TWI470519B - Touch panel - Google Patents

Description

Touch panel

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

In recent years, various electronic products have been moving toward simple operation, small size, and large screen size. In particular, portable electronic products have stricter requirements on volume and screen size. Therefore, many electronic products integrate the touch panel with the liquid crystal display panel to omit the space required for the keyboard or the control buttons, thereby expanding the configurable area of the screen.

Currently, touch panels can be roughly classified into resistive, capacitive, infrared, and ultrasonic touch panels. Among them, resistive touch panels and capacitive touch panels are the most common products. In the case of a capacitive touch panel, the multi-touch feature provides a more user-friendly operation mode, and the capacitive touch panel is favored by the market.

In general, a capacitive touch panel detects a touch position of a finger or a conductive object by a change in a capacitance value caused by a user touching a capacitive touch panel through a finger or a conductive object. Further, the capacitive touch panel generally has a plurality of first sensing series electrically insulated from each other and a plurality of second sensing series electrically insulated from each other, wherein the second sensing series and the first sense Measure the series of electrical insulation. When the user does not touch the touch panel, there is an initial value of capacitance between the sensed series. When the user touches the touch panel, the sensed series that is touched will change the capacitance value, thus changing the original capacitance. Starting value. At this time, it is possible to determine the position touched by the user by discriminating the position of the changed capacitance value.

The first sensing series and the second sensing series may be electrically insulated by arranging an insulating layer between the first sensing series and the second sensing series. Further, the manufacturing method is to sequentially form a first sensing series, an insulating layer and a second sensing series on the substrate, wherein the insulating layers are located in the second sensing series and the first Sensing the stagger of the series. Under this manufacturing method, the yield of the touch panel is generally affected by the insulating layer. If the insulating layer is not formed smoothly at the intersection of the second sensing series and the first sensing series, the second sensing series is short-circuited with the first sensing series, and the touch panel is not functioning properly. .

The present invention provides a touch panel that has a good yield.

The present invention provides a touch panel including a substrate, a plurality of first sensing series electrically insulated from each other, a first protection electrode, a plurality of second sensing series electrically insulated from each other, and a second protection electrode. A strip of flexible circuit board and a second strip of flexible circuit board. The substrate has opposing first and second surfaces. The first sensing series is disposed on the first surface. The first protection electrode is disposed on the first surface and is located at one side of the first sensing series, wherein the first protection electrode is electrically insulated from the first sensing series. The second sensing series is disposed on the second surface, and each of the second sensing series is respectively staggered with the first sensing series. The second protection electrode is disposed on the second surface and located on one side of the second sensing series, wherein the second protection electrode is electrically insulated from the second sensing series. The first flexible circuit board is disposed on the first surface, wherein the first flexible circuit board The first sensing series and the first protection electrode are electrically connected. The second flexible circuit board is disposed on the second surface, wherein the second flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the second sensing series and the second strip electrode.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the first sensing series extends in the first direction, and the first sensing series is arranged in the second direction, and each of the second sensing series extends in the second direction, and The second sensing series are arranged in the first direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the extending direction of the first guard electrode is substantially parallel to the extending direction of each of the first sensing series, and the extending direction of the second strip protecting electrode is substantially parallel to each of the second sensing The direction in which the series extends.

In an embodiment of the invention, the extending direction of the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board is substantially perpendicular to each of the first sensing series, and the extending direction of the second strip-shaped flexible circuit board is substantially perpendicular to the second sense Measure the series.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board covers a portion of the first guard electrode and a portion of each of the first sensing series, and the second strip-shaped flexible circuit board covers a portion of the second strip-shaped guard electrode and Part of each of the second sensing series.

Based on the above, the present invention can achieve the effect of electrically insulating the insulating layer by forming the second sensing series and the first sensing series on opposite surfaces of the substrate, respectively. In this way, the phenomenon that the second sensing series and the first sensing series are short-circuited due to the insulation layer not directly insulating the second sensing series from the first sensing series can be avoided, thereby further touching The control panel has a good yield.

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

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the touch panel 100 of the present embodiment includes a substrate 110 , a plurality of first sensing series 120 electrically insulated from each other, a first protection electrode 130 , and a plurality of second sensing strings electrically insulated from each other. The column 140, the second guard electrode 150, the first strip flexible circuit board 160, and the second strip flexible circuit board 170, wherein each of the second sensing series 140 is interleaved with the first sensing series 120, respectively. The material of the substrate 110 is, for example, a transparent material, and the transparent material may be glass, quartz, an organic polymer or other suitable material. Here, the transparent material generally refers to a material having a high transmittance. The transparent material used in the present application is not intended to limit the material having a transmittance of 100%.

Further, the substrate 110 has opposite first and second surfaces S1 and S2, and the foregoing components (including the first sensing series 120, the first protection electrode 130, the second sensing series 140, and the second protection) The electrode 150, the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board 160, and the second strip-shaped flexible circuit board 170) are disposed on the first surface S1 or the second surface S2, respectively. The arrangement of each of the foregoing elements will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

2A and 2B are top plan views of the touch panel 100 of FIG. 1 viewed from a first surface S1 and a second surface S2, respectively. Referring to FIG. 2A , the first sensing series 120 , the first protection electrode 130 , and the first strip flexible circuit board 160 are respectively disposed on the first surface S1 . First protection The pole 130 is located at one side of the first sensing series 120, and the first protection electrode 130 is electrically insulated from the first sensing series 120.

The material of the first sensing series 120 is preferably a transparent conductive material. The transparent conductive material is, for example, a metal oxide such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium antimony zinc oxide, or other suitable oxide, or at least two of the above Stack layers. In addition, the shape of the first sensing series 120 of the present embodiment is illustrated by a strip, but the application is not limited thereto. Further, the first sensing series 120 extends, for example, in the first direction X and in a second direction Y that is perpendicular to the second direction Y.

The first protection electrode 130 is adapted to shield the interference of the external electric field, and the material is preferably made of a metal material with good conductivity. The metal material is, for example, a metal such as aluminum or copper or a metal laminate as described above. In addition, the first protective electrode 130 of the present embodiment has a strip shape, for example, and is disposed adjacent to the first side edge SA of the substrate 110. In this embodiment, the extending direction of the first guard electrode 130 is, for example, substantially parallel to the extending direction of each of the first sensing series 120 (ie, the first direction X).

The first flexible circuit board 160 is electrically connected to the first sensing series 120 and the first protection electrode 130. In the embodiment, the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board 160 covers, for example, a portion of the first guard electrode 130 and a portion of each of the first sensing series 120. In addition, the extending direction of the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board 160 is, for example, substantially perpendicular to each of the first sensing series 120, that is, the extending direction of the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board 160 is parallel to the second direction Y.

In this embodiment, the method for forming the foregoing first sensing series 120, the first protection electrode 130, and the first strip flexible circuit board 160 includes, for example, The following steps. First, the first surface S1 is covered with the material of the first sensing series 120. Next, the material of the first sensing series 120 is patterned to form a plurality of first sensing series 120 separated from each other. The first sensing series 120 may be formed by a laser ablation process, an etching paste process, or a Photolithography and Etching Process (PEP) process. In the present embodiment, the first sensing series 120 is formed, for example, by a laser ablation process. In this way, the problem of environmental pollution caused by the use of chemical agents can be avoided, and a relatively simple process and a high process yield can be obtained.

It should be noted that the shape of the first sensing series 120 in FIG. 2A is illustrated by a strip shape, but the present application does not limit the shape of the first sensing series 120 or the first sensing series 120. quantity.

Next, a first protective electrode 130 is formed on one side of the first sensing series 120 (eg, adjacent to the first side SA of the substrate 110). Finally, the first strip flexible circuit board 160 is joined to a portion of the first guard electrode 130 and a portion of each of the first sensing series 120 to make the first strip flexible circuit board 160 and the first guard electrode 130 and each first The sensing series 120 is electrically connected.

Referring to FIG. 2B , the second sensing series 140 , the second protection electrode 150 , and the second strip flexible circuit board 170 are disposed on the second surface S2 . The second protection electrode 150 is located at one side of the second sensing series 140, and the second protection electrode 150 is electrically insulated from the second sensing series 140.

The material of the second sensing series 140 is preferably a transparent conductive material. Transparent The conductive material is, for example, a metal oxide such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium antimony zinc oxide, or other suitable oxide, or a stack of at least two of the foregoing. Floor. In addition, the shape of the second sensing series 140 of the present embodiment is illustrated by a strip, but the application is not limited thereto. Further, the second sensing series 140 extends, for example, in the second direction Y and is arranged along the first direction X.

The second protection electrode 150 is adapted to shield the interference of the external electric field, and the material thereof is preferably a metal material with good conductivity. The metal material is, for example, a metal such as aluminum or copper or a metal laminate as described above. In addition, the shape of the second protection electrode 150 of the present embodiment is, for example, a strip shape, and is adjacent to the second side SB disposed on the substrate 110, wherein the second side SB is connected to the first side edge SA. In this embodiment, the extending direction of the second guard electrode 150 is, for example, substantially parallel to the extending direction of each of the second sensing series 140 (ie, the second direction Y).

The second flexible circuit board 170 is electrically connected to the second sensing series 140 and the second protection electrode 150. In this embodiment, the second strip-shaped flexible circuit board 170 is, for example, a portion of the second guard electrode 150 and a portion of each of the second sensing series 140. In addition, the extending direction of the second strip-shaped flexible circuit board 170 is, for example, substantially perpendicular to each of the second sensing series 140, that is, the extending direction of the second strip-shaped flexible circuit board 170 is parallel to the first direction X.

In this embodiment, the method of forming the second sensing series 140, the second protection electrode 150, and the second strip flexible circuit board 170 may be to form the first sensing series 120 and the first protection electrode 130 as described above. And the method of the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board 160, which will not be described herein.

Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the first protection electrode 130 of this embodiment. The second protective electrode 150 is disposed adjacent to both sides of the substrate 110 (ie, the first side SA and the second side SB). Further, the length L130 of the first guard electrode 130 is, for example, smaller than the length L1 of the first side SA, and the length L150 of the second guard electrode 150 is, for example, smaller than the length L2 of the second side SB. Thus, when the first guard electrode 130 and the second guard electrode 150 are formed, the amount of material required for the length L1 of the first side SA of the substrate 110 can be matched by the amount of the material of the first guard electrode 130. And the amount of the material of the second guard electrode 150 is matched with the amount of the material of the length L2 of the second side SB of the substrate 110 to reduce the amount of material used by the first guard electrode 130 and the second guard electrode 150. In turn, process costs are saved.

In this embodiment, by forming the second sensing series 140 and the first sensing series 120 on opposite surfaces of the substrate 110 (referring to the first surface S1 and the second surface S2), the insulating layer may be omitted. To achieve the effect of electrical insulation. In this way, the second sensing series 140 and the first sensing series 120 are short-circuited by the insulating layer 100 because the insulating layer does not smoothly insulate the second sensing series 140 from the first sensing series 120. The phenomenon, in turn, makes the touch panel 100 have a good yield.

It should be noted that the foregoing embodiment is exemplified by the strip-shaped first sensing series 120 and the strip-shaped second sensing series 140, but the application is not limited thereto. 3 is a top plan view of a first surface of a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3 , the touch panel 200 of the present embodiment has similar components and structures to the touch panel 100 of FIG. 1 . The main difference between the two is that the first sensing series 220 of the touch panel 200 includes a plurality of first pads 220a and two adjacent first pads 220a. The plurality of first connecting portions 220b, and the second sensing series 240 includes a plurality of second pads 240a and a plurality of second connecting portions 240b connecting the adjacent two second pads 240a. Further, each of the first connecting portions 220b is interlaced with each of the second connecting portions 240b. In addition, the first strip flexible circuit board 160 and the second strip flexible circuit board 170 respectively pass through the first sensing series 220 and the first connecting portion 220b of each of the second sensing series 240 and a second connection. The portion 240b is electrically connected to the first sensing series 220 and each of the second sensing series 240.

In this embodiment, the touch panel 200 can also be disposed adjacent to the two sides of the substrate 110 by using the first protection electrode 130 and the second protection electrode 150 respectively (ie, the first side SA and the diagram shown in FIG. 2A). The second side SB) shown in FIG. 2B is such that the length of the first guard electrode 130 matches the length of the first side edge SA, and the length of the second guard electrode 150 matches the length L2 of the second side SB. As such, when the first guard electrode 130 and the second guard electrode 150 are formed, the amount of material required to match the amount of the material of the first guard electrode 130 to the length of the first side SA of the substrate 110 can be used. The amount of the material of the second guard electrode 150 is matched with the amount of the material of the length of the second side SB of the substrate 110 to reduce the amount of material used by the first guard electrode 130 and the second guard electrode 150, thereby saving Process cost.

In addition, by forming the second sensing series 240 and the first sensing series 220 on opposite surfaces of the substrate 110 (referring to the first surface S1 and the second surface S2), the insulating layer can be omitted to achieve electrical properties. The effect of insulation. In this way, the touch panel 200 can be prevented from being short-circuited by the insulation layer not insulating the second sensing series 240 from the first sensing series 220, thereby making the touch panel 200 have a good yield.

In summary, the present invention can provide the second sensing series and the first sensing The series are respectively formed on opposite surfaces (refer to the first surface and the second surface) of the substrate to achieve an electrical insulation effect. Therefore, it is not necessary to form an insulating layer between the second sensing series and the first sensing series. In this way, the phenomenon that the touch panel is short-circuited between the second sensing series and the first sensing series due to the insulation layer not smoothly insulating the second sensing series from the insulating layer can be avoided. Therefore, the touch panel can have a good yield.

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

100,200‧‧‧ touch panel

110‧‧‧Substrate

120, 220‧‧‧ first sensing series

130‧‧‧First protective electrode

140, 240‧‧‧Second sensing series

150‧‧‧Second protective electrode

160‧‧‧First strip of flexible circuit board

170‧‧‧Second strip flexible circuit board

220a‧‧‧first mat

220b‧‧‧First connection

240a‧‧‧second mat

240b‧‧‧Second connection

S1‧‧‧ first surface

S2‧‧‧ second surface

SA‧‧‧ first side

SB‧‧‧ second side

L1, L2, L130, L150‧‧‧ length

X‧‧‧ first direction

Y‧‧‧second direction

1 is a top plan view of a first surface of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

2A and 2B are schematic top views of the touch panel of FIG. 1 viewed under the first surface and the second surface, respectively.

3 is a top plan view of a first surface of a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

100‧‧‧ touch panel

110‧‧‧Substrate

120‧‧‧First sensing series

130‧‧‧First protective electrode

140‧‧‧Second sensing series

150‧‧‧Second protective electrode

160‧‧‧First strip of flexible circuit board

170‧‧‧Second strip flexible circuit board

S1‧‧‧ first surface

S2‧‧‧ second surface

Claims (6)

A touch panel includes: a substrate having an opposite first surface and a second surface; a plurality of first sensing series electrically insulated from each other, disposed on the first surface; a first protective electrode And being disposed on the first surface, wherein the first protection electrode is electrically insulated from the first sensing series and located on one side of the first sensing series; and the plurality of electrically insulated ones a second sensing array is disposed on the second surface, and each of the second sensing series is respectively interlaced with the first sensing series; a second protection electrode is disposed on the second surface, wherein the second sensing electrode is disposed on the second surface The second protection electrode is electrically insulated from the second sensing series and located on one side of the second sensing series; a first strip-shaped flexible circuit board is disposed on the first surface, wherein the The first flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the first sensing series and the first protection electrode; and a second flexible circuit board is disposed on the second surface, wherein the second flexible circuit board is The second sensing series and the second protection electrode are electrically connected. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the first sensing series extends along a first direction, and the first sensing series are arranged along a second direction, and each of the first The second sensing series extends along the second direction, and the second sensing series are arranged along the first direction. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the One direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the extending direction of the first protection electrode is substantially parallel to the extending direction of each of the first sensing series, and the extending direction of the second protection electrode is substantially Parallel to the extending direction of each of the second sensing series. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the extending direction of the first flexible circuit board is substantially perpendicular to each of the first sensing series, and the extension of the second flexible circuit board The direction is substantially perpendicular to each of the second sensing series. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first strip-shaped flexible circuit board covers a portion of the first guard electrode and a portion of each of the first sensing series, and the second strip-shaped flexible circuit The board covers a portion of the second guard electrode and a portion of each of the second sense trains.