CN111133405A

CN111133405A - Touch panel sensor and method for manufacturing touch panel sensor

Info

Publication number: CN111133405A
Application number: CN201780095135.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 浦山一步; 大屋秀信; 小俣猛宪; 新妻直人; 星野秀树; 山内正好; 牛久正幸; 青山亮
Original assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
Current assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2017-09-29
Publication date: 2020-05-08
Also published as: JPWO2019064595A1; WO2019064595A1; KR20200044081A

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel sensor and a method of manufacturing the same, which can prevent a decrease in touch sensitivity associated with a reduction in the length of a touch sensor effective region and can avoid the presence of a region that does not contribute to touch detection, and which is achieved by providing a first sensor group (20) including a plurality of sensor channels (2) on one surface of a base material, providing a second sensor group (40) including a plurality of sensor channels (4) on the opposite surface, orienting the plurality of sensor channels (2) and the plurality of sensor channels (4) in directions that intersect each other, forming a rectangular touch sensor effective region (S) by the first sensor group (20) and the second sensor group (40), and satisfying x/y < α when the sensor length of the longest sensor channel among the plurality of sensor channels (2) is x, the sensor length of the longest sensor channel among the plurality of sensor channels (4) is y, and the long side of the touch sensor effective region (S) is α.

Description

Touch panel sensor and method for manufacturing touch panel sensor

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a touch panel sensor and a method for manufacturing the touch panel sensor, and more particularly, to a touch panel sensor and a method for manufacturing the touch panel sensor, which can prevent a decrease in touch sensitivity associated with an increase in the size of an effective area of the touch sensor and can avoid an area that does not contribute to touch detection from being interposed.

Background

Conventionally, a touch panel of a mobile terminal device or the like uses a capacitive touch panel sensor (patent document 1).

Patent document 2 proposes a touch panel sensor for a laterally long touch panel.

Patent document 1 Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2016-

Patent document 2, Japanese patent laid-open No. 2014-182619

In the technique of patent document 2, when the touch sensor effective region in the touch panel sensor is intended to be made thin, the sensor channel oriented in the longitudinal direction of the base material becomes high in resistance with the thin and long sensor channel, and the touch sensitivity is lowered.

By preparing a plurality of touch panel sensors and arranging the touch sensor effective regions of the respective touch panel sensors in a long stripe shape, the above-described increase in resistance can be avoided. However, in this case, a space for lead portions that do not contribute to touch detection needs to be provided between the touch sensor effective areas of the touch panel sensors. As a result, regions that do not contribute to touch detection are interposed between the touch sensor effective regions.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel sensor and a method for manufacturing the touch panel sensor, which can prevent a decrease in touch sensitivity associated with an increase in the size of an effective area of the touch sensor and can avoid an area that does not contribute to touch detection from being interposed therebetween.

Other problems of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

The above problems are solved by the following inventions.

1. A touch panel sensor is provided with a touch panel sensor,

a first sensor group comprising a plurality of sensor channels is provided on one surface of a base material,

a second sensor group comprising a plurality of sensor channels is provided on the opposite surface of the base material,

the plurality of sensor channels constituting the first sensor group and the plurality of sensor channels constituting the second sensor group are oriented in directions intersecting each other, and a rectangular touch sensor effective area is formed by the first sensor group and the second sensor group,

when the sensor length of the longest sensor channel among the plurality of sensor channels constituting the first sensor group is x, the sensor length of the longest sensor channel among the plurality of sensor channels constituting the second sensor group is y, and the long side of the touch sensor effective region is α, x ≦ y < α is satisfied.

2. The touch panel sensor according to the above item 1, wherein,

when the short side of the touch sensor effective region is β, it satisfies the condition 3 β ≦ α.

3. The touch panel sensor according to the above 1 or 2, wherein,

when the angle formed by the sensor channel forming the first sensor group and the sensor channel forming the second sensor group is theta 1, 90 DEG & gttheta 1 & gt & gt 60 DEG is satisfied.

4. The touch panel sensor according to any one of the above 1 to 3,

a plurality of leads connected to each of the plurality of sensor channels constituting the first sensor group and the second sensor group,

the plurality of lead lines are formed of lead lines connected to the sensor channel on one long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective area, and lead lines connected to the sensor channel on the other long side.

5. A method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor includes the steps of,

the touch panel sensor includes a first sensor group including a plurality of sensor channels on one surface of a base material,

6. The method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor according to claim 5, wherein,

7. The method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor according to the above 5 or 6, wherein,

8. The method for manufacturing a touch panel sensor according to any one of the above 5 to 7,

further comprising a step of forming a plurality of leads connected to each of the plurality of sensor channels constituting the first sensor group and the second sensor group,

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a touch panel sensor and a method of manufacturing the touch panel sensor, which can prevent a decrease in touch sensitivity associated with an increase in the size of an effective area of the touch sensor and can avoid an area that does not contribute to touch detection from being interposed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of one surface of a base material in a touch panel sensor according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the opposite surface of the base material in the touch panel sensor according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a first sensor group provided on one surface of a substrate and a second sensor group provided on the opposite surface of the substrate, viewed from the same direction in plan.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel sensor according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel sensor according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating formation of a thin line explained by the coffee stain phenomenon.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a first mode of grid pattern formation.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second mode of grid pattern formation.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel sensor of a reference example.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail.

The touch panel sensor of the present invention includes a first sensor group including a plurality of sensor channels (also referred to as sensor electrodes) on one surface of a base material, and a second sensor group including a plurality of sensor channels on an opposite surface of the base material, wherein the plurality of sensor channels constituting the first sensor group and the plurality of sensor channels constituting the second sensor group are oriented in directions intersecting each other, and a rectangular touch sensor effective region is formed by the first sensor group and the second sensor group, and when a sensor length of a longest sensor channel among the plurality of sensor channels constituting the first sensor group is x, a sensor length of a longest sensor channel among the plurality of sensor channels constituting the second sensor group is y, and a long side of the touch sensor effective region is α, x ≦ y < α is satisfied.

First, a touch panel sensor according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a structure provided on one surface of a substrate 1 constituting a touch panel sensor. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure provided on the opposite surface of the substrate 1, as viewed from the same direction as in fig. 1. In fig. 2, for convenience of explanation, a structure disposed on the opposite surface of the substrate 1 is shown by way of implementation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the first sensor group 20 provided on one surface of the substrate 1 and the second sensor group 40 provided on the opposite surface of the substrate 1, as viewed from the same direction as in fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the touch panel sensor includes a first sensor group 20 including a plurality of sensor channels 2 on one surface of a base material 1.

Examples of the substrate 1 include a transparent substrate. The degree of transparency of the transparent substrate is not particularly limited, and the light transmittance thereof may be any one of several% to several tens%, and the spectral transmittance thereof may be any. These light transmittance and spectral transmittance can be determined appropriately according to the use and purpose.

The material of the substrate 1 is not particularly limited, and for example, a synthetic resin material or the like can be used. Examples of the synthetic resin material include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, cellulose resin (e.g., polyacetyl cellulose, cellulose diacetate, and triacetic acid fiber), polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, methacrylic resin, cyclic polyolefin resin, polystyrene resin, acrylonitrile- (poly) styrene copolymer (AS resin), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS resin), polyvinyl chloride resin, poly (meth) acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, and polyamide imide. By using these materials, good transparency can be imparted to the substrate 1. In addition, by using a synthetic resin material in particular, it is possible to impart good flexibility to the base material 1. The base material 1 made of a synthetic resin material may or may not be extended.

The shape of the substrate 1 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a plate shape (plate material). In the case of a plate material, the thickness is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately determined depending on the application and purpose, and for example, it can be set to about 1 μm to 10cm, and further about 20 μm to 300 μm. In addition, as the base material 1, a size (area) and a shape in which only the touch sensor effective region S having a long shape can be formed can be preferably used.

Further, the substrate 1 may be subjected to a surface treatment for changing the surface energy. Further, the substrate 1 may have a single-layer structure or a laminated structure. The substrate 1 may have an antireflection layer or the like on the surface.

Each of the sensor channels 2 constituting the first sensor group 20 preferably has light transmissivity. The sensor channel 2 may be formed of, for example, a plurality of thin conductive lines 21 two-dimensionally arranged on the substrate 1, or a transparent conductive material such as ITO (indium tin oxide), but is preferably formed of a plurality of thin conductive lines 21 as shown in fig. 1. Since light can pass through the gaps between the conductive thin lines 21, the sensor channel 2 formed of the plurality of conductive thin lines 21 can exhibit good light transmittance even if the conductive material itself is opaque. The pattern formed by the plurality of conductive thin lines 21 is not limited to the illustrated mesh pattern, and may be, for example, a stripe pattern, a random pattern, or the like.

As a method for forming the conductive thin line 21 on the substrate 1, a printing method, photolithography, and the like can be given, and a printing method is particularly preferably used. In the printing method, the conductive thin lines 21 can be formed by applying ink containing a conductive material on the base material 1. The printing method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include screen printing, relief printing, gravure printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, and inkjet printing, and among them, inkjet printing is preferable. The liquid droplet discharge method of the ink jet head in the ink jet method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a piezoelectric method and a thermal method. When the printing method is used, it is preferable to utilize the coffee stain phenomenon described in detail later.

The sensor channel 2 is formed in a strip shape on one surface of the substrate 1. The plurality of strip-shaped sensor channels 2 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the sensor channels 2.

The longitudinal direction of the sensor channel 2 (in fig. 1, the direction from the lower left to the upper right) is inclined with respect to either the long side or the short side of the rectangular touch sensor effective region S.

Lead wires 3 are connected to the sensor channels 2 constituting the first sensor group 20. The lead 3 extends to a connector portion 6 provided on one long side 11 side of the rectangular base material 1.

The lead line 3 is provided to connect the sensor channel 2 to an arithmetic circuit (for example, a touch panel control IC) for touch detection, which is not shown.

The lead 3 can also be formed by the above-described printing method, photolithography, or the like, and is preferably formed by a printing method using ink containing a conductive material, and particularly preferably by an inkjet method.

The connector portion 6 is a portion for connecting external wiring such as an FPC (flexible printed circuit board), not shown, and is constituted by a plurality of terminals connected to one ends of the plurality of leads 3 arranged in a row, respectively. The sensor channel 2 can be electrically connected to the arithmetic circuit via the lead 3, the connector portion 4, and the FPC.

The connector portion 6 can also be formed by the printing method, photolithography, or the like described above, and is preferably formed by a printing method using ink containing a conductive material, and particularly preferably by an inkjet method.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 2, the touch panel sensor includes a second sensor group 40 including a plurality of sensor channels 4 on the opposite surface of the base material 1.

Unless otherwise specified, each structure provided on the opposite surface of the substrate 1 is the same as each structure provided on one surface of the substrate 1 described above, and a description of the one surface is referred to, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the sensor channel 4 constituting the second sensor group 40 is constituted by a plurality of conductive thin lines 41, as in the case of the sensor channel 2 constituting the first sensor group 20. The sensor channels 4 constituting the second sensor group 40 are electrically insulated from the sensor channels 2 constituting the first sensor group 20 by sandwiching the substrate 1 therebetween.

The sensor channel 4 is formed in a strip shape on the opposite surface of the substrate 1. The plurality of strip-shaped sensor channels 4 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the rectangular touch sensor effective area S.

The longitudinal direction of the sensor channel 4 (in fig. 2, the direction from the lower right to the upper left) is inclined with respect to both the long side and the short side of the touch sensor effective region S.

The lead wires 5 are connected to the respective sensor channels 2 constituting the second sensor group 40. The lead 5 extends to a connector portion 7 provided on the other long side 12 side of the rectangular base material 1.

As shown in fig. 3, the plurality of sensor channels 2 constituting the first sensor group 20 and the plurality of sensor channels 4 constituting the second sensor group 40 are oriented in directions intersecting with each other with the substrate 1 interposed therebetween.

The first sensor group 20 and the second sensor group 40 are formed over the entire rectangular touch sensor effective area S, and thus touch detection in a two-dimensional coordinate system is possible in the touch sensor effective area S.

The

sensor channels

2 and 4 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the base material, but touch detection can be performed in a two-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the base material by, for example, coordinate conversion by an arithmetic circuit.

In the present embodiment, x ≦ y < α is satisfied when the sensor length of the longest sensor channel 2 of the plurality of sensor channels 2 constituting the first sensor group 20 is x, the sensor length of the longest sensor channel 4 of the plurality of sensor channels 4 constituting the second sensor group 40 is y, and the long side of the touch sensor effective region S is α.

The longest sensor channel 2 is the sensor channel 2 having the longest length in the longitudinal direction among the plurality of sensor channels 2. The longest sensor channel 4 is a sensor channel 4 having the longest length in the longitudinal direction among the plurality of sensor channels 4.

The sensor lengths x and y of the

longest sensor channels

2 and 4 are lengths in the longitudinal direction of the

sensor channels

2 and 4. When the

sensor channels

2 and 4 have a predetermined width, the length in the longitudinal direction with the center of the width as a reference is shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Satisfying x ≦ y < α can obtain an effect of preventing a decrease in touch sensitivity associated with a reduction in the size of the touch sensor effective region S and avoiding the presence of a region that does not contribute to touch detection, and this effect is explained below by comparison with the reference example with reference to fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel sensor of a reference example.

In fig. 9, 101 denotes a sensor channel oriented in the longitudinal direction of the touch sensor effective region S, and 102 denotes a lead line connected to the sensor channel 101. In addition, 103 is a sensor channel oriented in the short side direction of the touch sensor effective area S, and 104 is a lead line connected to the sensor channel 103.

In the reference example shown in fig. 9(a), when the touch sensor effective region S in the touch panel sensor is intended to be made thin, the sensor channel 101 oriented in the longitudinal direction of the touch sensor effective region S becomes high in resistance with the thinning, and the touch sensitivity is lowered. The larger the degree of elongation, the more significant the problem.

In order to solve this problem, as in the reference example shown in fig. 9(b), a plurality of touch panel sensors are prepared, and the touch sensor effective regions S of the respective touch panel sensors are arranged in a long line, whereby the above-described increase in resistance can be avoided. However, in this case, a space for lead portions (in the figure, a space for guiding the lead lines 102) that does not contribute to touch detection needs to be provided between the touch sensor effective regions S of the respective touch panel sensors. As a result, an area that does not contribute to touch detection is interposed between the touch sensor effective areas S. As the degree of thinning increases, a larger number of regions that do not contribute to touch detection must be sandwiched to avoid increasing the resistance.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, x ≦ y < α is satisfied, and thus, even if the

sensor channels

2 and 4 are longest, the sensor channels are shorter than the long side α of the touch sensor effective region S, and therefore, the

sensor channels

2 and 4 can be prevented from having a high resistance value, and therefore, by comparing with the reference example shown in fig. 9(a), it is possible to prevent a decrease in touch sensitivity that accompanies a reduction in the elongation of the touch sensor effective region S.

In the present embodiment, even if the touch sensor effective region S is made thin, it is possible to prevent the

sensor channels

2 and 4 from becoming high in resistance and avoid the presence of a region that does not contribute to touch detection, and therefore, the effect is more pronounced the greater the extent of the thinning of the touch sensor effective region S, as compared with the above-described reference example, from the viewpoint of this, it is preferable that the degree of thinning is large, and specifically, when the short side of the touch sensor effective region S is β, it is particularly preferable that 3 β ≦ α be satisfied.

Since the

sensor channels

2 and 4 can be prevented from having a high resistance even if the touch sensor effective region S is made thin, an effect of improving the degree of freedom in selecting the conductive materials constituting the

sensor channels

2 and 4 can be obtained. Even when ITO having a lower conductivity than metal or the like is used as the conductive material, for example, the

sensor channels

2 and 4 can be shortened, so that high resistance can be prevented, and the touch sensitivity is hardly lowered due to the low conductivity of the material itself.

In addition, even if the touch sensor effective region S is made thin, since the

sensor channels

2 and 4 are prevented from having high resistance, in the case where the

sensor channels

2 and 4 are formed by a plurality of conductive thin lines 21 and 41, it is possible to form the line widths of the conductive thin lines 21 and 41 thin. In other words, the smaller the line width of the conductive thin lines 21 and 41, the lower the conductivity, but the shorter the

sensor channels

2 and 4 can be, the higher the resistance can be prevented, and the smaller the line width, the lower the touch sensitivity is hardly caused. Therefore, even the conductive thin lines 21 and 41 whose line widths are made small enough to be difficult to visually confirm can be suitably used, and the transparency and low visibility (property difficult to visually observe) of the

sensor channels

2 and 4 can be improved. For example, by making the line widths of the conductive thin lines 21, 41 smaller, for example, to 20 μm or less, 15 μm or less, and further 10 μm or less, effects of excellent transparency, low visibility, and excellent touch sensitivity can be obtained. The lower limit of the line width of the conductive thin lines 21, 41 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1 μm or more from the viewpoint of providing stable conductivity. In addition, when the conductive thin lines 21 and 41 having a small line width are used as described above, excellent touch sensitivity can be realized in a capacitance type touch sensor for detecting a change in capacitance. Because the proportion of the change in electrostatic capacitance can be relatively increased as compared with the case of using a thick wire.

When the angle formed by the sensor channel 2 constituting the first sensor group 20 and the sensor channel 4 constituting the second sensor group 40 is θ 1, it is preferable that the angle satisfies 90 ° ≧ θ 1 ≧ 60 °. This can provide an effect of improving the positional accuracy of touch detection.

As for the angle θ 1, as shown in fig. 3, when the angles of 4 angles at which the longitudinal direction D1 of the sensor channel 2 constituting the first sensor group 20 and the longitudinal direction D2 of the sensor channel 4 constituting the second sensor group 40 can intersect are equal, θ 1 is 90 °. Otherwise, the angle of the smaller angle is represented by θ 1. In the illustrated example, θ 1 is 90 °.

Preferably, the quadrangle formed by the intersection of the 2 sensor channels 2 adjacent to each other and the 2 sensor channels 4 adjacent to each other is a square. Such a quadrangle can be formed into a square shape by making θ 1 equal to 90 ° and making the pitch of the plurality of sensor channels 2 and the pitch of the plurality of sensor channels 4 equal. This makes it easy to convert the coordinate system for detecting the touch position of the

sensor channels

2 and 4 inclined with respect to the base material into a coordinate system corresponding to the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the base material by the arithmetic circuit, and the touch sensitivity can be further improved.

As described above, the

lead wires

3 and 5 are connected to the plurality of

sensor channels

2 and 4 constituting the first sensor group 20 and the second sensor group 40, respectively.

As shown in fig. 1, the plurality of lead lines 3 are preferably configured by lead lines 3 connected to the sensor channels 2 on one long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective area S and lead lines 3 connected to the sensor channels 2 on the other long side.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 2, the plurality of lead lines 5 are preferably configured by lead lines 5 connected to the sensor channel 4 on one long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective area S and lead lines 5 connected to the sensor channel 4 on the other long side.

In this manner, by drawing the lead lines from each of the 2 long sides of the touch sensor effective area S, it is necessary to provide a space for drawing the lead lines on the short sides of the touch sensor effective area S. This can provide an effect of narrowing the short side of the touch sensor effective region S (Narrow bezel).

In the first embodiment described above, the case where the connection portion 6 of the first sensor group 20 is provided on the side of one long side 11 of the rectangular base material 1 and the connection portion 7 of the second sensor group 40 is provided on the side of the other long side 12 of the rectangular base material 1 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. This will be described with reference to fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel sensor according to a second embodiment. Fig. 4(a) is a plan view illustrating a structure provided on one surface of the base material 1 constituting the touch panel sensor. Fig. 4(b) is a plan view of the structure provided on the opposite surface of the substrate 1 as viewed from above in the same direction as fig. 4 (a). In fig. 4(b), the structure disposed on the opposite surface of the substrate 1 is shown by a solid line for convenience of explanation.

In the second embodiment, as shown in fig. 4(a), the connection portion 6 of the first sensor group 20 is provided on one long side 11 side of the rectangular substrate 1. As shown in fig. 4(b), the connection portion 7 of the second sensor group 40 is also provided on the side of one long side 11 of the rectangular base material 1. In this manner, by forming both the connection portion 6 of the first sensor group 20 and the connection portion 7 of the second sensor group 40 on the side of the one long side 11 of the substrate 1, it is possible to obtain an effect of making the frame of the other long side 12 of the substrate 1 narrower.

The connection portions 6 of the first sensor group 20 may be formed collectively on the one long side 11 side or the other long side 12 side of the rectangular substrate 1, but may be formed separately on the one long side 11 side and the other long side 12 side. This will be described with reference to fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a touch panel sensor according to a third embodiment. Fig. 5(a) is a plan view illustrating a structure provided on one surface of the base material 1 constituting the touch panel sensor. Fig. 5(b) is a plan view of the structure provided on the opposite surface of the substrate 1 as viewed from above in the same direction as fig. 5 (a). In fig. 5(b), for convenience of explanation, the structure disposed on the opposite side of the substrate 1 is shown by a solid line.

In the third embodiment, first, as shown in fig. 5(a), the connection portions 6 of the first sensor group 20 are formed to be located on the side of one long side 11 and the side of the other long side 12 of the substrate 1.

Here, the lead lines 3 connected to the sensor channels 2 of the first sensor group 20 are formed of the lead line 3 connected to the sensor channel 2 on one long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective region S and the lead line 3 connected to the sensor channel 2 on the other long side.

Of these lead lines 3, the lead line 3 connected to the sensor channel 2 on one long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective region S extends to the connection portion 6 formed on one long side 11 of the base material 1. On the other hand, the lead wire 3 connected to the sensor channel 2 on the other long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective area S extends to the connection portion 6 formed on the other long side 12 of the base 1.

This is the same for the second sensor group 40 on the opposite surface of the base material 1 shown in fig. 5(b), and the lead 5 connected to the sensor channel 4 on one long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective area S among the lead 5 extends to the connection portion 7 formed on one long side 11 of the base material 1. On the other hand, the lead wire 5 connected to the sensor channel 4 on the other long side of the rectangular touch sensor effective area S extends to the connection portion 7 formed on the other long side 12 of the base 1.

According to the third embodiment, since it is not necessary to draw the

lead wires

3 and 5 to the short sides of the touch sensor effective region S, an effect of making the frame narrower on the short sides of the touch sensor effective region S can be obtained.

Next, a preferred method of forming the sensor channel will be described. In the following description, a method of forming the sensor channel 2 will be mainly described, and the present description can be referred to a method of forming the sensor channel 4.

The sensor channel 2 is preferably formed by a plurality of conductive thin lines. When the conductive thin line is formed by a printing method, it is preferable to form the conductive thin line by utilizing a coffee stain phenomenon when ink applied to the base material is dried. This will be described with reference to fig. 6.

First, as shown in fig. 6(a), a linear liquid 22 made of an ink containing a conductive material is applied to the substrate 1.

Next, by selectively depositing the conductive material on the edge of the linear liquid 22 in the process of drying the linear liquid 22, as shown in fig. 6(b), the conductive thin line 21 can be formed. In this example, a pair of conductive

thin lines

21, 21 are formed by selectively depositing a conductive material on both edges along the longitudinal direction of the linear liquid 22. By uniformly forming the line width of the linear liquid 22, the pair of conductive

thin lines

21, 21 can be formed in parallel with each other.

The line width of the conductive thin line 21 is smaller than the line width of the linear liquid 22, and may be, for example, 20 μm or less, 15 μm or less, and further 10 μm or less. The lower limit of the line width of the conductive thin line 21 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1 μm or more from the viewpoint of providing stable conductivity.

Various patterns can be formed by one or more conductive thin lines 21. Examples of such a pattern include a stripe pattern and a mesh pattern. The sensor channel 2 is formed by a plurality of conductive thin lines 21, for example, and the conductive thin lines 21 are provided to form a stripe pattern, a mesh pattern, or the like. Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the mesh pattern formation will be described with reference to fig. 7, and a second embodiment of the mesh pattern formation will be described with reference to fig. 8.

In the first embodiment of the grid pattern formation, first, as shown in fig. 7(a), a plurality of linear liquids 22 are formed on the substrate 1 so as to be arranged at predetermined intervals.

Next, as shown in fig. 7(b), when the linear liquid 22 is dried, a pair of conductive

thin lines

21, 21 are formed from each linear liquid 22 by utilizing the coffee stain phenomenon.

Next, as shown in fig. 7(c), a plurality of linear liquids 22 arranged at predetermined intervals are formed so as to intersect the plurality of conductive thin lines 21 formed previously.

Next, as shown in fig. 7(d), when the linear liquid 22 is dried, a pair of conductive

thin lines

21, 21 are formed from the respective linear liquids 22 by utilizing the coffee stain phenomenon. The mesh pattern can be formed as described above.

In the examples of fig. 6 and 7, the linear liquid 22 and the conductive thin wire 21 are straight lines, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shape of the linear liquid 22 and the conductive thin wire 21 may be, for example, a wavy line or a zigzag line

In the second embodiment of the grid pattern formation, first, as shown in fig. 8(a), a plurality of line-shaped liquids 22 forming a square shape are formed on the substrate 1, and arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in the drawing) and the width direction (horizontal direction in the drawing) of the substrate 1.

Next, as shown in fig. 8(b), a thin wire unit composed of a pair of conductive

thin wires

21, 21 is formed from each of the linear liquids 22 by utilizing the coffee stain phenomenon when drying the linear liquid 22. In such a thin wire unit, the conductive

thin wires

21 and 21 are concentrically formed such that one (the outer conductive thin wire 21) is internally contained by the other (the inner conductive thin wire 21). The conductive

thin lines

21, 21 are formed in a square shape corresponding to the shape of both edges (inner and outer peripheries) of the linear liquid 22.

Next, as shown in fig. 8(c), a plurality of linear liquids 22 forming a square shape, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the substrate 1, are formed on the substrate 1. Here, a plurality of linear liquids 22 forming a quadrangle are formed at positions sandwiched between the thin line units formed previously. Here, the linear liquid 22 forming a square shape is arranged so as to be in contact with the outer conductive thin line 21 in the thin line unit adjacent thereto, but not in contact with the inner conductive thin line 21.

Next, as shown in fig. 8(d), when the linear liquid 22 is dried, a thin wire unit composed of a pair of conductive

thin wires

21 and 21 is further formed from each linear liquid 22 by utilizing the coffee stain phenomenon.

In the pattern shown in fig. 8(d), the outer conductive thin line 21 and the adjacent outer conductive thin line 21 are connected to each other. On the other hand, the inner conductive thin wire 21 is not connected to the other inner conductive thin wires 21 and the outer conductive thin wires 21. That is, the inner conductive thin lines 21 are independently arranged.

The pattern shown in fig. 8(d) may be used as a grid pattern as it is. In the pattern shown in fig. 8 d, the inner conductive thin lines 21 may be removed, and a mesh pattern formed of the outer conductive thin lines 21 may be formed (fig. 8 e). According to the second aspect of the mesh pattern formation, an effect of being able to form the conductive thin lines 21 with a high degree of freedom can be obtained. In particular, the arrangement interval of the plurality of conductive thin lines 21 can be set with high degree of freedom without depending on the line width of the linear liquid 22.

The method of removing the inner conductive thin lines 21 is not particularly limited, and for example, a method of irradiating energy rays such as laser light or a method of chemical etching treatment can be used.

In addition, a method of removing the inner conductive thin line 21 by a plating solution when electrolytic plating is performed on the outer conductive thin line 21 may be used. As described above, the inner conductive thin wire 21 is independently disposed and can be removed from the current-carrying path for performing electrolytic plating on the outer conductive thin wire 21. Therefore, during the electrolytic plating (energization period) of the outer conductive thin line 21, the inner conductive thin line 21 on which electrolytic plating is not performed can be removed by dissolution or decomposition of the plating solution.

As described above, a mesh pattern can be formed by combining a plurality of conductive thin lines 21 forming a square. In such a grid pattern, a plurality of conductive thin lines 21 forming a quadrangle are two-dimensionally arranged in a direction of 2 diagonal lines of the quadrangle. The conductive thin lines 21 adjacent to each other and forming a rectangle intersect each other at two sides sandwiching a vertex and intersect each other at 2 intersection points. This stabilizes the conductivity between the conductive thin lines 21 adjacent to each other and forming a square, and improves the conductivity of the entire mesh pattern.

In the mesh pattern shown in fig. 8(d), the case where all the groups of the adjacent conductive thin lines 21 forming a quadrangle intersect each other at 2 intersections with both sides sandwiching the vertex therebetween is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one group of the adjacent conductive thin lines 21 forming a quadrangle may intersect each other at 2 intersections with both sides sandwiching the vertex therebetween.

In the example of fig. 8, the linear liquid 22 and the conductive thin line 21 are formed in a square shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Examples of the shapes of the linear liquid 20 and the conductive thin line 21 include a closed geometric pattern. Examples of the closed geometric figure include a polygon such as a triangle, a quadrangle, a hexagon, and an octagon. The closed geometric figure may include a curved line element such as a circle or an ellipse.

Next, a printing method, particularly, ink suitable for the above-described coffee stain phenomenon will be described in detail.

The conductive material contained in the ink is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include conductive fine particles, conductive polymers, and the like.

Examples of the conductive fine particles include metal fine particles and carbon fine particles.

Examples of the metal constituting the metal fine particles include Au, Pt, Ag, Cu, Ni, Cr, Rh, Pd, Zn, Co, Mo, Ru, W, Os, Ir, Fe, Mn, Ge, Sn, Ga, In, and the like. Among these materials, Au, Ag, and Cu are preferable, and Ag is particularly preferable. The average particle diameter of the metal fine particles can be, for example, 1 to 100nm, and further 3 to 50 nm. The average particle diameter is a volume average particle diameter and can be measured by "Zeta Sizer 1000 HS" manufactured by Maruman corporation.

Examples of the carbon fine particles include graphite fine particles, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes.

The conductive polymer is not particularly limited, and a pi-conjugated conductive polymer can be preferably used. Examples of the pi-conjugated conductive polymer include polythiophenes and polyanilines. The pi-conjugated conductive polymer may be used together with a polyanion such as polystyrene sulfonic acid.

The concentration of the conductive material in the ink can be set to, for example, 5 wt% or less, and further 0.01 wt% or more and 1.0 wt% or less. This can promote the coffee stain phenomenon and can make the conductive thin wire finer.

The solvent used for the ink is not particularly limited, and may include one or more selected from water and organic solvents. Examples of the organic solvent include alcohols such as 1, 2-hexanediol, 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol, 1, 3-butanediol, 1, 4-butanediol, and propylene glycol; and ethers such as diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether.

In addition, the ink may contain other components such as a surfactant. The surfactant is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a silicon surfactant. The concentration of the surfactant in the ink can be set to, for example, 1 wt% or less.

The ink (linear liquid) applied to the substrate may be dried naturally or forcibly. The drying method used in forced drying is not particularly limited, and for example, a method of heating the surface of the substrate to a predetermined temperature, a method of forming a gas flow on the surface of the substrate, or the like may be used alone or in combination. The air flow can be formed by blowing or sucking with a fan or the like, for example.

The conductive thin line formed on the base material can be subjected to post-treatment. Examples of the post-treatment include a baking treatment and a plating treatment. After the firing treatment, a plating treatment may be performed.

Examples of the firing treatment include a light irradiation treatment and a heat treatment. In the light irradiation treatment, for example, gamma rays, X rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light, Infrared Rays (IR), microwaves, radio waves, or the like can be used. In the heat treatment, for example, hot air, a heating table, a hot press, or the like can be used.

Examples of the plating treatment include electroless plating and electrolytic plating. In the electrolytic plating, the conductive thin line can be selectively plated by utilizing the conductivity of the conductive thin line. In the electrolytic plating, it is preferable to supply power from the bus line for plating.

The conductive thin wire may be subjected to plating treatment a plurality of times. It is also possible to carry out a plurality of plating treatments in which the plating metals are different. By the plating process a plurality of times, a plurality of metal layers can be stacked on the conductive thin wire. In the case of laminating a plurality of metal layers, by laminating a first metal layer made of copper and a second metal layer made of nickel or chromium in this order on the conductive thin wire, it is possible to obtain an effect of improving conductivity by copper, an effect of improving durability by nickel or chromium, and an effect of removing coloring. The plating liquid used for the plating may contain an oxidizing agent such as sodium persulfate, copper chloride, hydrogen peroxide, or the like. The use of the oxidizing agent can improve the conductivity of the conductive thin wire and suppress the plating thickness. This effect is particularly exhibited when the electrically conductive thin wire is formed by utilizing the coffee stain phenomenon.

A film such as a cured film can be formed on the base material on which the sensor channel and the lead are formed. The cured film can be formed by applying a curable coating liquid made of an uncured curable resin (resin material) and performing a curing process, for example.

In the case of obtaining a touch panel sensor in which a first sensor group and a second sensor group are provided on one surface and an opposite surface of a base material, for example, the first sensor group and the second sensor group can be formed on the one surface and the opposite surface of the base material, respectively. In addition, as another example, a touch panel sensor can be obtained in which a first base material on which a first sensor group is formed and a second base material on which a second sensor group is formed are laminated, and the first sensor group and the second sensor group are provided on one surface and the opposite surface of the base material formed of the laminated body of the first base material and the second base material, respectively.

The touch detection method in the touch panel sensor is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a resistive film method for detecting a change in resistance value of a touched portion, a capacitive method for detecting a change in capacitance, and an optical sensor method for detecting a change in light amount. The touch sensor with the cured film can be used to constitute a touch panel in various apparatuses.

In the above description, the configuration described in one embodiment or one embodiment can be appropriately applied to other embodiments.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … a substrate; 11 … a long side; 12 … another long side; 2. 4 … sensor channel; 3. 5 … lead wire; 6. 7 … connection part; 20 … a first sensor set; 40 … second sensor group.

Claims

1. A touch panel sensor is provided with a touch panel sensor,

2. The touch panel sensor of claim 1,

3. The touch panel sensor according to claim 1 or 2,

4. The touch panel sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

5. A method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor includes the steps of,

the method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor is characterized in that,

6. The method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor according to claim 5,

7. The method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor according to claim 5 or 6,

8. The method for manufacturing a touch panel sensor according to any one of claims 5 to 7,