KR20130080647A - Touch panel and method for manufacturing touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch panel and a method of manufacturing the touch panel.
In the present invention, the touch panel is implemented as a window unit, and further laminates an insulating layer between the printed layer and the electrode before forming the electrode to solve the surface unevenness by the printed layer formed on the window substrate.

Description

Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same {Touch panel and method for manufacturing touch panel}

The present invention relates to a touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof.

Recently, a touch screen for inputting a signal through a touch operation on a display surface without a separate input device has been widely used. Such a touch screen may be a touch panel capable of detecting a display surface and a touch panel of a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescence (EL), and a cathode ray tube (CRT). This allows the user to enter the desired information while viewing the display.

The touch screen may be classified into a resistive type, a capacitive type, an infrared sensor type, or an optical sensor type according to a method of sensing a touch.

Recently, as the slimming / lightening of the display device has emerged as a main topic, researches for slimming / lightening the touch screen have also been actively conducted. Accordingly, a window integrated touch screen for directly implementing a touch circuit on the rear surface of the window substrate has been proposed.

However, in the case of such a window-integrated touch screen, as the touch circuit is implemented on the printed surface of the window substrate, there is a problem in that wire disconnection occurs due to uneven printing surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of a touch screen and a touch panel for preventing the disconnection phenomenon.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a touch panel includes a window substrate including a printed layer and protecting a display panel on which an image is formed; First and second sensor patterns directly formed in the display activation area on the rear surface of the window substrate; An electrode formed in the display inactivation region on the rear surface of the window substrate; And an insulating layer formed between the printed layer and the electrode.

In addition, a method of manufacturing a touch panel according to an aspect of the present invention includes a window substrate for protecting a display panel on which an image is formed, a first sensor pattern and a second sensor pattern directly formed on a rear surface of the window substrate. Manufacturing an upper substrate portion; Manufacturing a lower substrate portion disposed to face the upper substrate portion; And attaching the upper substrate portion and the lower substrate portion to each other, wherein manufacturing the upper substrate portion includes: forming a first bridge electrode in a display activation region on a rear surface of the window substrate on which a printed layer is formed; Forming an insulating layer on the display inactivation region on the rear surface of the window substrate and on the first bridge electrode; Forming an electrode in the display inactive area; Forming the first sensor pattern, the second sensor pattern, and the second bridge electrode; And laminating a protective layer.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the wire breakage caused by the printed layer in the window-integrated touch screen.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch screen in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the touch panel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.
3 is a perspective view of a sensor pattern formed on the upper substrate unit 110.
4 and 5 illustrate examples in which bridge electrodes and an insulating layer are formed.
6 is a perspective view of an insulating layer formed between the window substrate 111 and the electrode 114.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and similarities. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail. In addition, numerals (e.g., days, days, etc.) used in the description of the present invention are merely an identifier for distinguishing one component from another component

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

In addition, the suffix "module" and " part "for constituent elements used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role.

Furthermore, each layer (film), region, pattern or structure described below is described as being formed "on" or "under" a substrate, each layer (film), region, pad or pattern. In the case, “on” and “under” include both “directly” or “indirectly” formed through another layer. In addition, the criteria for above or below each layer will be described with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch screen in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch screen 10 may include a touch panel 100 and a display panel 200. That is, the touch panel 100 is integrally attached to the display panel 200 to form the touch screen 10. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential and may be implemented as a touch screen with more or fewer components.

The touch panel 100 recognizes a touch by a contact with the display surface of the touch screen 10 and outputs an electric signal according to the touch position.

The display panel 200 is provided below the touch panel 100, and an image of the touch screen 10 is formed. Electrical information input through the touch panel 100 allows various types of images to be formed on the display panel 200.

The touch panel 100 and the display panel 200 may be attached using an optical adhesive such as an optical clear adhesive (OCA).

Hereinafter, the touch panel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the touch panel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. 3 to 6 are diagrams for describing the touch panel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the touch panel 100 is a portion provided to electrically input information to the display panel 200 disposed on one side of the touch screen 10 to form an image, and the upper substrate unit 110. The lower substrate unit 120 may be disposed to face the upper substrate unit 110. The upper substrate unit 110 and the lower substrate unit 120 may be attached to each other using the optical adhesive 130. The components shown in FIG. 2 are not essential, and may be implemented as a touch panel having more or fewer components.

The upper substrate unit 110 may include a window substrate 111.

The window substrate 111 is disposed on one surface of the touch screen 10 and is provided to protect the display panel 200 on which an image is formed. Can be. In addition, the window substrate 111 is formed with a printed layer printed with a company logo, ad text.

In addition, the upper substrate unit 110 may include a first sensor pattern 112 and a second sensor pattern 113 directly formed in the display activation area on the rear surface of the window substrate 111.

The display activation area indicates an area where an image is formed.

The first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 may be formed on the same plane by a bridge method. A bridge electrode, an insulating layer, etc. connecting the first sensor pattern 112 or the second sensor pattern 113 may be formed at a portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other. Can be. The bridge method will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 described later.

The first sensor pattern 113 and the second sensor pattern 114 may be formed of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), It may be formed using any one of a transparent and electrically conductive material such as a conductive polymer, carbon nanotubes (CNT, Carbon NanoTube).

The first sensor pattern 113 and the second sensor pattern 114 may be an X-axis sensor pattern (or Rx sensor pattern) and a Y-axis sensor pattern (Tx sensor pattern), or a Y-axis sensor pattern (Tx sensor pattern), respectively. It may be an X-axis sensor pattern (or Rx sensor pattern).

In addition, the upper substrate unit 110 may include an electrode 114 formed in the display inactive region on the rear surface of the window substrate 111.

The display deactivation area may be an area other than the display activation area.

The electrode 114 may be any one or two or more alloys selected from metals such as silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), or ITO, ATO, AZO, or conductive materials. It may be formed of a conductive material such as polymer, CNT.

Meanwhile, an insulating layer may be formed between the window substrate 111 and the electrode 114. Here, the insulating layer may be formed using an organic or inorganic material for electrical insulation, and to prevent the electrode 114 from breaking due to the roughness of the printed layer formed on the window substrate 111. will be. An insulating layer formed between the window substrate 111 and the electrode 114 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 to be described later.

The upper substrate unit 110 may further include a protective layer (not shown) for protecting the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113.

The lower substrate unit 120 may include a film 121.

The film 121 may be implemented using a PET film.

In addition, the lower substrate unit 120 may include a noise shielding layer 122 formed on the upper or lower surface of the PET film 121.

The noise shielding layer 122 may be formed by attaching ITO to the PET film 121 in a sputtering manner. Sputtering is a technology that attaches a target object to the surface of a film or sheet in the form of a film. A thin film or a thick film is formed by evaporating a solid in a high vacuum state in order to make an electronic circuit in a ceramic or semiconductor material. Attach the object in a way to form a.

The noise shielding layer 122 is connected to ground to prevent performance degradation of the touch panel 100 due to LCD noise.

3 is a perspective view of a sensor pattern formed on the upper substrate unit 110.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first sensor pattern 112 and a second sensor pattern 113 are formed on the rear surface of the window substrate 111 of the upper substrate unit 110. The first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 are implemented in a polygonal pattern, and bridge the portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 intersect. An electrode and an insulating layer can be formed.

4 and 5 illustrate examples in which bridge electrodes and an insulating layer are formed.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a first bridge electrode for electrically connecting the first sensor pattern 112 to a portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other. 141 is formed.

In addition, an organic or inorganic insulating layer 142 for electrical insulation is formed on the first bridge electrode 141 formed at the portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other. do.

In addition, a second bridge electrode for electrical connection of the second sensor pattern 114 on the insulating layer 142 formed at the portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other ( 143 is formed.

Referring to FIG. 4B, a second bridge electrode for electrically connecting the second sensor pattern 113 to a portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other ( 143 is formed.

In addition, an organic or inorganic insulating layer 142 for electrical insulation is formed on the second bridge electrode 142 formed at the portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other. do.

In addition, a first bridge electrode for electrical connection of the first sensor pattern 112 on the insulating layer 142 formed at the portion 140 where the first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 cross each other ( 141 is formed.

6 is a perspective view of an insulating layer formed between the window substrate 111 and the electrode 114.

Referring to FIG. 6, the transparent conductive layer 151 of the printed layer 111a formed on the rear surface of the window substrate 111 of the upper substrate unit 110 is formed. The transparent conductive layer is for forming the first sensor patterns 112 and 113 or a bridge electrode for electrical connection between the sensor patterns.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6, the print layer 111a formed on the window substrate 111 may cause a slight height difference, which causes a decrease in surface uniformity. Such surface unevenness may cause wire breakage when the electrode 114 is formed.

Accordingly, the surface uniformity can be secured by further stacking the insulating layer 152 on the transparent conductive layer 151 before the electrode 114 is formed.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the window substrate 111 on which the print layer 111a is formed is prepared, a first transparent conductive layer is stacked on the rear surface of the window substrate 111 for patterning the first bridge electrode 114 (S101). .

The first transparent conductive layer may be formed using any one of transparent conductive materials such as ITO, IZO, ATO, conductive polymer, and CNT. In addition, the first transparent conductive layer may be formed on the window substrate 111 by a dry coating such as sputtering or a wet coating such as spraying or dipping. Since the method of forming such a transparent conductive layer is a technique well known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Thereafter, a first bridge electrode 141 for electrical connection between the first sensor patterns 112 is formed (S102). That is, the first bridge electrode 141 is patterned by using a mask prepared to form the first bridge electrode 141. Here, the method of forming the first bridge electrode 141 using a mask may be used in various ways such as a photolithography process, and the method of forming the first bridge electrode 141 is well known to those skilled in the art, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the first bridge electrode 141 is formed, the organic or inorganic insulating layers 142 and 152 are stacked on the display inactive region where the electrode 114 is formed and the first bridge electrode 141 (S103).

That is, the organic or inorganic insulating material is coded using a mask prepared so that the insulating layers 142 and 152 are formed only on the display inactive region where the electrode 114 is formed and the first bridge electrode 141. 152 may be formed.

The insulating layer 152 stacked on the display deactivation area is formed to eliminate the surface unevenness by the printed layer 111a and make the surface uniform. The insulating layer 142 formed on the first bridge electrode 141 is formed. The first sensor pattern 112 and the second sensor pattern 113 are formed to insulate the intersection portion.

As the insulating material, any organic or inorganic film for passivation may be used. For example, a thermal or UV curable material or an oxide or nitride such as SiO 2 or SiNx may be used.

Subsequently, a second transparent conductive layer for patterning the second bridge electrode 113 for electrical connection between the first sensor pattern 112, the second sensor pattern 113, and the second sensor pattern 113 is formed. (S104). Then, metals or conductive materials are formed only in the display inactive region (S105).

The second transparent conductive layer and the metals or conductive materials may be formed by a dry coating such as sputtering or a wet coating method such as spraying or dipping. Such a transparent conductive layer and a method of forming the metals or conductive materials are skilled in the art. Since the technique is well known to the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Thereafter, the electrode 114 is patterned using a mask prepared to form the electrode 114 in the display inactive region (S106). In addition, the first sensor pattern 112 may be formed using a mask prepared to form a second bridge electrode 143 for electrical connection between the first sensor pattern 112, the second sensor pattern 113, and the second sensor pattern 113. The second bridge electrode 143 for the electrical connection between the 112 and the second sensor pattern 113, the second sensor pattern 113 is patterned (S107).

When the formation of the sensor patterns 112 and 113 is completed, a protective layer for protecting the sensor patterns 112 and 113 may be further stacked (S108). Here, the protective layer may be a heat or UV curable material or any organic or inorganic film for passivation, such as oxides, nitrides, such as SiO2, SiNx.

Thereafter, the touch panel 100 may be implemented by attaching the upper substrate unit 110 and the lower substrate unit 120 implemented as described above to each other using the optical adhesive 130 or the like (S109).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the insulating layer is formed before forming the electrode in the display deactivation region to prevent wire breakage due to uneven surface due to the printed layer formed on the window substrate 111. To form more. That is, as the surface becomes uniform by the formation of the insulating layer, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of wire breakage during electrode formation.

In addition, by simultaneously forming the insulating layer formed on the bridge electrode and the insulating layer formed before forming the electrode, there is an effect that can reduce the process compared to implementing the two insulating layers separately.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The present invention is not limited to the drawings, and all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made.

Claims (5)

A window substrate comprising a printed layer, the window substrate protecting a display panel on which an image is formed;
First and second sensor patterns directly formed in the display activation area on the rear surface of the window substrate;
An electrode formed in the display inactivation region on the rear surface of the window substrate; And
The insulating layer formed between the printed layer and the electrode
Including touch panel.
The method of claim 1,
The first sensor pattern and the second sensor pattern is formed on the same plane,
The portion where the first sensor pattern and the second sensor pattern intersect,
A first bridge electrode electrically connecting the first sensor pattern;
An insulating layer formed on the first bridge electrode; And
A second bridge electrode formed on the insulating layer and electrically connecting the second sensor pattern;
Touch panel comprising a.
Manufacturing an upper substrate part including a window substrate for protecting a display panel on which an image is formed, a first sensor pattern and a second sensor pattern directly formed on a rear surface of the window substrate;
Manufacturing a lower substrate portion disposed to face the upper substrate portion; And
Attaching the upper substrate portion and the lower substrate portion to each other;
Manufacturing the upper substrate portion,
Forming a first bridge electrode in a display activation area on a rear surface of the window substrate on which a printed layer is formed;
Forming an insulating layer on the display inactivation region on the rear surface of the window substrate and on the first bridge electrode;
Forming an electrode in the display inactive area;
Forming the first sensor pattern, the second sensor pattern, and the second bridge electrode; And
Method for manufacturing a touch panel comprising the step of laminating a protective layer.
The method of claim 3,
Before forming the first bridge electrode,
And depositing a first transparent coating layer on the rear surface of the window substrate.
The method of claim 3,
Between forming the insulating layer and forming the electrode,
Stacking a second transparent conductive layer; And
The method of manufacturing a touch panel further comprising the step of laminating metals or conductive materials.

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