TW202016612A - Touch structure and touch device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a touch structure which includes a flexible substrate and a touch function layer disposed on the flexible substrate. The touch function layer is made of an elastic conductive material. In the touch structure and touch device provided by the present invention, the elastic conductive material is used to form a touch function layer on the flexible substrate, which can improve the flexibility and stretch resistance of the touch function layer, and reduce the possibility of breaking of the touch functional layer due to stretching.

Description

Touch structure and touch device

The invention relates to the field of touch technology, in particular to a touch structure and a touch device.

Existing electronic devices usually have a touch structure to provide a touch input function. The touch electrodes in the touch structure are usually made of Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO) material. Due to the high mechanical hardness of indium tin oxide material, it is easy to break after stretching the electrode, which affects the use. .

In order to solve the above problems, embodiments of the present invention disclose a touch structure and a touch device that are not easily broken after stretching.

A touch control structure includes a flexible substrate and a touch function layer disposed on the flexible substrate, the touch function layer is made of an elastic conductive material.

A touch control device includes the touch control structure as described above.

In the touch structure and touch device provided by the present invention, the flexible conductive material is used to form a touch function layer on the flexible substrate, which can improve the flexibility and stretch resistance of the touch function layer and reduce touch The possibility of the functional layer breaking due to stretching. In addition, the laminated structure of the touch structure is simple, which is conducive to the development of thin and light touch devices.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without making progressive labor fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a touch structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The touch control structure 10 includes a flexible substrate 11 and a touch function layer 12 disposed on the flexible substrate 11. The touch function layer 12 is made of an elastic conductive material.

In the present embodiment, the flexible base material 11 is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). It can be understood that the flexible substrate 11 can also be made of other flexible materials, so that the flexible substrate 11 can be bent and stretched, such as carbon-based rubber (such as latex, butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, nitrile rubber, etc.) , Silicone rubber, silicone resin (such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)), SEBS (hydrogenated styrene-butadiene copolymer), EcoFlex (butylene adipate-terephthalic acid Butylene glycol ester copolymer), elastic hydrogel at least one. The elastic conductive material is a composite material of resin and conductive components. The elastic conductive material is a stretchable conductive mixed system, wherein the resin is a continuous phase and is stretchable, that is, the resin is elastic, and the conductive component is a dispersed phase, capable of conducting electricity. The touch function layer 12 made of the elastic conductive material can be bent and stretched. The conductive component includes silver particles, copper particles, silver wires, copper wires, carbon powder, graphene, carbon nanotubes, PEDOT (polymer of EDOT (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer)), liquid metal, At least one of ionic liquids. The resin and conductive components (such as conductive particles) can be mixed uniformly and stably, and the solid content can meet the impedance requirements of the printed circuit, so that the elastic conductive material can form the touch function layer 12 with excellent conductivity. In some embodiments, the elastic conductive material may be a composite material of rubber and conductive components. In some embodiments, the elastic conductive material may also be a composite material of elastic plastic and conductive components.

In this embodiment, the conductive component and the resin are taken, and then an appropriate amount of solvent is added and mixed to form the elastic conductive material. The volume ratio of the resin and the conductive component is (1/8) to (1/3 ), the elastic conductive material is printed on the surface of the flexible substrate 11 by means of screen printing, transfer, embossing, inkjet printing, 3D printing, sputtering and the like. It can be understood that the ratio of the resin and the conductive component is not limited, and the elastic conductive material made by mixing the resin and the conductive component can be stretchable and conductive. Preferably, when the conductive component and the resin are mixed, the mixed system may be heat-treated, and at the same time, a ball mill or a planetary mixer may be used to disperse the system, so that the system is mixed more uniformly, and an elastic conductive material with good performance can be obtained.

By forming the touch function layer 12 on the flexible substrate 11 by the elastic conductive material, the flexibility and stretch resistance of the touch function layer 12 can be improved, and the possibility of the touch function layer 12 breaking can be reduced. In addition, the laminated structure of the touch structure 10 is simple, which is conducive to the development of light and thin touch devices with the touch structure 10.

Specifically, the touch structure 10 further includes a circuit board 14, a touch sensing circuit 15 and a plurality of connection traces 16. The touch sensing circuit 15 includes at least a touch chip. The touch sensing circuit 15 and its peripheral circuits are integrated on the circuit board 14. In this embodiment, the circuit board 14 is a printed circuit board, and the touch sensing circuit 15 is packaged on the circuit board 14 by means of chip on board (COB). Since the touch sensing circuit 15 is packaged on the circuit board 14 instead of the flexible substrate 11, the flexible substrate 11 can be prevented from being affected by the temperature and pressure during the packaging process, thereby protecting the flexible substrate 11 from damage. Moreover, since the existing FPC (flexible circuit board) is a non-stretchable material, and the flexible substrate 11 is a stretchable material, if the existing FPC is directly bonded to the flexible substrate, it will be due to the two The tensile properties are inconsistent and easily damaged. Therefore, in this embodiment, the existing FPC is not used as a medium for connecting the flexible substrate 11 and the circuit board 14, or the FPC is used as the bonding area of the wafer, but the flexible substrate 11 and the circuit board 14 are directly connected.

The touch function layer 12 is electrically connected to the touch sensing circuit 15 through the connection trace 16.

The flexible substrate 11 further includes a main body 113 and an extension 115 integrally formed by one end of the main body 113. The main body 113 includes a functional area 1131 and a connection area 1133 disposed around the functional area 1131. The extension 115 is provided adjacent to the circuit board 14. In this embodiment, the body 113 and the extension 115 are formed integrally.

The touch function layer 12 is graphically arranged in the function area 1131 of the main body 113 for sensing the touch position. The touch function layer 12 includes a plurality of touch units 121 arranged in an array. The touch unit 121 has a substantially strip-shaped structure to improve the tensile resistance of the touch unit 121.

A plurality of connection traces 16 are arranged on the flexible substrate 11 at intervals. In this embodiment, each connection trace 16 is electrically connected between a touch unit 121 and the touch sensing circuit 15.

The connection trace 16 is electrically connected between the touch sensing circuit 15 and the touch unit 121, so as to realize the electrical connection between the touch unit 121 and the touch sensing circuit 15.

The connection trace 16 includes a first buffer portion 161 formed in the connection area 1133 and a second buffer portion 163 formed in the extension portion 115. One end of the first buffer portion 161 is electrically connected to the corresponding touch unit 121, and the other end of the first buffer portion 161 extends toward the extension portion 115 to form a second buffer portion 163. The structure of the first buffering portion 161 is a curved structure bent in the connection area 1133 to buffer the stress generated when the touch structure 10 is stretched, reducing the possibility of the connection trace 16 being broken and the possibility of sudden resistance change Sex. For example, in one embodiment, please refer to FIG. 2, the structure of the first buffer portion 161 is a wavy line structure. For another example, in an embodiment, please refer to FIG. 3, the structure of the first buffer portion 161 is a broken line structure. In one embodiment, the structure of the first buffer 161 is a trigonometric curve structure. It can be understood that in an embodiment, the structure of the first buffer portion 161 may include a polyline structure, a wavy line structure, and a trigonometric function curve structure, that is, the structure of the first buffer portion 161 may include a polyline structure, a wavy line structure, and a trigonometric function curve At least one of the structures.

The end of the second buffer portion 163 away from the touch unit 121 is electrically connected to the touch sensing circuit 15. Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partial area of the touch structure 10 provided by the embodiment. The extending portion 115 is substantially wavy, folded, or folded in a curved shape, so that there is a certain elastic deformation space along the extending direction of the extending portion 115. The extending portion 115 includes a plurality of protrusions 1151, and a gap is formed between adjacent protrusions 1151 to buffer the stress generated when the touch structure 10 is stretched. The second buffer portion 163 is a curved structure, which is used to buffer the stress generated when the touch structure 10 is stretched, so as to reduce the possibility of the connecting trace 16 being broken and the possibility of sudden resistance change. For example, the structure of the second buffer portion 163 is at least one of a polyline structure, a wavy line structure, and a trigonometric curve structure. Further, the curved structure of the second buffer portion 163 may be close to the curved surface of the extending portion 115 to form a curved structure consistent with the curved surface of the extending portion 115, that is, the bending of the extending portion 115 from the cross section of FIG. 4 The bending width and angle of the curved structure of the surface and the second buffer portion 163 are the same, and both are curved in the vertical direction. Of course, the curved structure of the second buffer portion 163 may also be formed on the surface of the extending portion 115 to be curved along the left and right sides or the front and rear sides of the extending portion 115, or include both of the above-mentioned curved structures.

In an embodiment, the connection trace 16 is bent at a region near the outer contour of the flexible substrate 11. The connection trace 16 is oscillated and bent. The oscillating bending is that the connecting trace 16 forms a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs. Along the direction toward the outer contour of the flexible substrate 11, the connecting traces 16 form a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs. The connection trace 16 is also bent in an area away from the outer contour of the flexible substrate 11.

The touch control structure 10 further includes an electrical connector 17. The electrical connector 17 is disposed on the circuit board 14 and electrically connected to the touch sensing circuit 15. An end of the second buffer portion 163 away from the touch function layer 12 forms a pin 1631. The plug end 1631 is plugged on the electrical connector 17, so as to realize the electrical connection between the touch sensing circuit 15 and the touch function layer 12.

The electrical connector 17 includes a connection end (not shown) provided corresponding to the plug end 1631. Since the touch structure 10 is connected to the electrical connector 17 through the plug end 1631 of the connection trace 16, the connection trace 16 of the touch structure 10 can realize the touch sensing circuit 15 and the connection without binding The electrical connection between the touch function layers 12 simplifies the assembly process of the touch structure 10, and at the same time prevents the flexible substrate 11 from being damaged due to high temperature during binding, which improves the product yield. In addition, due to the gap formed between the protrusions 1151 of the extending portion 115, the impact of the circuit board 14 when the touch structure 10 is stretched can be buffered, the possibility of the circuit board 14 being damaged is reduced, and the plug-in end 1631 can also be reduced The possibility of the control structure 10 being disengaged from the electrical connector 17 when stretched, thereby ensuring the performance of the touch structure 10. In other words, since the plug end 1631 cannot withstand the stretching action, the curved extension 115 can buffer the tensile force of the touch structure 10 on the plug end 1631 when being stretched to avoid the tensile force received by the plug end 1631 Too large and damaged.

In this embodiment, the number of the connection ends corresponds to the number of the plug ends 1631, and the distance between the connection ends is set according to the number of channels and the connection traces 16. The height of the connection end is confirmed according to the thickness of the stacked structure, and the electrical connection between the insertion end 1631 and the connection end can be selected as the upper connection type or the lower connection type. The locking method between the plug-in end 1631 and the connection end can be a direct plug-in type or a flip-up type.

It can be understood that the connection method of the touch sensing circuit 15 and the circuit board 14 is not limited, for example, the circuit board 14 may be a flexible circuit board, and the touch sensing circuit 15 is implemented by a chip on flex (COF) method On the circuit board 14, the second buffer portion 163 on the flexible substrate 11 is bonded to the circuit board 14 by binding to realize the electrical connection between the touch sensing circuit 15 and the touch function layer 12. Since the second buffer portion 163 and the touch sensing circuit 15 are bound and joined on the circuit board 14, the flexible substrate 11 is prevented from being affected by high temperature and pressure during the binding process, thereby protecting the flexible substrate 11 from damage.

The touch control structure 10 further includes a reinforcement layer 18. The reinforcing layer 18 is disposed on the side of the flexible substrate 11 away from the touch function layer 12 and on the opposite sides to the second buffer portion 163. The reinforcement layer 18 is located on the extension 115 and is adjacent to the circuit board 14. The reinforcing layer 18 can provide support for the flexible substrate 11, enhance the strength of the flexible substrate 11, and facilitate the insertion of the plug end 1631 on the electrical connector 17. It can be understood that the reinforcement layer 18 may be provided only in a part of the area where the extension 115 is adjacent to the circuit board 14, and the reinforcement layer 18 may also cover the entire area of the extension 115. In this embodiment, the reinforcing layer 18 is made of polypropylene (PP). In other embodiments, the material of the reinforcement layer 18 may be other materials. For example, the material of the reinforcement layer 18 includes PP, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyimide (PI), At least one of polyphenylene sulfide (Phenylene sulfide, PPS), epoxy resin board, phenolic resin board, resin fiber board, steel sheet, ceramic sheet, quartz sheet.

Please refer to FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the touch structure 10 further includes a flexible encapsulation layer 19 disposed on the side of the touch function layer 12 away from the flexible substrate 11 for encapsulating and protecting the touch function layer 12 . The touch function layer 12 is located between the flexible encapsulation layer 19 and the flexible substrate 11. The flexible encapsulating layer 19 is made of stretchable resin or stretchable film material. When the flexible encapsulation layer 19 is made of a stretchable resin, it can be prepared on the flexible substrate 11 by coating, spraying, chemical deposition, etc. to cover the touch function layer 12. When the flexible encapsulation layer 19 is made of a stretchable film material, the flexible encapsulation layer 19 can be prepared on the flexible substrate 11 and cover the touch function layer 12 by means of hot pressing, blow molding, injection molding, or the like. The material of the flexible encapsulation layer 19 includes at least one of polyurethane elastic resin and TPU adhesive film.

In this embodiment, the tensile modulus of elasticity of the flexible substrate 11, the touch function layer 12 and the flexible encapsulation layer 19 are of the same order, and the mechanical properties are matched to avoid the stretching process of the touch structure 10 Phenomenon such as delamination and peeling are easy to occur, resulting in the failure of the touch structure 10.

Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention also provides a touch device 100 including the touch structure 10, the adhesive layer 70 and the flexible member 80 as described above. The flexible member 80 and the touch structure 10 are bonded together by an adhesive layer 70. In this embodiment, the adhesive layer 70 is optical glue. In other embodiments, the adhesive layer 70 may be another adhesive layer, for example, the adhesive layer 70 may be at least one of hot-melt adhesive, double-sided adhesive, optical adhesive, and liquid adhesive; the sticking of the touch control structure 10 and the flexible member 80 The bonding method may be hot-melt adhesive hot-press bonding, double-sided adhesive, optical adhesive bonding, liquid adhesive bonding.

The extending portion 115 and the adhesive layer 70 are bonded to the flexible member 80 at the top 1155 of the protrusion 1151 by the adhesive layer 70. In other words, the tip 1155 of the protrusion 1151 on the side of the extension 115 adjacent to the flexible member 80 is bonded to the flexible member 80, and the other parts are separated from the flexible member 80, so that the extension 115 is in a folded state with the flexible member 80 It is fixed and adhered together to prevent the plug end or the circuit board 14 from being pulled by the extension 115 when the touch device 100 is stretched. Further, the position of the adhesive layer 70 corresponding to the extension 115 may also be a discrete distribution (non-continuous distribution). Please refer to FIG. 7, that is, the adhesive layer 70 is only provided at the position of the protrusion 1151 corresponding to the extension 115. There is no distribution between the positions 1151, and the adhesive layer 70 is broken between two adjacent protrusions 1151. The discretely distributed adhesive layer 70 further helps to improve the tensile resistance of the adhesive layer 70. The extension 115 can be folded along the stretching direction 700.

In this embodiment, the materials of the flexible member 80, the adhesive layer 70, and the layers of the touch structure 10 have the same magnitude of tensile modulus of elasticity, so that the mechanical properties of the layers can be matched to avoid Phenomenon such as delamination and peeling easily occur during the stretching process, resulting in the failure of the touch device 100. The flexible member 80 is made of an elastic textile material, and the touch device 100 is a wearable device, such as clothes. In other embodiments, the flexible member 80 may also be other materials, such as leather and other materials with certain flexibility.

In the touch structure 10 and the touch device 100 provided by the present invention, the touch conductive layer 12 is formed on the flexible substrate 11 by the elastic conductive material, which can improve the flexibility and stretch resistance of the touch functional layer 12 Ability to reduce the possibility of the touch function layer 12 breaking due to bending and stretching. In addition, the laminated structure of the touch structure 10 is simple, which is conducive to the development of the thin and thin touch device 100.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand: The scope of protection is not limited to this, and any change or replacement that can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

10: Touch structure 11: Flexible substrate 113: Main body 1131: Function area 1133: Connection area 115: Extension 1151: Protrusion 1155: Top 12: Touch function layer 121: Touch unit 14: Circuit board 15: Touch Control sensing circuit 16: connection trace 161: first buffer section 163: second buffer section 1631: plug end 17: electrical connector 18: reinforcement layer 19: flexible encapsulation layer 100: touch device 70: adhesive layer 80: flexible part 700: stretching direction

In order to more clearly explain the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some of the invention For the embodiment, for those of ordinary skill in the art, without paying progressive work, other drawings may be obtained based on these drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a touch structure provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first buffer portion of the touch structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the first buffer portion of the connection trace in an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partial area of the touch structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded schematic diagram of a touch structure in an embodiment of the invention.

6 is a schematic structural diagram of a touch device provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a schematic diagram of a partial area of a touch device provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

10: Touch structure

11: Flexible substrate

113: Subject

1131: Ribbon

1133: Connection area

115: Extension

12: Touch function layer

121: Touch unit

14: Circuit board

15: Touch sensing circuit

16: Connect the wiring

161: First buffer

163: Second buffer

17: Electrical connector

Claims (26)

A touch control structure, wherein the touch control structure includes a flexible substrate and a touch function layer disposed on the flexible substrate, the touch function layer is made of an elastic conductive material. The touch structure as described in item 1 of the patent application range, wherein the elastic conductive material is a composite material of resin and conductive components, or a composite material of rubber and conductive components, or a composite material of elastic plastic and conductive components. The touch structure as described in item 2 of the patent application range, wherein the conductive component includes silver particles, copper particles, silver wires, carbon powder, graphene, carbon nanotubes, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer At least one of polymers, liquid metals, and ionic liquids. The touch structure according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the touch structure further includes a circuit board and a touch sensing circuit provided on the circuit board, the touch sensing circuit and the The touch function layer is electrically connected. The touch structure as described in item 4 of the patent application range, wherein the touch function layer includes a plurality of touch units, and the touch structure further includes a plurality of connection traces provided on the flexible substrate. The connection trace is electrically connected between the corresponding touch unit and the touch sensing circuit. The touch structure according to item 5 of the patent application scope, wherein the flexible substrate includes a main body and an extension portion formed by one end of the main body, the plurality of touch units are disposed on the main body, and the connection One end of the wiring is electrically connected to the corresponding touch unit, and the other end of the connection wiring extends from the main body to the extension portion and is electrically connected to the touch sensing circuit. The touch structure as described in item 6 of the patent application range, wherein the main body is formed integrally with the extension portion. The touch structure according to item 6 of the patent application scope, wherein the main body includes a functional area and a connection area provided adjacent to an edge of the functional area, and the plurality of touch units are provided in the functional area, the connection The other end of the trace extends from the connection area to the extension. The touch structure as recited in item 8 of the patent application range, wherein the connection trace is bent at the connection area to form a first buffer portion. The touch control structure as recited in item 8 of the patent application range, wherein the connection trace is bent at the extending portion to form a second buffer portion. The touch structure as described in item 5 of the patent application scope, wherein the touch structure further includes an electrical connector, the electrical connector is provided on the circuit board, the touch sensing circuit and the The electrical connectors are electrically connected, and the end of the connection trace away from the touch unit is a plug end, and the plug end is plugged on the electrical connector so that the touch sensing circuit passes electricity The connector is electrically connected. The touch structure as recited in item 11 of the patent application range, wherein the touch structure further includes a reinforcement layer disposed on a side of the flexible substrate away from the touch function layer. The touch control structure as described in item 5 of the patent application range, wherein the connection trace is bent in a region close to the outer contour of the flexible substrate. The touch structure as recited in item 13 of the patent application range, wherein the connection trace is an oscillating bend. The touch structure as described in item 13 of the patent application range, wherein the connecting traces form a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs along a direction toward the outer contour of the flexible substrate. The touch structure as recited in item 13 of the patent application range, wherein the connection trace is also bent in an area away from the outer contour of the flexible substrate. The touch structure as described in item 1 of the patent application range, wherein the flexible substrate is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber, carbon-based rubber, silicone rubber, silicone resin, macromolecular hydrogel At least one. The touch structure as described in item 1 of the patent application range, wherein the flexible substrate and the elastic conductive material have the same order of tensile modulus of elasticity. The touch structure as recited in item 1 of the patent application range, wherein the touch structure further includes a flexible encapsulation layer disposed on a side of the touch function layer away from the flexible substrate. The touch control structure as described in Item 19 of the patent application range, wherein the material of the flexible encapsulation layer includes at least one of polyurethane elastic resin and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber film. A touch control device, wherein the touch control device includes the touch control structure according to any one of items 1-20 of the patent application. The touch device of claim 21, wherein the touch device further includes a flexible member, and the flexible member and the touch structure are adhered by an adhesive layer. The touch device according to item 22 of the patent application scope, wherein the flexible substrate includes a main body and an extension portion extending from one end of the main body, the touch function layer is provided on the main body, the The extension portion includes a plurality of protrusions, a gap is formed between adjacent protrusions, and the top ends of the protrusions on the side of the extension portion adjacent to the flexible member are bonded to the flexible member through an adhesive layer. The touch device as described in item 23 of the patent application range, wherein the adhesive layer is distributed discontinuously, and the adhesive layer is broken between two adjacent protrusions. The touch device as described in item 22 of the patent application range, wherein the flexible member, the adhesive layer, the flexible substrate, and the elastic conductive material have the same order of tensile modulus of elasticity. The touch device as described in item 22 of the patent application range, wherein the flexible member is made of an elastic textile material, and the touch device is a wearable device.

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