TWI631497B - Touch sensing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch sensing structure includes a plurality of first electrode strings, a plurality of second electrode strings, and a plurality of insulating layers. The second electrode string is interleaved with the first electrode string. The first electrode string includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of first connecting portions electrically connected to the first electrodes. The first connecting portion has a pair of first side edges on the surface and a first width. The distance between the first sides on the surface is equal to the first width. These insulating layers overlap these first connecting portions, respectively. Each of the insulating layers protrudes from the first side edges of the corresponding first connecting portion and has a pair of outer edges respectively adjacent to the first side edges. These outer edges are coplanar with the first sides. The distance between the adjacent outer edge and the first side is between 10 microns and 30 microns.

Description

Touch sensing structure

The present invention relates to a touch device, and more particularly to a touch sensing structure.

The touch screen is a common display and output/output (I/O) component of many electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet computers, and the touch screen usually includes a display. A touch sensing substrate mounted on the display. The touch sensing substrate has a sensing line including a plurality of sensing electrodes. When an object, such as a finger or a stylus, touches the touch screen to operate the electronic device, the sensing electrodes can sense the position where the object touches the touch screen.

The sensing line of the touch sensing substrate is generally not suitable for having a high impedance, otherwise a non-negligible signal delay may occur, and the signal delay may cause the touch sensing substrate to be undetectable. The object touches the touch screen or does not correctly sense the position where the object touches the touch screen, which may cause the touch screen to operate abnormally or malfunction.

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a touch sensing structure that includes an electrode string having a lower impedance.

A touch sensing structure according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of juxtaposed first electrode strings, a plurality of juxtaposed second electrode strings, and a plurality of insulating layers. One of the first electrode strings includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of first connections. The first electrodes are aligned with the first connecting portions along the first direction. One of the first connecting portions is electrically connected to the adjacent two first electrodes and has a pair of first side edges opposite to each other and a first width, wherein the first side edges are located on a surface and along the first The direction extends and the first width is equal to the distance of the distance between the first sides on the surface. The insulating layers respectively overlap the first connecting portions, wherein the respective insulating layers protrude from the first side edges of the corresponding first connecting portions and have a pair of outer edges respectively adjacent to the corresponding first side edges. The outer edges are substantially coplanar with the first sides and are both located on the surface, and the distance between the outer edges adjacent to each other and the first side is between 10 microns and 30 microns and less than a width. The second electrode strings are located on the insulating layers, wherein each of the second electrode strings extends along the second direction and is interleaved with the first electrode strings, and the second direction is different from the first direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, one of the second electrode strings includes a plurality of second electrodes and a plurality of second connections. The second electrodes are aligned with the second connecting portions in the second direction. One of the second connecting portions is electrically connected to the adjacent two second electrodes, wherein the second connecting portions are respectively located on the insulating layers.

In an embodiment of the invention, one of the second connecting portions protrudes from the outer edges of the corresponding insulating layer and has a plurality of second sides that are interlaced with the outer edges. Each of the second sides forms an angle with its adjacent outer edge that is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

In an embodiment of the invention, the materials of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portions are transparent conductive materials.

In an embodiment of the invention, one of the first electrodes has a first indented edge and one of the second electrodes has a second indented edge.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first electrodes are coplanar with the second electrodes.

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

In an embodiment of the invention, one of the first connecting portions has two end portions, and the adjacent two first electrodes respectively cover the two end portions of the same first connecting portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the touch sensing structure further includes a plurality of dummy electrodes. The dummy electrodes are disposed on both sides of each of the first electrode strings and on both sides of each of the second electrode strings, wherein the dummy electrodes do not contact the first electrode strings and the second electrode strings.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, since the distance between the outer edge of the insulating layer adjacent to each other and the first side of the first connecting portion is smaller than the first width of the first connecting portion, Under the condition that the layers protrude from the first sides of the corresponding first connecting portions, the first connecting portion may have a larger first width to help reduce the impedance of the first connecting portion, thereby weakening the signal delay. The resulting adverse effects reduce the chances of abnormal or malfunctioning touch screen operations.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <RTIgt;

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a touch sensing substrate according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1A , the touch sensing substrate 100 includes a substrate 110 and a touch sensing structure 200 . The touch sensing structure 200 includes a plurality of juxtaposed first electrode strings 210 and a plurality of juxtaposed second electrode strings 220, wherein the first electrode strings 210 and the second electrode strings 220 are disposed on the substrate 110, and the substrate 110 can be a transparent sheet such as a glass sheet or an acrylic sheet.

Each of the first electrode strings 210 and each of the second electrode strings 220 respectively extend in different directions. Taking FIG. 1A as an example, each of the first electrode strings 210 extends along the first direction D1, and each of the second electrode strings 220 extends along the second direction D2, wherein the first direction D1 is different from the second direction D2, for example, the first The direction D1 is substantially perpendicular to the second direction D2. The first electrode strings 210 are interleaved with the second electrode strings 220, but the first electrode strings 210 and the respective second electrode strings 220 are not in contact with each other, so the first electrode string 210 is not electrically connected to the second electrode string 220. . In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the first electrode strings 210 and the second electrode strings 220 which are staggered with each other may be arranged in a mesh shape.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged schematic view showing the touch sensing substrate of FIG. 1A at the intersection of the first electrode string and the second electrode string. Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , one of the first electrode strings 210 includes a plurality of first electrodes 211 and a plurality of first connecting portions 212 . The first electrodes 211 and the first connecting portions 212 are arranged along the first direction D1 and are alternately arranged. One of the first connecting portions 212 is electrically connected to the two adjacent first electrodes 211 so that all the first electrodes 211 in the same first electrode string 210 can be electrically connected to each other. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, one of the first connecting portions 212 has two end portions 212e, and the two adjacent first electrodes 211 respectively cover and contact the two of the same first connecting portion 212. End 212e. As such, the first connecting portion 212 can electrically connect the adjacent two first electrodes 211.

The structure of the second electrode string 220 may be similar to the structure of the first electrode string 210. Taking FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B as an example, one of the second electrode strings 220 includes a plurality of second electrodes 221 and a plurality of second connecting portions 222. The second electrodes 221 and the second connecting portions 222 are arranged along the second direction D2 and are alternately arranged. One of the second connecting portions 222 is electrically connected to the adjacent two second electrodes 221 so that all the second electrodes 221 in the same second electrode string 220 can be electrically connected to each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , both the first connecting portion 212 and the second connecting portion 222 are strip-shaped, wherein the first connecting portions 212 extend toward the first direction D1. These second connecting portions 222 all extend toward the second direction D2. One of the first connecting portions 212 has a pair of first side edges 212s that are opposite to each other and extend along the first direction D1, and one of the second connecting portions 222 has a pair opposite to each other and along the second direction The second side 222s of the D2 extension.

The material of the first electrode string 210 and the second electrode strings 220 may be transparent conductive materials, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO). For example, the materials of the first electrode 211 and the first connecting portion 212 of the first electrode string 210 may be transparent conductive materials, and the materials of the second electrode 221 and the second connecting portion 222 of the second electrode string 220 may also be All of them are transparent conductive materials, wherein in the same second electrode string 220, the second electrodes 221 and the second connecting portions 222 may be formed by etching the same layer of transparent conductive material, so the same second electrode string 220 The two electrodes 221 and the second connecting portion 222 may be integrally formed, that is, it is difficult to find a clear boundary between the second electrode 221 and the second connecting portion 222 by observation with an optical microscope or an electron microscope.

However, unlike the second electrode string 220, in the present embodiment, although the materials of both the first electrode 211 and the first connecting portion 212 are transparent conductive materials, the first electrode 211 of the same first electrode string 210 Both the first connection portion 212 and the first connection portion 212 are not formed at the same time, but are formed by etching twice in succession. That is, the first electrode 211 of the same first electrode string 210 is not integrally formed with the first connecting portion 212. Therefore, the interface formed at the junction of the first electrode 211 and the first connecting portion 212 can be clearly seen by observation with an optical microscope or an electron microscope.

One of these first electrodes 211 has a first indented edge 211e, and one of these second electrodes 221 has a second indented edge 221e, as shown in Figure 1A. When the touch sensing substrate 100 is applied to the touch screen, the first indented edge 211e of the first electrode 211 and the second indented edge 221e of the second electrode 221 can be suppressed due to optical interference. Bright lines or spots to improve the quality of the touch screen. In addition, the touch sensing structure 200 further includes a plurality of insulating layers 230. These insulating layers 230 are disposed on the substrate 110, and the second electrode strings 220 are located on the insulating layers 230.

1C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 1C-1C of FIG. 1B. Referring to FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, the substrate 110 has a surface 111, and the first electrode strings 210, the second electrode strings 220, and the insulating layers 230 are disposed on the surface 111, wherein the first electrodes 211 and the second portions The electrodes 221 all contact the surface and are coplanar. The insulating layers 230 respectively overlap the first connecting portions 212 of the first electrode strings 210 and cover the first connecting portions 212, and the second connecting portions 222 are respectively located on the insulating layers 230 and can respectively cover the insulating layers. 230, so each insulating layer 230 is located between a first connecting portion 212 and a second connecting portion 222, as shown in FIG. 1C.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, each of the insulating layers 230 respectively covers the opposite first side edges 212s of one of the first connecting portions 212, so that the respective insulating layers 230 protrude from the corresponding first connecting portions. These first side edges 212s of 212 protect the first connection portion 212 under the insulating layer 230. Each of the insulating layers 230 has a pair of outer edges 231, and the outer edges 231 of the insulating layers 230 and the first side edges 212s of the first connecting portions 212 are located on the surface 111 and contact the surface 111, so the outer edges 231 and These first side edges 212s are substantially coplanar.

Since the insulating layer 230 protrudes from the first side edges 212s of the corresponding first connecting portions 212, in the first insulating portion 230 and the first connecting portion 212 overlapping each other, the first sides of the first connecting portion 212 The sides 212s will be between the outer edges 231 of the insulating layer 230, and the outer edges 231 will be adjacent to and substantially coplanar with the corresponding first side 212s, respectively, wherein the outer edges 231 and the first side 212s adjacent to each other The distance G1 between the surfaces 111 is between 10 microns and 30 microns.

In addition, one of the first connecting portions 212 has a first width W1, and one of the second connecting portions 222 has a second width W21. The first width W1 is equal to the distance between the first side edges 212s on the surface 111, which may be between 10 microns and 30 microns. The second width W21 is equal to the distance between the second side edges 222s on the surface 111, which may be between 10 microns and 30 microns. As seen from FIG. 1B, the first width W1 substantially corresponds to the width of the first connecting portion 212 in the second direction D2, and the second width W21 substantially corresponds to the second connecting portion 222 in the first direction D1. Width, wherein the distance G1 is smaller than the first width W1.

Since the distance G1 is smaller than the first width W1 of the first connecting portion 212, there is no excessive gap between the first width W1 of the first connecting portion 212 and the width of the corresponding insulating layer 230. Therefore, under the condition that the respective insulating layers 230 protrude from the first side edges 212s of the corresponding first connecting portions 212, the first connecting portion 212 can be caused to have a larger first width W1, thereby increasing the first connecting portion. The cross-sectional area of 212. As such, it helps to reduce the impedance of the first connecting portion 212, thereby attenuating the adverse effects caused by the signal delay.

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the touch sensing substrate of FIG. 1B. Referring to FIG. 1B and FIG. 1D , each of the second connecting portions 222 not only covers the corresponding insulating layer 230 but also crosses the insulating layer 230 so that one of the second connecting portions 222 protrudes correspondingly. These outer edges 231 of the insulating layer 230, and the second side edges 222s of the same second connecting portion 222 are interlaced with the outer edges 231. Each of the second side edges 222s and its adjacent outer edge 231 of the insulating layer 230 form an angle A1 which is located outside of both the second connecting portion 222 and the insulating layer 230. The angle A1 is substantially equal to 90 degrees, so that the area occupied by the second connecting portion 222 on the inclined side surface 232 of the insulating layer 230 does not substantially shrink from the outer edge 231 toward the top surface 233 of the insulating layer 230, prompting the first The two connecting portions 222 can occupy a certain area on the inclined side surface 232, thereby helping to maintain or increase the adhesion of the second connecting portion 222 to the inclined side surface 232, reducing the probability of the second connecting portion 222 peeling off from the inclined side surface 232.

2 is a top plan view of a touch sensing substrate according to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 , the touch sensing substrate 300 of the present embodiment is similar to the touch sensing substrate 100 of the foregoing embodiment. The difference between the touch sensing substrates 300 and 100 will be mainly described below, and the same technical features will not be repeatedly described.

Different from the touch sensing substrate 100 described above, the touch sensing substrate 300 shown in FIG. 2 further includes a plurality of dummy electrodes 341, 342 and 343. The dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343 are disposed on both sides of each of the first electrode strings 210 and on both sides of each of the second electrode strings 220. The constituent materials of the dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343 may be the same as the first electrode string 210. The material of the second electrode string 220, that is, the dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343 may be transparent conductive materials.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode string 210 and the second electrode string 220 staggered with each other are arranged in a mesh shape such that two adjacent first electrode strings 210 and two adjacent second electrode strings 220 Each of the dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343 is disposed in one of the mesh regions around a lattice area (not shown in FIG. 2). The dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343 do not contact the first electrode strings 210 and the second electrode strings 220, and may be grounded to form a protection circuit for protecting the first electrode string 210 and the second electrode string 220 from electrostatic damage. .

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , the touch sensing substrate 300 includes a plurality of dummy electrodes 341 , 342 , and 343 having different shapes. However, in other embodiments, the touch sensing substrate 300 may include a plurality of dummy electrodes of a single shape. For example, the dummy electrode 341. Therefore, the dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343 shown in FIG. 2 are for illustrative purposes only, and do not limit the shape of the dummy electrodes included in the touch sensing substrate 300.

3 is a top plan view of a touch sensing substrate according to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3 , the touch sensing substrate 400 of the present embodiment is similar to the touch sensing substrate 100 of the foregoing embodiment. The difference between the touch sensing substrates 400 and 100 will be mainly described below, and the same technical features will not be repeatedly described.

In the touch-sensing substrate 400 shown in FIG. 3 , the second electrode string 420 includes a plurality of second electrodes 221 and a plurality of second connecting portions 422 electrically connected to the second electrodes 221 (only one is shown in FIG. 3 ) ). Different from the second connecting portion 222 of the foregoing embodiment, the single second connecting portion 422 has a pair of second side edges 422s opposite to each other in a zigzag shape. Although the second side edges 422s of the same second connecting portion 422 are also interlaced with the outer side edges 231 of the insulating layer 230, the angle A2 formed between each of the second side edges 422s and the adjacent outer side edges 231 is greater than 90 degrees, wherein the angle A2 is located outside of both the second connecting portion 422 and the insulating layer 230. Since the included angle A2 is greater than 90 degrees, the area occupied by the second connecting portion 422 on the inclined side surface 232 of the insulating layer 230 is gradually increased from the outer side edge 231 toward the top surface 233 of the insulating layer 230 (see FIG. 1D).

The second connecting portion 422 covers a portion of the outer side edge 231, and one of the outer side edges 231 is covered by the second connecting portion 422 by a length W23. Comparing FIG. 1B with FIG. 3, under the condition that the length W23 of FIG. 3 is equal to the second width W21 of FIG. 1B, since the area occupied by the second connecting portion 422 on the inclined side surface 232 is from the outer side edge 231 toward the top surface 233 Increasingly, the area occupied by the second connecting portion 422 on the inclined side surface 232 in FIG. 3 is larger than the area occupied by the second connecting portion 222 on the inclined side surface 232 in FIG. 1B, that is, the second connecting portion 422. It is possible to occupy more area on the inclined side surface 232, thereby effectively reducing the probability of the second connecting portion 222 peeling off from the inclined side surface 232.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the touch sensing substrate 400 does not include a dummy electrode (for example, the dummy electrodes 341 , 342 , and 343 in FIG. 2 ). However, in other embodiments, the touch sensing substrate 400 can also be used. A plurality of dummy electrodes of a single shape (for example, dummy electrodes 341) or a plurality of dummy electrodes of different shapes (for example, dummy electrodes 341, 342, and 343) are included. Therefore, the dummy electrodes are not limited to the touch sensing substrate 300.

In summary, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the outer edge of the insulating layer adjacent to each other and the first side of the first connecting portion on the surface is smaller than the first width of the first connecting portion Therefore, under the condition that the respective insulating layers protrude from the first sides of the corresponding first connecting portions, the first connecting portion may have a larger first width to help reduce the impedance of the first connecting portion. This reduces the adverse effects of signal delay and reduces the chances of abnormal or malfunctioning touch screen operations.

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

100, 300, 400‧‧‧ touch sensing substrate

110‧‧‧Base

111‧‧‧ surface

200‧‧‧ touch sensing structure

210‧‧‧First electrode string

211‧‧‧First electrode

211e‧‧‧first jagged edge

212‧‧‧First connection

212e‧‧‧ end

212s‧‧‧ first side

220, 420‧‧‧ second electrode string

221‧‧‧second electrode

221e‧‧‧second jagged edge

222, 422‧‧‧second connection

222s, 422s‧‧‧ second side

230‧‧‧Insulation

231‧‧‧Outer edge

232‧‧‧Slanted side

233‧‧‧ top surface

341, 342, 343‧‧‧Dummy electrodes

A1, A2‧‧‧ angle

D1‧‧‧ first direction

D2‧‧‧ second direction

G1‧‧‧ distance

W1‧‧‧ first width

W21‧‧‧ second width

W23‧‧‧ length

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a touch sensing substrate according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is an enlarged schematic view showing the touch sensing substrate of FIG. 1A at the intersection of the first electrode string and the second electrode string. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 1C-1C of FIG. 1B. FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the touch sensing substrate of FIG. 1B. 2 is a top plan view of a touch sensing substrate according to another embodiment of the invention. 3 is a top plan view of a touch sensing substrate according to another embodiment of the invention.

Claims (9)

A touch sensing structure includes: a plurality of juxtaposed first electrode strings, wherein one of the first electrode strings includes: a plurality of first electrodes arranged along a first direction; and a plurality of first connections Arranging along the first direction, one of the first connecting portions is electrically connected to two adjacent first electrodes and has a pair of first sides opposite to each other and a first width, wherein the first portions One side edge extends along the first direction, and the first width is a distance between the pair of first side edges opposite to each other; a plurality of insulating layers respectively overlapping the first connecting portions, wherein each of the insulating layers The layer protrudes from the first side edges of the corresponding first connecting portion, and has a pair of outer edges respectively adjacent to the corresponding first side, the outer edges and the first sides are substantially Coplanar, and the distance between the outer edge adjacent to the first side and the first side is between 10 microns and 30 microns and less than the first width; and a plurality of juxtaposed second electrode strings, wherein each The second electrode string extends along a second direction and is opposite to the first electrodes The second direction is different from the first direction, wherein the one of the second electrode strings comprises: a plurality of second electrodes arranged along the second direction; and a plurality of second connecting portions along the Arranging in a second direction, one of the second connecting portions is electrically connected to the two adjacent second electrodes, wherein the second connecting portions are respectively located on the insulating layers, and one of the second connecting portions is convex Corresponding to the outer edges of the insulating layer, and having a plurality of second sides interlaced with the outer edges, wherein each of the second sides forms an angle greater than 90 degrees with the adjacent outer edges. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, wherein the materials of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portions are transparent conductive materials. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, wherein one of the first electrodes has a first zigzag edge and one of the second electrodes has a second zigzag edge. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, wherein the first electrodes are coplanar with the second electrodes. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, wherein one of the first connecting portions has two end portions, and the adjacent two first electrodes respectively cover the two end portions of the same first connecting portion. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dummy electrodes, the dummy electrodes being disposed on two sides of each of the first electrode strings and on both sides of each of the second electrode strings, wherein the dummy electrodes are The electrodes do not contact the first electrode strings and the second electrode strings. The touch sensing structure of claim 1, wherein the first width is between 10 micrometers and 30 micrometers. A touch sensing structure includes: a plurality of juxtaposed first electrode strings, wherein one of the first electrode strings includes: a plurality of first electrodes arranged along a first direction; and a plurality of first connections Arranging along the first direction, one of the first connecting portions is electrically connected to two adjacent first electrodes and has a pair of first opposing ones a side edge and a first width, wherein the first side edges extend along the first direction, and the first width is a distance between the pair of first side edges opposite to each other, and is between 10 micrometers and 30 degrees Between the micrometers; a plurality of insulating layers respectively overlapping the first connecting portions, wherein each of the insulating layers protrudes from the first side edges of the corresponding first connecting portion, and has a pair corresponding to the corresponding ones An outer side edge adjacent to the one side, the outer side edges being substantially coplanar with the first side edges, and the distance between the outer side edges adjacent to each other and the first side edge is between 10 micrometers and 30 degrees And a plurality of juxtaposed second electrode strings, wherein each of the second electrode strings extends along a second direction and is interlaced with the first electrode strings, the second direction being different from the first direction.