sensing electrodes after being divided into a plurality of sub-blocks, the touch panel is prone to the problem that the etching line is exposed. The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing the etching line exposure. To avoid the touch panel with the electrode pattern emerging.

In order to achieve the above object, the touch panel for avoiding the appearance of the electrode pattern comprises: a substrate; an electrode layer disposed on the surface of the substrate, the electrode layer comprising: a plurality of sensing electrodes arranged in a regular manner; A plurality of ineffective electrodes are distributed in regions other than the sensing electrodes and are not electrically connected to the sensing electrodes. Each of the ineffective electrodes is formed with a separation etching pattern, and the separated etching lines cut each of the invalid electrodes into a plurality of independent sub-children. a block; wherein each of the sensing electrodes is formed with a matching etched pattern, and the matching etched pattern and the separated etched pattern are matched with each other.

Wherein, the matching etching condition and the matching etching pattern satisfy a matching condition, so that the separation etching pattern has a uniform appearance with the matching etching pattern.

Wherein, the matching condition may be that the separation etched pattern has the same etched grain direction as the matched etched pattern.

Wherein, the matching condition may be that the separation etched pattern has the same etched grain length as the matched etched pattern.

Wherein, the matching condition may be that the separation etched pattern has the same etched line width as the matched etched pattern.

Wherein, the matching condition may be that the separated etching lines have the same etching grain pitch as the matching etching lines.

Wherein, the line width of the separation etched pattern and the matching etched pattern is not more than 60 micrometers (μm), and the preferred range may be between 30 and 60 micrometers (μm).

Wherein, the ratio of the area occupied by the matching etched pattern in each of the sensing electrodes is less than a predetermined etching opening ratio X%, and the etching opening ratio X% is calculated as Where A1 represents the total area occupied by the matching etched lines in a single sensing electrode, and A2 represents the area of a single sensing electrode.

Each of the sensing electrodes includes: a main branch extending along a first axial direction; and a plurality of branch portions extending symmetrically outward from opposite edges of the main branch along a second axial direction at two adjacent branches A gap is formed therebetween, wherein the invalid electrode is disposed in the gap.

The present invention forms a plurality of matching etching patterns matching the separated etching patterns in the interior of each sensing electrode. Since both the sensing electrode and the ineffective electrode have an etched pattern, the sensing electrode forms a uniform or similar appearance with the ineffective electrode, and is widely distributed. Matching the etched pattern can achieve the effect of mixing the human eye, making the etching trace less visible to the human eye, reducing the possibility of etching lines or electrode patterns.

The touch panel of the present invention may be a panel having a single-layer electrode structure or a panel having a double-layer electrode structure. For example, FIG. 1 shows a G1 type touch panel having a single-layer electrode structure, including a substrate. 10 and an electrode layer 20 disposed on the surface of the substrate 10. Referring to the plan view shown in FIG. 2 , the touch panel is exemplified by a single-layer electrode structure corresponding to FIG. 1 . The substrate 10 has a visible area 11 and a non-visible area 12 . The non-visible area 12 surrounds the visible area. Outside the region 11, the substrate 10 can be made of a light transmissive material such as a transparent film or a transparent glass substrate. The electrode layer 20 includes a plurality of sensing electrodes 21 arranged in a regular arrangement, a plurality of invalid electrodes 30, and a plurality of wires 40. The electrode layer 20 may be made of a transparent conductive material layer, which may be indium tin oxide. Materials such as ITO or aluminum zinc oxide (AZO). The sensing electrode 21 and the ineffective electrode 30 are disposed in the visible area 11 , wherein the invalid electrode 30 is dispersed and filled in a region other than the sensing electrode 21 , and the plurality of wires 40 are disposed in the non-visible area 12 of the substrate 10 and electrically connected respectively The sensing electrodes 21, wherein one end of each of the wires 40 is connected to a corresponding sensing electrode, and the other end of each of the wires 40 can be arranged in a non-visible area 11 on one side of the substrate 10 to be connected to a flexible circuit board ( Not shown in the figure).

Taking the touch panel shown in FIG. 2 as an example, the sensing electrodes 21 are arranged one by one along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 10, and the two adjacent sensing electrodes 21 are separated by an electrode partition 22 to electrically electrically isolate each other. . Referring to FIG. 3, each of the sensing electrodes 21 may be in the shape of a fishbone, and includes a main branch portion 210 and a plurality of branch portions 212 extending along a first axial direction (eg, along the X-axis direction). A plurality of branch portions 212 extend symmetrically from opposite edges of the main branch portion 210 along a second axial direction (e.g., along the Y-axis direction). The gap between the adjacent two branch portions 212 is sufficient to fill the invalid electrode 30, and the shape of the invalid electrode 30 is a rectangle. However, in this embodiment, only the fishbone sensing electrode 21 is taken as an example, and the shape of the sensing electrode 21 of the touch panel is not limited to a fishbone shape.

Referring to FIG. 4, the sensing electrode 21 and the inactive electrode 30 are further enlarged. The ineffective electrodes 30 are provided with a plurality of strips of etched lines 31 in the ineffective electrode 30 in order to reduce the degree of coupling with the surrounding sensing electrodes 21. The discrete electrode 30 is divided into a plurality of sub-blocks 32 that are not connected to each other by the partition etched lines 31, wherein the plurality of etched etches 31 include longitudinal etched traces 310 and lateral etched traces 320, and each of the lateral etched traces 320 is connected. Between two adjacent longitudinal etched lines 310. The present invention further includes a matching etched pattern 23 in the interior of each of the sensing electrodes 21, the matching etched pattern 23 having the same extending direction as the longitudinal etched pattern 310. In a specific embodiment, the matching etched pattern 23 can be combined with the lateral etched pattern 320. Matching, it can also be matched to the longitudinal etched pattern 310. Moreover, the matching etching traces 23 are intermittently disconnected from each other, so that an open circuit is not formed in the sensing electrode 21, and the sensing electrode 21 still retains its integrity.

The separation etch traces 31 and the matching etch traces 23 may be formed in the same etching process. The etching process may be a lithography process, a laser etch process, or other processes that can form etch lines.

The present invention forms a matching etched pattern 23 in the sensing electrode 21, and the matching etched pattern 23 can be matched with the separated etched lines 31 of the ineffective electrode 30 such that the sensing electrode 21 and the ineffective electrode 30 have a uniform or similar appearance. When the user operates the touch panel, the separated etched lines 31 and the matching etched lines 23 are widely distributed in the visible area 11 of the touch panel, and the separated etched lines 31 and the matched etched lines 23 can be used together. The effect of mixing the human eye vision makes the etching traces difficult to be perceived by the human eye, reducing the exposure level of the etching line or the electrode pattern.

In order to improve the ability of the matching etched pattern 23 to confuse the human eye, a matching condition can be met between the matching etched pattern 23 formed by the sensing electrode 21 and the separated etched pattern 31 of the ineffective electrode 30. The so-called matching condition is It is understood that the matching etched pattern 23 and the separated etched lines 31 have mutually corresponding or nearly uniform appearances, for example, by setting an etched grain direction, an etched grain length, an etched land width, and an etched grain pitch, and the following further cooperates with different figures. Give an example.

Referring to FIG. 5, the matching etched pattern 23 formed by the sensing electrode 21 has a uniform etched pattern direction with the separated etched lines 31 of the ineffective electrode 30, wherein the extending direction of the separated etched lines 31 is oblique. The invalid electrode 30 is divided into a plurality of oblique sub-blocks 32, and the extending directions of the matching etched patterns 23 are also oblique, and the extending direction is the same as the separation of the etched lines 31 because the separation etched lines 31 It has the same etched grain direction as the matching etched pattern 23, so that the touch panel has a uniform appearance of etched lines, which can improve the visual ability of the human eye and reduce the effect of etching marks.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the matching etch traces 23 formed by the sensing electrodes 21 and the separated etch traces 31 of the dummy electrodes 30 may have a uniform etched pattern length, wherein each of the spaced etched traces 31 has a first length L1 and The invalid electrode 30 is laterally cut so that the invalid electrode 30 becomes a plurality of laterally arranged sub-blocks 32, and each matching etched pattern 23 has a second length L2 which is equal to the first length L1. Since the separation etched pattern 31 and the matching etched pattern 23 have the same etched pattern length, the touch panel has a uniform etched pattern, which helps to improve the problem of the etched line.

Referring to FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the matching etched pattern 23 formed by the sensing electrode 21 has a uniform etched line width of the etched etch 31 of the dummy electrode 30, wherein the line width of each of the etched etch lines 31 is a first line width W1, the line width of each matching etched pattern 23 is a second line width W2, the first line width W1 is the same as the second line width W2, due to the thickness of the separation etched pattern 31 and the matching etched pattern 23 Similarly, there is no difference in the width of the etched pattern, so it also helps to make the touch panel have an etched line with uniform appearance, which improves the problem of the etched line.

Still referring to FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the matching etched pattern 23 formed by the sensing electrode 21 has a uniform etched pattern pitch with the separated etched lines 31 of the ineffective electrode 30, wherein the adjacent two spaced etched lines 31 are There is a first spacing D1 between the two adjacent matching etching lines 23, and the first spacing D1 is the same as the second spacing D2, so the etching line arrangement on the touch panel has uniform density. Arrangement also helps to improve the problem of etched lines.

The foregoing describes in detail the matching conditions between the matching etched pattern 23 and the separated etched lines 31 in different embodiments, and is specifically implemented by setting an etched grain direction, an etched grain length, an etched land width, an etched grain pitch, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to the conditions listed above. In practical applications, one of the conditions may be selected or a combination of a plurality of conditions may be used. For example, when performing an etching operation, the matching etching trace 23 may be simultaneously controlled to be consistent with the separated etching trace 31. The etched grain direction and length are such that the matching etched pattern 23 and the separated etched pattern 31 satisfy both matching conditions.

In addition to considering the foregoing matching conditions, in order to maintain the lower electrode impedance value of the sensing electrode 20, the ratio of the area occupied by the matching etched pattern 23 may not be further limited to a predetermined etching opening rate X%. The etching opening ratio X% can be defined as Wherein A1 represents the total area occupied by the matching etching traces 23 in the single sensing electrode 20, and A2 represents the area of the single sensing electrode 20. If the etching opening ratio X% is not limited to a predetermined value, for example, 5%, the sensing electrode 20 can maintain a lower electrode impedance value without affecting the sensing sensitivity of the sensing electrode 20. In addition to limiting the etching opening ratio X%, it is also conceivable to increase the area of the sensing electrode 21 or use a transparent conductive material having a high conductivity to maintain the lower electrode impedance value of the sensing electrode 21.

In addition, under the premise of the etching process capability, the line width separating the etched pattern 31 and the matching etched pattern 23 is as small as possible, and the preferred line width is not more than 60 micrometers (μm), for example, it can be selected at 30~ Between 60 micrometers (μm); using a finer etched pattern, the user is naturally less aware of the presence of etched lines when viewing the touch panel.

The above description is exemplified by a touch panel having a single-layer electrode structure. However, the touch panel of the present invention may also be a touch panel having two-layer electrodes. For example, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 respectively show touches of the GF2 and GFF types. panel. The touch panel of FIG. 7 includes a substrate 10, a first electrode layer 20a, a second electrode layer 20b, and a protective layer 50. The first electrode layer 20a and the second electrode layer 20b are respectively disposed on the base. The protective layer 50 is adhered to the surface of the first electrode layer 20a by an optical adhesive 60. The substrate 10 is a film, and the protective layer 50 is a glass substrate.

The touch panel of FIG. 8 includes a first substrate 10a, a second substrate 10b, a first electrode layer 20a, a second electrode layer 20b, and a protective layer 50. The first substrate 10a and the second substrate 10b are disposed opposite to each other, and the first electrode layer 20a and the second electrode layer 20b are respectively disposed on the upper surfaces of the first substrate 10a and the second substrate 10b. The lower surface of the first substrate 10a is bonded to the second electrode layer 20b by the optical adhesive 60. The first substrate 10a and the second substrate 10b are respectively a film, and the protective layer 50 is also passed through the optical adhesive 60. The first electrode layer 20a is bonded to the first electrode layer 20a. However, the type of the touch panel of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned GF2 and GFF.

The touch panel of the GF2 or the GFF has a first electrode layer 20a and a second electrode layer 20b. Please refer to FIG. 9 for the structure of the first electrode layer 20a as an example. The electrode layer 20a has a plurality of first sensing electrode serials arranged along the first direction, and each of the sensing electrode serials is formed by connecting a plurality of first sensing electrodes 21a in series, and filling a plurality of first regions outside the first sensing electrodes 21a Invalid electrode 30a. Each of the first sensing electrodes 21a and each of the first ineffective electrodes 30a of the present embodiment has a diamond shape. Each of the first ineffective electrodes 30a is formed with a plurality of divided etching patterns 31a. The dividing etching lines 31a divide the first ineffective electrode 30a into a plurality of sub-blocks 32a; each of the first sensing electrodes 21a has a matching etching pattern 23a therein. The matching etched lines 23a and the separated etched lines 31a can meet the matching conditions as described in the foregoing embodiments, so that the matching etched lines 23a have the same or similar appearance as the separated etched lines 31a, thereby achieving the effect of mixing the human eye. Reduce the chance of etching lines exposed.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 10, the second electrode layer 20b is different from the first electrode layer 20a in that the second electrode layer 20b has a plurality of second sensing electrode strings arranged along the second direction. The two directions are perpendicular to the first direction, and each of the second sensing electrode serials is formed by connecting a plurality of second sensing electrodes 21b in series, and a plurality of second ineffective electrodes 30b are filled in regions other than the second sensing electrodes 21b. Each of the second inactive electrodes 3ba is formed with a plurality of divided etching patterns 31b, which divide the second ineffective electrode 30b into a plurality of sub-blocks 32b; each of the second sensing electrodes 21b has a matching etching pattern 23b therein. The matching etched lines 23b and the separated etched lines 31b may conform to the matching conditions as described in the foregoing embodiments.

In summary, the touch panel of the present invention that reduces the electrode pattern has the following functions and advantages:

1. The matching etched pattern formed on the sensing electrode can be matched with the etched pattern of the ineffective electrode to achieve the effect of mixing the human eye and improve the etched texture. When the user operates the touch panel, The presence of etch lines is not noticed.

2. The matching etched pattern on the sensing electrode can further satisfy the matching condition between the etched pattern of the ineffective electrode, for example, having the same etched grain direction, etched grain length, etched line width or etched grain pitch, etc. The grain and matching etched lines have a consistent or similar appearance, improving the ability to confuse the vision.

Third, by setting an appropriate matching etching aperture ratio or its line width, the inventive sensing electrode can still maintain a good low resistance value, ensuring the sensing sensitivity of the sensing electrode.

Although the present invention has been disclosed by the above-described preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and it is still within the spirit and scope of the present invention to make various changes and modifications to the above embodiments. The technical scope of the invention is protected, and therefore the scope of protection of this creation is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

10‧‧‧Substrate
10a‧‧‧First substrate
10b‧‧‧second substrate
11‧‧‧visible area
12‧‧‧Invisible area
20‧‧‧electrode layer
20a‧‧‧First electrode layer
20b‧‧‧Second electrode layer
21‧‧‧Induction electrodes
21a‧‧‧First sensing electrode
21b‧‧‧Second sensing electrode
210‧‧‧ main branch
212‧‧‧ Branch
22‧‧‧electrode dividing line
23,23a,23b‧‧‧Matching etching
30‧‧‧Invalid electrode
30a‧‧‧First invalid electrode
30b‧‧‧second invalid electrode
31, 31a, 31b‧ ‧ separate etched lines
310‧‧‧ longitudinal etching
320‧‧‧Transverse etching
32, 32a, 32b‧‧‧ sub-blocks
40‧‧‧ wire
50‧‧‧Protective layer
60‧‧‧Optical adhesive
100‧‧‧Induction electrode
110‧‧‧Invalid electrode
112‧‧‧Sub-block
114‧‧‧etching line

Figure 1: Schematic view of the touch panel of the single-layer electrode structure. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the present single-layer touch panel. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the shape of a single sensing electrode of the first embodiment of the present touch panel. 4 is a partial enlarged view of the sensing electrode of the first embodiment of the present touch panel. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the etched pattern of the ineffective electrode of the present invention and the etched pattern of the sensing electrode. Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the etching of the ineffective electrode of the present invention and the etching of the sensing electrode. Figure 7: A side view of a touch panel (GF2) with a two-layer electrode structure. Figure 8: A side view of a touch panel (GFF) of another two-layer electrode structure of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a first layer electrode pattern of the touch panel with a double-layer electrode structure. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a second layer electrode pattern of the touch panel of the double-layer electrode structure. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged schematic view of a touch panel of the prior art. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing another touch panel of the prior art.

21‧‧‧Induction electrodes

22‧‧‧electrode dividing line

23‧‧‧Matched etching

30‧‧‧Invalid electrode

31‧‧‧ Separate etched lines

310‧‧‧ longitudinal etching

320‧‧‧Transverse etching

32‧‧‧Sub-block

40‧‧‧ wire

Claims (10)

A touch panel for preventing exposure of an etched line comprises: a substrate; an electrode layer disposed on a surface of the substrate, the electrode layer comprising: a plurality of sensing electrodes arranged in a regular manner; a plurality of invalid electrodes, An area other than the sensing electrodes is not electrically connected to the sensing electrodes, and each of the invalid electrodes is formed with a separation etched pattern, and the separated etching lines cut each of the invalid electrodes into a plurality of independent sub-blocks; A matching etched pattern is formed in the sensing electrode, and the matching etched pattern and the separated etched pattern are matched with each other. The touch panel disclosed in claim 1 is characterized in that the etched lines are exposed, wherein a matching condition is satisfied between the separated etched lines and the matching etched lines, so that the separated etched lines have a uniform appearance with the matched etched lines. The touch panel disclosed in claim 2 is characterized in that the etching line is prevented from being exposed, wherein the matching condition is that the separation etching pattern has the same etching grain direction as the matching etching pattern. The touch panel is characterized in that the etching circuit is exposed as described in claim 2, wherein the matching condition is that the separation etched pattern has the same etched pattern length as the matching etched pattern. The touch panel is disclosed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the matching condition is that the separation etched pattern has the same etched line width as the matched etched pattern. The touch panel disclosed in claim 2 is characterized in that the etching line is prevented from being exposed, wherein the matching condition is that the separation etching pattern has the same etching grain pitch as the matching etching pattern. The touch panel disclosed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the line width of the etched etched lines and the matching etched lines is not more than 60 micrometers (μm). The touch panel disclosed in claim 7 avoids the etched lines, and the line width of the separated etched lines and the matching etched lines is between 30 and 60 micrometers (μm). In the touch panel disclosed in claim 1 to 6, the area of the matching etched pattern in each of the sensing electrodes is less than a predetermined etching opening ratio X%, and the etching opening ratio is X%. Calculated by Where A1 represents the total area occupied by the matching etched lines in a single sensing electrode, and A2 represents the area of a single sensing electrode. Each of the sensing electrodes includes: a main branch extending along a first axial direction; and a plurality of branches extending along a second axis, as described in claims 1 to 6 The opposite edges of the main branch extend symmetrically outwardly, forming a gap between the two adjacent branches, wherein the invalid electrode is disposed in the gap.