TWI559184B - Touch panel - Google Patents

Description

Touch panel

The invention relates to touch technology, in particular to the protection of electrostatic discharge (ESD) in the process of the touch panel.

Any conductor that inevitably accumulates or flows on the touch panel process and during use. Taking FIG. 8 as an example, a typical touch panel 8 includes a substrate 80 and a ground line 81, a plurality of drive lines 89d (drive lines), and a plurality of scan lines 89s (sensor lines). The driving line 89d and the scanning line 89s are disposed on the touch area 809 of the substrate 80 and connected to a plurality of bonding pads 85 (commonly known as gold fingers). The grounding wire 81 is disposed on the substrate 81 to surround the peripheral area of the touch area 809. The grounding line for shielding the signal between the driving lines 89d and between the scanning lines 89s and between the two is not shown in FIG. The assembled touch panel "system" generally has a casing as the final grounding end; one end of the grounding wire 81 is coupled to the bonding pad 851a of the bonding pad 85, and the other end is coupled to the bonding pad 851b. Connected to the casing to form a loop. However, when the touch panel 8 has not yet become a system with a casing, the single grounding wire 81 is in a large-impedance disconnected state as shown in FIG. 8, and the electrostatic venting effect is not good. It can be observed in practice that many of the defective products generated in the process are short circuits or open circuits caused by the reverse discharge of the ground line 81 to the adjacent driving line 89d or the scanning line 89s, which occurs at the sharp corner of the grounding line 81 or the substrate 80 is connected to Retraction part of the casing (bonding pad 85).

The invention discloses a touch panel comprising a substrate, a first ground line and a second ground line. The substrate has a touch area and a peripheral area surrounding the touch area. The first and second ground lines are both disposed in the peripheral area but are not electrically connected. The distance between the first and second ground lines is less than the first threshold. In an embodiment, the touch panel further includes a plurality of function lines disposed on the substrate, and the first threshold value may be defined as a minimum distance between the first or second ground lines and any of the function lines.

The substrate may have corners and sides. In an embodiment, the distance between the first or second ground line on the corner and any of the functional lines is greater than the second threshold. The second threshold can be defined as the maximum distance between the first or second ground line and any of the functional lines.

In an embodiment, the touch panel further comprises a flexible printed circuit board. The fourth and fifth ground lines are disposed on the flexible circuit board and are not electrically connected. The first and second ground lines are electrically connected to the fourth and fifth ground lines, respectively.

Therefore, the first and second ground lines respectively form a loop, and the arrangement of the two on the substrate induces static charge to jump between the ground lines instead of the ground line and the function line and lose energy, thereby protecting the integrity of the function line. The design of the two grounding wires on the corners helps to reduce tip discharge. The touch panel die is finally coupled to the chassis via the flexible circuit board; when the chassis is not coupled to the system, since the two ground loops are not electrically connected on the flexible circuit board, the dielectric in the wire-receiving portion of the process can be avoided. Damaged.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments are intended to exemplify and clarify the spirit and principles of the present invention, and to provide an application for the present invention. The scope of the benefit is further explained.

1, 1a, 8‧‧‧ touch panel

10, 10a, 80‧‧‧ substrates

100, 102, 104, 107‧‧‧ corner

101, 103, 106, 108‧‧ ‧ side

105‧‧‧Receiving Department

109, 109a, 809‧‧ ‧ touch area

11, 11a, 11b, 12, 12a, 12b, 13, 24, 25, 81‧‧‧ grounding wire

15, 85‧‧‧Multiple bond pads

151, 152, 159, 159a, 159b, 159c, 851a, 851b‧‧‧ joint pads

19, 19a, 19b, 19c‧‧‧ functional lines

20‧‧‧Soft circuit board

89d‧‧‧Multiple drive lines

89s‧‧‧Multiple scan lines

d ₁ - d ₃ , d ₆ - d ₉ , d ₂ ' , d ₉ ' , d ₉ " ‧ ‧ distance

w ₁ - w ₃ ‧‧‧Width

FIG. 1 shows a touch panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a schematic view showing the division of a substrate in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a view showing details of the corners and sides of the substrate in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4 and 5 show details of the sides of the substrate in the embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a view showing the details of the wire take-up portion of the substrate in an embodiment of the present invention, and a flexible circuit board.

Figure 7 shows a touch panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a touch panel according to the prior art.

The detailed features of the present invention are described in the following description, which is sufficient for any skilled person to understand the technical contents of the present invention and to implement it, and according to the contents disclosed in the specification, the patent application scope and the drawings, any familiarity The related objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to further illustrate the invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a touch panel 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the touch panel 1 includes a substrate 10 , a first ground line 11 , and a second ground line 12 . A touch area 109 is defined in the center of the substrate 10, and the control panel 1 functions as an input/output interface to interact with the user. The portion of the substrate 10 on which the non-touch area 109 is located is generally referred to as the peripheral area of the substrate 10. The width thereof is not limited in the present invention; the ground lines 11 and 12 are disposed in the peripheral area. The shape, size, aspect ratio, and the like of the substrate 10 and the touch area 109 in FIG. 1 are merely examples; in this embodiment, the ground line 11 surrounds the touch area 109, and the ground line 12 is on the periphery of the ground line 11. Repeat the grounding wire 11. The grounding wires 11 and 12 respectively form loops, which are not electrically connected to each other, that is, there is no current path laid between the grounding wires 11 and 12. The distance between the ground lines 11 and 12 is less than the first threshold value. The distance between the ground lines 11 and 12 may refer to d ₁ at the corner, d ₂ at the parallel, or other reasonable definition. (The grounding wires 11 and 12 do not necessarily have parallel segments.) In general, d ₁ d ₂ , but both are less than the first threshold.

In an embodiment, the touch panel 1 further includes a plurality of function lines. The function line is disposed on the substrate 10, and may be a driving line, a sensing or a scan line or a trace line of a touch mechanism. For example, the function line 19 is extended from the touch area 109 (not shown in the touch area 109), and is routed along the peripheral area of the substrate 10 to the plurality of bonding pads 15. Bonding pad 159. Assuming that the function line 19 is closest to the ground line 11 or 12 among the plurality of function lines, and the inner ring ground line 11 is closest to any function line, the distance between the function line and the ground line on the substrate 10 may refer to the d at the corner. _6. D ₃ or d _{7 in} parallel, or have other reasonable definitions. (The functional line and the ground line do not necessarily have parallel sections.) In an embodiment, the minimum value of the distance between the function line and the ground line, such as d ₃ or d ₇ , is obtained. In other words, the distance between the ground lines 11 and 12 is smaller than the minimum distance between the ground line 11 and the function line 19, so the static charge on the ground line 11 tends to jump toward the ground line 12 instead of the function line 19.

It should be noted that the grounding wires 11 and 12 are also electrically connected to the bonding pads 151 and 152 in the bonding pads 15, respectively. Through the bonding pads 151, 152 and 159, the grounding wires 11, 12 and the functional wires 19 can be coupled to the integrated grounding terminal (such as the casing) or the integrated circuit of the touch mechanism when the touch panel 1 is assembled into a system. The thick arc between the grounding wire 12 and the bonding pad 152 in Fig. 1 indicates that the segment of the circuit (stereoscopically) spans the grounding wire 11 and keeps the grounding wires 11 and 12 electrically disconnected from each other. Each of the bond pads of the bond pads 15 is generally the same size and has a fixed pitch. The bonding pads 151, 152, and 159 may be any one of the bonding pads 15, respectively, on the premise that the wiring may be reasonable.

In an embodiment, the functional lines including the function line 19 and the relative widths of the ground lines 11 and 12 are not particularly limited. In another embodiment, to achieve better electrostatic protection, the widths w ₁ , w ₂ (especially the latter) of the ground lines 11 and 12, respectively, are greater than the width w _{3 of the} functional line 19 to cause an electrostatic charge on the ground line 11. It tends to jump toward the relatively low impedance ground line 12 instead of the functional line 19. The widths w ₁ , w ₂ and w ₃ may have any reasonable definition; for example, the width w ₁ may be the average width of the ground line 11.

For ease of explanation, the substrate 10 can be conceptually partitioned as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, in addition to the touch area 109, the substrate 10 further has corner portions 100, 102, 104, 107, side portions 101, 103, 106, 108 and a wire take-up portion 105. These portions 101 to 108 of the substrate 10 form the aforementioned peripheral regions. The plurality of bonding pads 15 are seated on the wire take-up portion 105. Please note that the relative size and demarcation of each zone in Figure 2 are only examples, and the function line 19 and the grounding wires 11 and 12 are not shown.

Please refer to Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 2. Figure 3 is a view showing details of the corner portion 102 and the side portions 101, 103 in an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, to reduce the generation of tip discharge on the corner portion 102, the distance between the ground line 11 and the functional line 19 at the corner is a distance d ₆ greater than the second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value depends on the edge The maximum distance between the ground line 11 and the function line 19 on the portion 101 or 103, such as d ₃ or d ₇ ; that is, d ₆ > d ₃ or d ₆ > d ₇ . In FIG. 3, the grounding wire 12 is designed in accordance with the grounding wire 11; in other embodiments, the grounding wire 12 on the corner portion 102 can be left at right angles and selectively widened to further cause static charge on the grounding wire 11 at the corner portion 102. Jumping to the ground line 12 instead of the functional line 19 while strengthening the line segment of the ground line 12 on the corner 102 avoids wire breakage.

In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the grounding wires 11 and 12 are designed as circular arcs at the corners, so that the lines having the width do not have sharp points with infinite curvature at the edges. In other words, in one embodiment, the curvature at (on the edge of) the functional line 19, the ground line 11 or 12 is less than a real number. The real number is generally positive, and the curvature on the edge can take the original value (eg, the recess is negative) or the absolute value.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 or 3, the ground lines 11 and 12 on the sides 101 or 103 or other sides are parallel or even parallel to the functional line 19. Please note that "parallel" is used to describe the approximate direction of the line 19 and ground lines 11 and 12. These lines are not necessarily equally wide, and their edges are not necessarily straight lines. For example, please refer to Fig. 4, which shows details of the side portion 103 in an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ground line 11 facing the edge line 19 is a straight line function, and therefore two fixed line spacing d _3, but the edge of the ground face of the ground line 11 of the wavy line 12, jump artificially tendency to ground Multiple collections of static charges of line 12. In this embodiment, the edge of the grounding wire 12 facing the grounding wire 11 is also wavy, artificially generating a plurality of locations of static charges that jump from the grounding wire 11. The edge of the grounding wire 12 facing the grounding wire 11 does not necessarily correspond geometrically to the edge of the grounding wire 11 facing the grounding wire 12. The present invention also does not limit the frequency, amplitude, etc. of the "wave", and does not even limit the grounding wires 11 and 12. What shape is required to face each other's edges. The ground line 11 and the ground line 12 can be formed on the touch panel 1 by, for example, photolithography or a printing process. According to the embodiment of Fig. 4, the distance d ₂ ' between the ground lines 11 and 12 (perpendicular to the normal to the direction of the line) is variable at least on the side 103, and the variance of d ₂ ' is greater than The number of variations of d ₃ (0 in this embodiment).

In order to enhance the electrostatic venting effect, the touch panel 1 may include more grounding wires, disposed between the grounding wires 11 and 12, or disposed at the periphery of the grounding wires 12, and surrounding the grounding wires 12. The additional ground line (the third ground line) and the ground lines 11 and 12 are not electrically connected to each other. When the additional ground line is disposed between the ground lines 11 and 12, it is apparent that the distance between it and the ground line 11 or 12 is less than d ₂ . Please refer to Fig. 5 in conjunction with Fig. 2, which shows details of the side portion 103 in an embodiment of the present invention. When the additional ground line 13 is disposed on the periphery of the ground line 12, the distance d ₈ from the ground line 12 may be equal to or less than d ₂ , so that the static charge on the ground line 12 tends to jump to the ground line 13 instead of returning to the ground line. 11, or at least an equal opportunity to jump to the ground line 11 or 13. The static charge greatly depletes energy between the ground lines 11, 12 and 13 or repeatedly jumps, thereby protecting the functional lines including the functional lines 19. For the width of the grounding wire 13, the corner routing and the edge design, please refer to the descriptions of Figures 1, 3 and 4 above.

The touch panel 1 can include a flexible circuit board such that the ground lines 11 and 12 and the like are finally coupled to the system ground. Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 shows a detail of the wire take-up portion 105 in an embodiment of the present invention, and a flexible circuit board 20 electrically and three-dimensionally connected to the ground wires 11 and 12, and the like. The ground line 25 (fifth ground line) and the ground line 24 (fourth ground line) are disposed on the flexible circuit board 20 and are not electrically connected to each other. The grounding wire 25 is electrically connected to the grounding wire 12 at the bonding pad 152; the grounding wire 24 is electrically connected to the grounding wire 11 at the bonding pad 151. In this embodiment, the substrate 10 is provided with functional wires 19a, 19b, and 19c, and the bonding pads 159a, 159b, and 159c in the bonding pads 15 are electrically connected to the wiring on the flexible circuit board. In this embodiment, the bonding pads 15 are disposed between the functional wires 19a, 19b, and 19c and the grounding wires 11, 12 at the wire take-up portion 105. The widths of the grounding wires 11, 12, 25, 24 and the functional wires 19a, 19b, 19c and the distance from each other can be referred to the description of Fig. 1 above.

As described above, the grounding wires 11 and 24 are electrically connected to form a first loop, and the grounding wires 12 and 25 are electrically connected to form a second loop. The two circuits are not electrically connected on the substrate 10 or the flexible circuit board 20 until the touch panel 1 is assembled into a system to have a common final ground end. Therefore, the electrostatic discharge is ensured in the second circuit, especially It is between the ground lines 11 and 12 without damaging the functional lines on the flexible circuit board 20 and the substrate 10.

In the present invention, the ground line does not necessarily completely surround the substrate. Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 1, there is shown a touch panel 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the touch panel 1, the touch panel 1a includes a substrate 10a having a touch area 109a defined in the center thereof. The touch panel 1a further includes ground lines 11a, 12a, 11b, and 12b which are disposed in the peripheral region of the substrate 10a and each form a loop. Specifically, the grounding wires 11a and 11b are disposed on opposite sides of the peripheral region of the substrate 10a, and the two substantially surround the substrate 10a. The grounding wire 12b is disposed on the inner circumference of the grounding wire 11b; the grounding wire 12a is disposed on the inner circumference of the grounding wire 11a, so that an equivalent four-turn grounding wire is formed in the peripheral region of the substrate 10a as shown in Fig. 7, from the inside to the outside. The spacing is represented by d ₉ , d ₉ ' and d ₉ " . In one embodiment, d _{9 is} less than the first threshold and d ₉ d ₉ ' d ₉ " . Note that the shape and configuration of the grounding wires 11a, 12a, 11b, and 12b in Fig. 7 are merely examples.

In summary, the present invention provides more than two grounding circuit loops in the peripheral area of the substrate of the touch panel, which induces static charges to jump between the grounding lines instead of the grounding lines and the functional lines, thereby consuming energy, thereby protecting the functional lines. complete. The grounding wire on the corner can be pulled away from the functional line, arced or increased in width to reduce tip discharge or at least more effectively respond to its destructiveness. The touch panel die is coupled to the final ground end via a flexible circuit board, and the loops are respectively coupled to the extended ground lines of the flexible circuit board that are not electrically connected. When the touch panel is not assembled into a system, since the ground loops are not electrically connected on the flexible circuit board, the dielectric damage of the wire take-up portion on the substrate during the process can be avoided.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

1‧‧‧ touch panel

10‧‧‧Substrate

109‧‧‧ touch area

11, 12‧‧‧ Grounding wire

15‧‧‧Multiple bond pads

151, 152, 159‧‧‧ joint pads

19‧‧‧ functional line

d ₁ - d ₃ , d ₆ , d ₇ ‧‧‧ distance

w ₁ - w ₃ ‧‧‧Width

Claims (10)

A touch panel includes: a substrate having a touch area and a peripheral area surrounding the touch area; a first ground line disposed in the peripheral area; and a second ground line disposed in the peripheral area; And a plurality of function lines, wherein the function lines are partially disposed in the touch area; wherein a distance between the first ground line and the second ground line is less than a first threshold, and the first ground line and the first The two grounding wires are not electrically connected, and the first threshold is a minimum distance between the first grounding wire or the second grounding wire and any one of the functional wires. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a width of the first ground line and a width of the second ground line are greater than a width of any of the functional lines. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a corner portion and a side portion, and the distance between the first ground line or the second ground line and any one of the function lines on the corner portion is greater than a second threshold a value, the second threshold is a maximum distance between the first ground line or the second ground line and any one of the functional lines on the edge. The touch panel of claim 4, wherein the first ground line on the side is parallel to the second ground line. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a curvature of any point on an edge of the function line, the first ground line or the second ground line is less than a real number. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a variation of a distance between the first ground line or the second ground line and one of the function lines is smaller than the first connection The number of variations in the distance between the ground line and the second ground line. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a third ground line disposed in the peripheral area, the third ground line, the first ground line, and the second ground line are not electrically connected to each other Sexual connection. The touch panel of claim 7, wherein a distance between the third ground line and the first ground line or the second ground line is not greater than a distance between the first ground line and the second ground line. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a flexible circuit board, a fourth ground line and a fifth ground line are disposed on the flexible circuit board and are not electrically connected, the first ground line and the first The two grounding wires are electrically connected to the fourth grounding wire and the fifth grounding wire, respectively. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first ground line or the second ground line surrounds the substrate.