TWI509491B - Touch panel - Google Patents

Description

Touch panel

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

In recent years, with the rapid development and application of information technology, wireless mobile communication and information appliances, many information products have been input devices such as traditional keyboards or mice for the purpose of being more convenient, lighter and more humanized. It was changed to use a touch panel as an input device. The touch panel can be roughly divided into a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, an optical touch panel, an acoustic wave touch panel, and an electromagnetic touch panel according to different sensing forms. Since capacitive touch panels have advantages such as fast response time, good reliability, and high definition compared with other types of touch panels, they are widely used in various types of handheld electronic devices.

The capacitive touch panel constitutes a sensing array by a plurality of electrode lines (for example, driving lines and sensing lines) interlaced to each other to achieve surface sensing. When the user touches the touch panel with a finger, the touch panel determines the position of the finger contact according to the change in capacitance on the sensing array. However, known capacitive touch panels intersect at the electrode lines It is easy to generate parasitic capacitance, which is not conducive to the calculation of the touch position, resulting in poor sensing sensitivity. Therefore, in order to reduce the influence of parasitic capacitance, known designs usually choose to increase the distance between the electrode lines at the intersection, for example, increase the thickness of the insulating material between the electrode lines, thereby causing a burden on the manufacturing cost and increasing the touch. The thickness of the control panel. In contrast, if the parasitic capacitance is reduced by reducing the line width of the electrode lines at the intersection, it is easy to break the line at the turning point of the line width change, which affects the process yield and reliability of the touch panel.

The present application provides a touch panel with good process yield and reliability.

The touch panel proposed in the present application includes a first substrate, a plurality of first electrode lines, and a plurality of second electrode lines. The first electrode lines are juxtaposed on the first substrate and extend in a first direction. Each of the first electrode lines includes a plurality of electrode pads and a plurality of first connection segments, and any two adjacent electrode pads are connected through one of the corresponding first connection segments, and the width of the electrode pads is greater than the width of the first connection segments, wherein Each of the first connecting segments has an end portion for connecting the electrode pads and an intermediate portion between the two end portions, and the width of each of the first connecting portions is tapered from the both end portions toward the intermediate portion, and the neck portion is formed. And the corners of the joints of the two end portions of each of the first connecting segments and the corresponding electrode pads are smooth curved surfaces. The second electrode lines are juxtaposed on the first substrate and extend in a second direction, respectively, and the second direction intersects the first direction. The second electrode line is electrically insulated from the first electrode line, and the vertical projection of each of the second electrode lines on the first substrate and the first electrode line The vertical projections of the respective first connecting segments on the first substrate intersect to form an overlapping region, respectively.

Based on the above, since the width of each of the first connecting segments of each of the first electrode wires is decreased from the both end portions of the connecting electrode pad toward the intermediate portion between the both end portions, and the neck portions are formed, and The junction between the end and the corresponding electrode pad has a corner that exhibits a smooth curved surface, which avoids stress concentration at the joint, thereby reducing the probability of the first connecting segment breaking from its junction with the corresponding electrode pad. Accordingly, the first electrode line of the touch panel of the present application is not easily broken at the connection between the first connecting segment and the corresponding electrode pad during fabrication or use, and has good process yield and reliability.

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

100‧‧‧ touch panel

102‧‧‧First substrate

104‧‧‧Second substrate

106‧‧‧Protective layer

110‧‧‧First electrode line

112‧‧‧electrode pads

114‧‧‧First connection segment

114a‧‧‧ Both ends

114b‧‧‧Intermediate

120‧‧‧Second electrode line

122‧‧‧Second connection

130‧‧‧Insulation

C‧‧‧ Connection

D1‧‧‧ first direction

D2‧‧‧ second direction

L1, L2‧‧‧ length

R1‧‧‧ overlapping area

R1, r2‧‧‧ radius of curvature

S1‧‧‧ first surface

S2‧‧‧ second surface

W1, W2‧‧‧ width

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the first electrode line and the second electrode line of FIG. 1. FIG.

3A is a partial enlarged view of the first connecting section of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a partial enlarged view of a first connecting section according to another embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 3C is a partial enlarged view of a first connecting section according to another embodiment of the present application.

4 is a partial enlarged view of a first electrode line and a second electrode line according to another embodiment of the present application.

5A to 5C are cross-sections of the touch panel of the present application in different embodiments. Figure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present application. In order to make the drawings clearer, FIG. 1 omits the layers or components that may exist in portions of the touch panel. Referring to FIG. 1 , in the embodiment, the touch panel 100 includes a first substrate 102 , a plurality of first electrode lines 110 , and a plurality of second electrode lines 120 . The first electrode lines 110 are arranged side by side on the first substrate 102 and extend in the first direction D1, respectively. Each of the first electrode lines 110 includes a plurality of electrode pads 112 and a plurality of first connection segments 114. Any two adjacent electrode pads 112 are connected through one of the corresponding first connecting segments 114.

Further, the second electrode lines 120 are juxtaposed on the first substrate 102 and extend in the second direction D2, respectively, and the second direction D2 intersects the first direction D1. The second electrode line 120 is electrically insulated from the first electrode line 110, and the second electrode line 120 extending in the second direction D2 intersects the first electrode line 110 extending along the first direction D1 to be on the first substrate 102. A sensing array is formed. The first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 in this embodiment are, for example, a combination of a driving line and a sensing line, and the material may be Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (Indium Tin Oxide, A transparent conductive material such as IZO), but the type and material of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 are not limited in the present application.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the first electrode line and the second electrode line of FIG. 1. FIG. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , in the embodiment, since the second electrode line 120 intersects the first electrode line 110 , the vertical direction of each second electrode line 120 on the first substrate 102 is The projection intersects the vertical projection of the respective first connecting segments 114 of the respective first electrode lines 110 on the first substrate 102 to form overlapping regions R1, respectively. If the overlapping region R1 between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 is reduced, the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 can be effectively reduced.

In the present embodiment, the length of the overlap region R1 in the second direction D2 is first reduced by reducing the width of the first connection segment 114 of each of the first electrode lines 110. Referring to FIG. 2 , the width W1 of the electrode pad 112 of each of the first electrode lines 110 of the embodiment is greater than the width W2 of the first connection segment 114 . Here, the width W1 of the electrode pad 112 refers to the length of the electrode pad 112 in the second direction D2, and the width W2 of the first connection segment 114 refers to the length of the first connection segment 114 in the second direction D2. At this time, since the width W2 of the first connecting portion 114 becomes smaller, the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 becomes smaller, thereby reducing the area of the overlapping region R1 to lower the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode. The parasitic capacitance generated by line 120 at the intersection.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, each of the first connecting sections 114 has both end portions 114a for connecting the electrode pads 112 and an intermediate portion 114b positioned between the both end portions 114a. The width W2 of each of the first connecting sections 114 is tapered by the both end portions 114a toward the intermediate portion 114b. In other words, each of the first connecting sections 114 has a maximum width at both end portions 114a and a minimum width at the intermediate portion 114b. The width W2 of the first connecting segment 114 refers to the maximum width of each of the first connecting segments 114 at the two end portions 114a, and the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 means that the first connecting segments 114 are The minimum width produced by the intermediate portion 114b. Therefore, when the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 is reduced in order to reduce the area of the overlapping area R1, Actually, the length L1 of the overlap region R1 in the second direction D2 will be smaller than the width W2.

3A is a partial enlarged view of the first connecting section of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A simultaneously, in the embodiment, the corners of the joint C of the first connecting portion 114 of each of the first connecting segments 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 are smooth curved surfaces, and the first connecting segments 114 are Both sides of the intermediate portion 114b are flat. Since the width W2 of each of the first connecting sections 114 is tapered by the both end portions 114a toward the intermediate portion 114b, and the corner of the joint C of the both end portions 114a and the corresponding electrode pads 112 is a smooth curved surface, While reducing the width W2 of the first connecting section 114, the probability that the first connecting section 114 is broken from its junction C with the corresponding electrode pad 112 is reduced. The smooth curved surface of the corner of the joint C described above is, for example, a circular curved surface having a radius of curvature r1, but the first connecting portion 114 is not limited to the above-described shape.

FIG. 3B is a partial enlarged view of a first connecting section according to another embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 3B, in the embodiment, the corners of the joint C of the first connecting portions 114a of the first connecting segments 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 are smooth curved surfaces. Further, a corner of the joint C of the first connecting portion 114 and the corresponding electrode pad 112 and a side surface of the intermediate portion 114b form a circular curved surface having a radius of curvature r2. Since each of the first connecting segments 114 is neck-shaped, and the corners of the joint C and the two sides of the intermediate portion 114b form a circular arc surface, the first connecting portion 114 can be reduced while reducing the width W2 of the first connecting portion 114. The probability of breaking from its junction C with the corresponding electrode pad 112.

FIG. 3C is a partial enlarged view of a first connecting section according to another embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 3C, in the embodiment, both end portions 114a of the first connecting segments 114 are provided. The corner of the joint C with the corresponding electrode pad 112 is a smooth curved surface. Further, each intermediate portion 114b is located in the corresponding overlapping region R1, and opposite sides of each intermediate portion 114b are flat. A corner of the joint C of each of the first connecting sections 114 and the corresponding electrode pad 112 forms a circular curved surface having a radius of curvature r3, and a circular curved surface having a radius of curvature r3 extends into the overlapping area R1 and is connected The opposite sides of each intermediate portion 114b. Since each of the first connecting sections 114 is neck-shaped, and the corner of the joint C forms a circular arc surface and extends into the overlapping area R1, the first connecting section 114 can be reduced while reducing the width W2 of the first connecting section 114. The probability of breaking from its junction C with the corresponding electrode pad 112. In addition to the three embodiments described above, the first connecting section 114 can be other shapes. For example, in other embodiments, the two sides of each of the first connecting segments 114 and the corners of the joint C may form an elliptical curved surface or a parabolic curved surface, and the shape of the first connecting portion 114 is not limited herein.

Referring to FIG. 2, in addition to reducing the area of the overlap region R1 by reducing the width W2 of the first connection segment 114, the present embodiment can simultaneously consider the length L1 and the overlap region of the overlap region R1 in the second direction D2. The relationship of the length L2 of R1 in the first direction D1. In the present embodiment, the length L1 of the overlap region R1 in the second direction D2 is less than or equal to the length L2 of the overlap region R1 in the first direction D1. Here, the length L1 of the overlap region R1 in the second direction D2 refers to the minimum width of the first connection segment 114 generated at the intermediate portion 114b, and the length L2 of the overlap region R1 in the first direction D1 refers to the second electrode line. The width of 120. The width of the second electrode line 120 refers to the length of the second electrode line 120 in the first direction D1. Since the second electrode line 120 of the embodiment is a strip electrode line, the second electrode line 120 is in the first side. The length on the D1 is the length L2 of the overlap region R1 in the first direction D1. In other words, the overlapping region R1 formed by the first connecting segment 114 of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 on the first substrate 102 has a length L1 along the second direction D2 (the minimum width of the first connecting segment 114) And a length L2 along the first direction D1 (the width of the second electrode line 120), and the length L1 is less than or equal to the length L2.

In addition, referring to FIG. 1 , in the embodiment, the touch panel 100 further includes a plurality of second connecting segments 122 for connecting the second electrode lines 120 to transmit signals. The second connecting segment 122 is adjacent to the edge of the first substrate 102, and each two adjacent second electrode wires 120 are connected by a corresponding second connecting segment 122. However, in other embodiments, every three or more adjacent second electrode lines 120 may be connected by respective second connection segments 122. Accordingly, the present embodiment can make two, three or more second electrode lines 120 corresponding to a single sensing area (not shown), which helps to reduce the width of the individual second electrode lines 120. Of course, in other embodiments, each of the second electrode lines 120 may also be separately connected to the second connection segment 122.

Based on the above, the present embodiment reduces the parasitic capacitance between the two by reducing the overlapping area R1 of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 to provide good sensing sensitivity, and at the same time, by presenting the necking The first connecting section 114 has a smooth curve at the corner of its junction with the corresponding electrode pad 112 to avoid stress concentration, reducing the breakage of the first connecting section 114 from its junction C with the corresponding electrode pad 112. Probability. In other words, the first electrode line 110 of the touch panel 100 of the present embodiment is not easily broken from the junction C of the first connection segment 114 and the corresponding electrode pad 112 during fabrication or use.

4 is a partial enlarged view of a first electrode line and a second electrode line according to another embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, any two adjacent electrode pads 112 of each first electrode line 110 are connected through one of the corresponding first connection segments 114, but in the embodiment of FIG. The two adjacent electrode pads 112 of each of the first electrode lines 110 may be connected through the corresponding two first connection segments 114. The vertical projection of each second electrode line 120 on the first substrate 102 intersects with the vertical projection of the corresponding first connection segment 114 of the first electrode line 110 on the first substrate 102 and forms an overlap region R1, respectively. The second electrode line 120 has two overlapping regions R1 between each of the first electrode lines 110. However, in other embodiments, any two adjacent electrode pads 112 of the first electrode line 110 may be connected through more first connecting segments 114, which is not limited thereto.

5A-5C are cross-sectional views of a touch panel of the present application in various embodiments. The aforementioned design principles can be applied to various touch panels. The following is a description of the possible cross-sectional structures of several touch panels 100 illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C .

First, please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5A. FIG. 5A illustrates a possible cross-sectional structure of the touch panel 100 along the line A-A' of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the touch panel 100 further includes a second substrate 104. The second substrate 104 is disposed on the first substrate 102, and the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 are respectively disposed on the second substrate. The opposite sides of 104. More specifically, the first electrode line 110 is on the first substrate 102 and the second electrode line 120 is on the second substrate 104. The second substrate 104 is disposed on the first substrate 102 and covers the first electrode line 110. In addition, the second substrate 104 is further A protective layer 106 may be covered to protect the second electrode line 120. In the fabrication, the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 may be formed on the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104, respectively, and the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104 may be bonded to each other. The protective layer 106 is coated on the second substrate 104. The first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104 are, for example, light transmissive substrates such as glass or PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and can be mutually etched by optically clear adhesive (OCA). The bonding, but the present invention does not limit the materials and bonding manner of the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104.

Since the embodiment can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by reducing the overlapping area R1 of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 as described above, without changing the capability of the touch wafer, The distance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 may be appropriately reduced, that is, the thickness of the second substrate 104 may be thinned. In this way, the amount of the second substrate 104 can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be saved, and the touch panel 100 as a whole can have a small thickness and a good light transmittance.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5B. FIG. 5B illustrates another possible cross-sectional structure of the touch panel 100 along the line A-A' of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the first substrate 102 has a first surface S1 and a second surface S2 opposite to the first surface S1, wherein the first electrode line 110 is located on the first surface S1, and the second electrode line 120 is located at the first surface Two surfaces on S2. In the fabrication, for example, the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 are formed on the first surface S1 and the second surface S2 of the first substrate 102 by using the first substrate 102 as a substrate. The first substrate 102 is, for example, a light-transmitting group such as glass or PET. However, the present invention does not limit the materials of the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104.

Similarly, since the embodiment can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by reducing the overlapping area R1 of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 as described above, without changing the capability of the touch wafer. In the case, the distance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 can be appropriately reduced, that is, the thickness of the first substrate 102 is lowered. In this way, the amount of the first substrate 102 can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be saved, and the touch panel 100 as a whole can have a small thickness and a good light transmittance.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5C. FIG. 5C illustrates still another possible cross-sectional structure of the touch panel 100 along the line B-B' of FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the first substrate 102 has a first surface S1, and the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 are located on the first surface S1 of the first substrate 102. Since the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 are electrically insulated from each other, one of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 needs to cross the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120. another. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the second electrode line 120 corresponds to a portion of the first connection segment 114 of the first electrode line 110 across the first electrode line 110 and is located above the first connection segment 114. To form the aforementioned overlap region R1. In addition, the touch panel 100 further includes an insulating material 130. The insulating material 130 is located on the first surface S1 and between the second electrode line 120 and the first connecting portion 114 of the corresponding first electrode line 110 to isolate the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120. The first substrate 102 is, for example, a light-transmitting substrate such as glass or PET, but the present invention does not limit the materials of the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104. Moreover, in other embodiments, the first connection segment 114 of the first electrode line 110 It is also possible to straddle the second electrode line 120 and be located above the second electrode line 120, and it is not necessary to limit the bridging manner of the two.

Similarly, since the embodiment can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by reducing the overlapping area R1 of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 as described above, without changing the capability of the touch wafer. In the case, the distance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 can be appropriately reduced, for example, the thickness of the insulating material 130 is lowered. In this way, the amount of the insulating material 130 can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be saved, and the touch panel 100 as a whole can have a small thickness and a good light transmittance.

Although the foregoing embodiments illustrate several possible configurations of the touch panel 100 of the present application, it is not intended to limit the application. For example, the shapes and layouts of the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 are not limited to the contents of the foregoing embodiments.

In summary, the touch panel of the present application can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the two by reducing the overlapping area between the first electrode line and the second electrode line, and further reduce the distance between the two. In this way, the amount of materials can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be saved, and the touch panel as a whole can have a small thickness and a good light transmittance. At the same time, since the width of each of the first connecting segments of each of the first electrode lines is decreased by the end portions of the connecting electrode pads toward the intermediate portion between the both end portions, the neck portions are formed, and both ends of the first connecting portions are formed. The connection between the portion and the corresponding electrode pad has a corner that exhibits a smooth curved surface, which can avoid stress concentration at the joint, thereby reducing the probability of the first connecting portion breaking from the joint with the corresponding electrode pad. Accordingly, the first electrode line of the touch panel of the present application is not easy to be formed and used from the first connection segment and phase. The connection of the electrode pads should be broken to ensure process yield and reliability.

Although the present application has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application, and those skilled in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. The scope of protection of this application is subject to the definition of the scope of the appended claims.

110‧‧‧First electrode line

112‧‧‧electrode pads

114‧‧‧First connection segment

114a‧‧‧ Both ends

114b‧‧‧Intermediate

120‧‧‧Second electrode line

D1‧‧‧ first direction

D2‧‧‧ second direction

L1, L2‧‧‧ length

R1‧‧‧ overlapping area

W1, W2‧‧‧ width

Claims (9)

A touch panel includes: a first substrate; a plurality of first electrode lines juxtaposed on the first substrate, and respectively extending along a first direction, each of the first electrode lines comprising a plurality of electrode pads and a plurality of first connecting segments, wherein the two adjacent electrode pads are connected through one of the corresponding first connecting segments, wherein each of the first connecting segments has a connecting end portion and a bit for connecting the electrode pads In an intermediate portion between the two end portions, the width of each of the first connecting portions is tapered by the two end portions toward the intermediate portion, and the two end portions of each of the first connecting portions are Corresponding corners of the electrode pads are smooth curved surfaces, and the smooth curved surface is a circular curved surface; and a plurality of second electrode lines are arranged side by side on the first substrate and respectively extend along a second direction. The second direction intersects the first direction, the second electrode lines are electrically insulated from the first electrode lines, and vertical projections of the second electrode lines on the first substrate and the first Corresponding of the first connecting segments of the electrode lines on the first substrate Projected intersect to form an overlap region, respectively, each of the first electrode lines and the electrode pads in the second direction and a uniform width greater than the width of the first connection section in the second direction. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the length of the overlapping area in the second direction is less than or equal to the length of the overlapping area in the first direction. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a second base The material is disposed on the first substrate, and the first electrode lines and the second electrode lines are respectively located on opposite sides of the second substrate. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the first electrode lines are located on the first surface And the second electrode lines are located on the second surface. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising an insulating material, wherein the first electrode lines and the second electrode lines are located on a first surface of the first substrate, and the insulating material Located on the first surface and between the second electrode lines and the first connecting segments of the corresponding first electrode lines. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the corners of the connecting portions of the first connecting segments and the corresponding electrode pads and the two sides of the intermediate portion form a curved surface. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein each of the intermediate portions is located in the corresponding overlapping region, and opposite sides of each of the intermediate portions are planar, and the two ends of the first connecting portion are respectively The corners at the junctions with the corresponding electrode pads form a circular arc surface, and the arcuate curved surface extends into the overlapping region and connects the opposite sides of each of the intermediate portions. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein any two adjacent ones of the first electrode lines are connected through the corresponding two first connecting segments. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second connecting segments adjacent to an edge of the first substrate, each of the two or more adjacent second electrode lines being corresponding to the first The two connection segments are connected.