TWI591521B - Touch panel and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

Touch panel and method of manufacturing same

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly to a five-wire resistive touch panel.

The touch panel has the advantages of diversified and user-friendly operation interface, and is currently widely used in various electronic products or devices, such as personal computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, smart phones, handwriting input devices, home appliances, automatic teller machines, Or store the sales of ATMs, etc. In general, touch panels can be classified into different types such as a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, an optical touch panel, an electromagnetic touch panel, and an acoustic wave touch panel according to the sensing principle. Among them, the resistive touch panel has the cost advantage, and is one of the most used types in the industry, and can be divided into four-wire, five-wire, six-wire, seven-wire and eight-wire structures according to different electrodes and wiring modes.

A cross-sectional view of the basic structure of the resistive touch panel includes a first substrate 11, a second substrate 12, a first conductive layer 21, a second conductive layer 22, and a plurality of spacers 3, as shown in the first figure. . The material of the second substrate 12 may be, for example, PET (Poly Ethylene Terephthalate; polyethylene terephthalate), and the second conductive layer 22 is composed of a conductive material disposed on one surface of the second substrate 12, for example, A layer of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide; indium tin oxide) was applied. Further, the material of the first substrate 11 may be, for example, PET or glass, and the first conductive layer 21 is also composed of a conductive material disposed on one surface of the first substrate 11, for example, a layer of ITO. In addition, a plurality of spacers 3 are disposed between the first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer 22, The two conductive layers are not turned on when the touch is accepted. The first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer are disposed when the resistive touch panel is touched by arranging an electrode (not shown) electrically connected to the first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer 22 respectively. When layer 22 is turned on, the signal can be output and the position of the touch can be distinguished by a different signal.

Based on the basic structure and principle of the above-mentioned resistive touch panel, the second figure is a basic structure of a conventional five-wire resistive touch panel, comprising a first substrate 11, an electrode frame layer 4, an insulating layer 5, a signal wire layer 6, and a second substrate 12. The first conductive layer 21 is formed on the upper surface of the first substrate 11, and the second conductive layer 22 is formed on the lower surface of the second substrate 11 (not shown in the drawing due to the drawing angle); the electrode frame 4 The electrodes 41 and 42 including the x-axis direction and the electrodes 43 and 44 in the x-axis direction are used for forming a voltage drop in the x direction and the y direction, respectively, in the first conductive layer 21; the insulating layer 5 is for bonding the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, and spacers are provided to maintain an insulating state therebetween.

The third figure is a perspective projection view of a five-wire resistive touch panel, wherein the first conductive layer has a conductive region 211 defined by an etched line (broken line in the figure), and the boundary thereof is substantially according to the outer portion of the electrode frame 4 The design is shown in the figure, and the plurality of wires 61 included in the signal wire layer are electrically connected to the four corners of the electrode frame 4. In order to supply voltage to the electrode frame 4 and receive the signal, a row of wire ends 7 can be electrically connected to the wires of the signal wire layer, for example, by means of hot pressing. However, as shown in a partially enlarged view in the third figure of the figure, once the hot nip of the terminal end 7 overlaps with the etched line, the signal wire layer and the conductive region 211 may be short-circuited, resulting in a linear voltage distribution of the conductive region 211. Bad or even the touch panel does not work. Therefore, for the problem of this prior art, a solution is needed to improve the reliability and performance of the touch panel.

In view of the problems encountered in the prior art, the present invention mainly avoids the prior art cable tail or signal wire and conductive layer (lower conductive layer or pattern) by changing the structure of the electrode frame and the conductive layer boundary in the touch panel. The conduction problem that may occur in the first conductive layer indicated in the first and second figures. In addition to changing the electrode structure, the present invention also proposes a method of compensation for the effect of the change on the voltage distribution. With the present invention, the reliability, design flexibility and performance of the touch panel can be improved.

An embodiment of the present invention is a touch panel comprising: a substrate, a conductive layer formed on the substrate; and an electrode frame disposed on the conductive layer, the electrode frame including a first substantially parallel along the first direction a voltage dividing electrode and a second voltage dividing electrode, and a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the second direction; wherein a portion of the first voltage dividing electrode is a single wire structure, and the conductive layer is An inner recess is formed corresponding to the boundary of the single-wire structure. The design of the first voltage dividing electrode may include a plurality of Ω-type electrode segments and a plurality of analog electrode segments, and the single wire structure is a central portion of the Ω-type electrode segments. The electrode segments are staggered and maintain a gap, so that the first voltage dividing electrode has the effect of series resistance. In order to make the electrode structure of the opposite side of the electrode frame symmetrical, if the space permits, the second voltage dividing electrode is designed to have a symmetrical structure with the first voltage dividing electrode; however, the first voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode may also be Have a different structure, but still have to maintain the same total resistance. The touch panel may further include: a first wire having one end connected to a corner where the third voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode meet; and a second wire having one end connected to the first voltage dividing electrode and a corner of the third voltage-dividing electrode; a third wire having one end connected to a corner where the first voltage-dividing electrode and the fourth voltage-dividing electrode meet; and a fourth wire having one end connected to the second wire a corner where the pressing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode are connected; wherein the other ends of the first, second, third, and fourth wires are disposed adjacent to the inner concave portion, and the tail is connected to a row of tails Use. The end of the wire extends to the inner recess and does not overlap the conductive layer. When the wire end is mounted by, for example, hot pressing, there is no doubt that the wire end is electrically connected to the conductive layer. In addition, due to the change of the electrode structure, in order to maintain the linearity of the voltage distribution in the electrode frame, the resistances R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _{Y2 of} the first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes are the first and the 2. The resistances R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R _{4 of the} third and fourth wires must satisfy a specific relationship.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising: forming a conductive layer on a substrate, wherein the conductive layer is provided with a first partial pressure electrode and a second partial pressure electrode substantially parallel in a first direction; And a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the second direction to form an electrode frame; wherein a portion of the first voltage dividing electrode is a single wire structure, and the conductive layer is bordered by a pair An inner recess should be formed at the single wire structure. The first voltage dividing electrode described above may be composed of a plurality of Ω-type electrode segments and an analog-type electrode segment, and the single-wire structure segment is a central portion of the Ω-type electrode segment. In order to make the electrode structure of the opposite side of the electrode frame symmetrical, if the space permits, the second voltage dividing electrode is designed to have a symmetrical structure with the first voltage dividing electrode; however, the first voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode may also be Have a different structure, but still have to maintain the same total resistance. The manufacturing method of the touch panel may further include: forming a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, wherein one end of each wire is respectively connected to the third voltage dividing electrode and the a corner of the second voltage dividing electrode, a corner where the first voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode are intersected, a corner where the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode are intersected, and the second voltage dividing electrode The corners intersecting the fourth voltage-dividing electrode are disposed at positions adjacent to the recesses in the boundary of the conductive layer, but do not overlap the conductive layer. Further, a row of wire ends may be disposed, and the plurality of wires included at the end of the wire are respectively electrically connected to the first, second, third, and fourth wires, and the end of the wire is extended to the projection of the substrate to The inner recess does not overlap the conductive layer. Wherein the resistance R ₁ of the first lead, the second lead of the resistor R _2, the third conductor resistance R _3, or the fourth wire of the resistance R of the resistance value of _4, so that the line resistance of the first, second The resistors R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _{Y2 of the} third and fourth voltage dividing electrodes satisfy a specific relationship to maintain the linearity of the voltage distribution that can be generated by the electrode frame.

Therefore, the present invention mainly aims to change the structural configuration of the electrode frame to meet the requirement of a partial design space required for the five-wire resistive touch panel during wiring, such as the aforementioned tail region or the dispensing region, Non-wiring area of a flat touch device, and the like. Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described later in detail.

A

11‧‧‧First substrate

12‧‧‧second substrate

21‧‧‧First conductive layer

211‧‧‧ conductive area

22‧‧‧Second conductive layer

3‧‧‧ spacers

4‧‧‧electrode frame

41‧‧‧First voltage dividing electrode

42‧‧‧Second voltage dividing electrode

43‧‧‧ Third voltage dividing electrode

44‧‧‧fourth voltage dividing electrode

5‧‧‧Insulation

6‧‧‧Signal wire layer

61‧‧‧ wire

611‧‧‧First wire

612‧‧‧second wire

613‧‧‧ Third wire

614‧‧‧fourth wire

62‧‧‧ fifth wire

7‧‧‧End of cable

8‧‧‧ Inside recess

91‧‧‧Class type electrode segment

92‧‧‧S type S electrode segments

93‧‧‧Omega type electrode segments

The first figure shows the basic structure of the resistive touch panel; the second figure shows the main components of the five-wire resistive touch panel; the third figure shows the part of the conventional five-wire resistive touch panel. Structural perspective projection; fourth embodiment of the present invention is a partial perspective projection of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a partial perspective projection of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the present invention The voltage dividing electrode structure; the seventh figure is the equivalent resistance of each wire and each voltage dividing electrode according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the spirit and intent of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. The content disclosed in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily represent the complete composition and size ratio of the actual product. The manner in which the touch panel is described later will only reveal the main steps based on the spirit of the present invention. However, those who have common knowledge in the field of touch panel technology can The description understands and implements the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention is a touch panel having electrodes having a partial single-wire structure, and a perspective projection view thereof is shown in the fourth figure. Wherein, the conductive region 211 is defined by an etched line (indicated by a broken line in the figure), the electrode frame is disposed on the conductive region 211, and the etched wire is previously set according to the shape of the electrode frame; the electrode frame is first along the first The first voltage dividing electrode 41 and the second voltage dividing electrode 42 disposed in parallel with the direction, and the third voltage dividing electrode 43 and the fourth voltage dividing electrode 44 disposed in parallel in the second direction; the corners of the electrode frame are respectively connected to the first One end of the wire 611, the second wire 612, the third wire 613, and the fourth wire 614, and the other end of each wire extends to a specific position, and the fifth wire 62 is used to connect the upper conductive layer (not shown) For example, reference may be made to the first symbol or the second diagram of the component symbol 22); this embodiment includes a row of wire tails 7 disposed at specific positions of the concentrated wires, which can be supplied by wires 611 to 614. The electrode frame voltage is output, and the voltage signal generated by the fifth wire 62 when the user touches is output. As shown in a partially enlarged view of the figure, in order to prevent the tail end 7 of the cable from being short-circuited with the conductive region 211 during the touch panel process (for example, hot pressing) or during use, the present embodiment proposes a partial pressure having a partial single-wire structure. The electrode, as shown in the first voltage-dividing electrode 41 in the figure, the etching line at the boundary of the conductive region 211 may also have a concave portion 8 corresponding to the single-line structure, and the vicinity of the opening of the concave portion 8 is used as the concentrated wires 611-614, A specific area of 62. When the tail end 7 of the cable is combined, the tail end of the cable is not overlapped with the conductive region 211, so that the wire or the upper conductive layer and the conductive region may be short-circuited. On the other hand, in order to make the first voltage dividing electrode 41 and the second voltage dividing electrode 42 have the same partial pressure effect, the structure of the second voltage dividing electrode 42 can be symmetrical with the first voltage dividing electrode 41.

However, in some cases, it may not be possible to have a parallel voltage dividing electrode having a symmetrical structure, so the fifth figure of the drawing discloses another embodiment of the present invention having an asymmetric parallel voltage dividing electrode junction. The touch panel. Wherein, as described in the previous embodiment, in order to allow the space to be provided with the tail end 7 of the cable, the projection of the tail end 7 of the cable is prevented from overlapping with the conductive region 211, and the first voltage dividing electrode 41 has a partial single-wire structure, however The parallel second divided electrode 42 does not include a single wire structure. Since the structures of the different voltage dividing electrodes have different adjustment voltage drop characteristics, the structure of the first voltage dividing electrode 41 and the second voltage dividing electrode 42 can be referred to the sixth figure of the drawing. The sixth diagram (a) is the structure of the second voltage dividing electrode 42, that is, the same as the prior art, and does not include a single line portion. The second voltage dividing electrode 42 can be composed, for example, of an S-type electrode segment 92 and an analog electrode segment 91. A gap is formed between the electrode segments to form a resistor R. Therefore, the total voltage of the second voltage dividing electrode 42 is 8R. The sixth diagram (b) is the structure of the first voltage dividing electrode 41, which is composed of a class-like electrode segment 91 and an Ω-type electrode segment 93, and the central portion of the Ω-type electrode segment 93 is the aforementioned single-wire structure portion. Similarly, a gap is formed between the electrode segments of the first voltage dividing electrode 41 to form a resistor R. Here, the arrangement and position of the electrode segments must be arranged such that the total resistance of the first voltage dividing electrode 41 and the second voltage dividing electrode 42 The total resistance is the same as 8R, as shown in the sixth figure (b).

In the above two embodiments, whether the symmetrical or asymmetric voltage dividing electrode structure is used, the linearity of the voltage distribution formed in the conductive region 211 after the voltage is applied to the electrode frame can be adjusted by adjusting the first to fourth wires. The resistance value of 611~614 is to maintain the linearity of the voltage distribution. As shown in the seventh figure of the figure, reference is made to the content of the fourth figure, wherein R _x1 , R _x2 , R _y1 , R _y2 , R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ represent the first voltage dividing electrode 41, respectively. The resistance of the second voltage dividing electrode 42, the third voltage dividing electrode 43, the fourth voltage dividing electrode 44, the first wire 611, the second wire 612, the third wire 613, and the fourth wire 614. These resistance values must satisfy the following relationship:

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a touch panel having electrodes having a partial single-wire structure, which is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. This method consists of the following steps:

(1) forming a conductive layer on a substrate, the material of the substrate may be, for example, PET or glass, and the material of the conductive layer may be, for example, ITO, so that the first substrate and the first conductive layer are both transparent. ;

(2) defining a conductive region in the conductive layer, the boundary of the conductive region may be defined by an etched line by using, for example, etching, and the boundary is set to have an inner concave portion in accordance with the type of the electrode frame described later;

(3) providing, in the conductive region, a first voltage dividing electrode and a second voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the first direction, and a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the second direction, An electrode frame is formed; wherein the first voltage dividing electrode comprises an Ω-type electrode segment and an analog electrode segment, such that the first voltage dividing electrode has a single-wire structure in a central portion of the Ω-type electrode segment. Therefore, the inner concave portion of the boundary of the conductive region described in the step (2) corresponds to the single-line structure. In addition, the second voltage dividing electrode parallel to the first voltage dividing electrode may be designed to be symmetric or asymmetric, and the structures of the component symbols 42 in the fourth and fifth figures of the drawing may be referred to, respectively. When the first voltage dividing electrode and the second partial voltage electrode are extremely asymmetric, the arrangement of the electrode segments of the two or one of the electrodes is required to make the total resistance of the two the same. For example, the design of the sixth figure can be referred to. .

(4) A plurality of wires are disposed, one end of which is respectively connected to each corner of the electrode frame, and the other end extends to the vicinity of the opening of the inner concave portion at the boundary of the conductive region, for example, the component symbols 611 to 614 in the fourth figure of the drawing. In order to maintain the voltage distribution of the conductive region when the voltage is applied to the electrode frame, based on the resistor structure shown in the seventh figure of the figure, the resistances R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R _{4 of the} respective wires must be adjusted to make the resistors The resistances R _x1 , R _x2 , R _y1 , and R _y2 with the voltage dividing electrodes satisfy: The relative positions of the resistances of the respective wires and the voltage dividing electrodes can be compared with the fourth and seventh figures of the drawings and the foregoing description. The manner in which the respective lead resistances R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R _{4 are} adjusted may, for example, change the length, width, material, and the like of each of the wires.

(5) setting a tail end wire, for example, using a hot pressing method, so that the plurality of wires included therein are connected to the respective wires (refer to component symbols 611 to 614 in the fourth figure of the drawing), wherein the tail wire is connected to The projection of the conductive layer extends into the recess in the conductive region but does not overlap the conductive region.

By the above method, the problem that the tail cable and the conductive region may be turned on or shorted in the prior art can be avoided, thereby manufacturing a touch panel with higher reliability.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the embodiments of the present invention and are not exhaustive of all possible variations. The scope of the claims of the applicant is set forth in the scope of the patent application, and the scope of the claims and the scope of the claims are covered by the scope of the patent, and the contents of the foregoing inventions or drawings are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. .

211‧‧‧ conductive area

41‧‧‧First voltage dividing electrode

42‧‧‧Second voltage dividing electrode

43‧‧‧ Third voltage dividing electrode

44‧‧‧fourth voltage dividing electrode

611‧‧‧First wire

612‧‧‧second wire

613‧‧‧ Third wire

614‧‧‧fourth wire

62‧‧‧ fifth wire

7‧‧‧End of cable

8‧‧‧ Inside recess

Claims (13)

A touch panel comprises: a substrate, a conductive layer formed on the substrate; an electrode frame disposed on the conductive layer, comprising a first partial pressure electrode and a second partial pressure electrode substantially parallel in a first direction, And a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the second direction; wherein the first voltage dividing electrode comprises a type of Ω type electrode segment and a type of working electrode segment, the portion of the first voltage dividing electrode In the single-wire structure, the single-wire structure is a central portion of the Ω-type electrode segment, and the boundary of the conductive layer corresponds to a single-line structure to form an inner recess. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode have an asymmetric structure, and the first voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode have the same The resistance value. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second voltage dividing electrode and the first voltage dividing electrode have a symmetrical structure. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising: a first wire, one end of which is connected to a corner where the third voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode meet; and a second wire end Connected to a corner where the first voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode are connected; a third wire has one end connected to a corner where the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode meet; and a fourth wire One end is connected to a corner where the second voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode meet; wherein the other ends of the first, second, third, and fourth wires are disposed adjacent to the inner concave portion. The touch panel of claim 4, further comprising a row of wire ends, comprising a plurality of wires for electrically connecting the first, second, third, and fourth wires, the wire ends at the substrate The projection extends to the inner recess and does not overlap the conductive layer. The touch panel of claim 4, wherein the resistances of the first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes are R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _Y2 , respectively, the first The resistances of the second, third, and fourth wires are R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R ₄ , respectively, and satisfy: A method for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising: forming a conductive layer on a substrate; defining a conductive region in the conductive layer; and disposing a first partial pressure electrode and a second partial pressure substantially parallel in a first direction in the conductive region An electrode, and a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the second direction to form an electrode frame; wherein the first voltage dividing electrode comprises a type of Ω type electrode segment and a type of working electrode segment, The portion of the first voltage dividing electrode is a single wire structure, and the single wire structure is a central portion of the Ω type electrode segment, and the boundary of the conductive region has an inner concave portion corresponding to the single wire structure. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the first voltage dividing electrode The second voltage dividing electrode has an asymmetrical structure, and the first voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode have the same resistance value. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the second voltage dividing electrode and the first voltage dividing electrode have a symmetrical structure. The method of manufacturing the touch panel of claim 7, further comprising: forming a first wire, connecting one end thereof to a corner of the third voltage dividing electrode and the second voltage dividing electrode; forming a a second wire having one end connected to a corner where the first voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode meet; forming a third wire connecting one end thereof to the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode a corner of the intersection; and forming a fourth wire, connecting one end thereof to a corner where the second voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode meet; and the other end of the first, second, third, and fourth wires They are all disposed adjacent to the inner recess. The method for manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 10, further comprising: providing a row of wire ends, and electrically connecting the plurality of wires included at the end of the wire to each of the first, second, third, and fourth a wire, and the projection of the end of the wire on the substrate extends to the inner recess and does not overlap the conductive layer. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 10, wherein the resistance of the first wire R ₁ , the resistance of the second wire R ₂ , the resistance of the third wire R ₃ , or the resistance of the fourth wire R _4. The resistances R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _{Y2 of the} first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes satisfy: The method of manufacturing the touch panel of claim 12, wherein the first wire, the second wire, the third wire, or the fourth wire are of different lengths, widths, or materials. To form different resistance values.