TWI601052B - 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.

According to the basic structure of the resistive touch panel described above, the second figure is a schematic diagram of a main component of a conventional five-wire resistive touch panel, including a first conductive layer 21, a second conductive layer 22, and a first conductive layer. The electrode frame 4 is completely in contact with and electrically connected to the layer 21. The electrode frame 4 can be considered to be composed of a pair of divided voltage electrodes in a first direction and a pair of voltage dividing electrodes in a parallel second direction, such as the x direction and the y direction perpendicular to each other in the drawing. The five-wire resistive touch panel has five main wires (not shown) connected to the four corners 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D of the electrode frame 4 and the second conductive layer 22, respectively. In order to distinguish the position touched by the user, the electrode frame 4 must be staggered to form a voltage drop in the x direction and the y direction, that is, a voltage of 5 V is applied to 4A and 4D, and a voltage of 0 V is applied to 4B and 4C, followed by 4C, 4D. A voltage of 5 V is applied while 4A, 4B apply a voltage of 0 V, and a second conductive layer 22 applies a voltage of 0 V. When the user touches a certain point of the second conductive layer 22 to make the point conductive with the first conductive layer 21, the point can be identified by detecting and outputting the voltage values of the x direction and the y direction of the point. The coordinate position in the x and y directions.

In many touch panel applications, especially full-plane touch panels, independent touch icons are required in addition to the conventional touch actuation regions to provide users with more diverse control interfaces. Or control method. However, the prior art described above does not satisfy such a need. In view of this, the present invention proposes a touch panel having a separate icon.

In view of the above deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention proposes an independent touchable The touch panel of the icon retains an area outside the electrode frame of the first conductive layer for corresponding to the icon in the touch interface. In a five-wire resistive touch panel, the voltage signal of the touch action area is actually between the maximum and minimum voltages of the supply electrode frame (so it is not equal to the maximum or minimum voltage). If the reserved area of the corresponding icon is disposed along one side of the electrode frame, the voltage signal of the reserved area is not the same as the touch action area. With this feature, you can implement a touchable icon that is independent of the action area.

An aspect of the present invention is a touch panel comprising a first conductive layer having a first conductive region; and an electrode frame disposed in the first conductive region, the electrode frame and the first conductive region There is a preset icon space between the boundaries; wherein the preset icon space corresponds to at least one touch control icon in the operation interface of the touch panel. The touch panel further includes a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer and having a second conductive region and a third conductive region, the second conductive region and the third conductive region The area of the second conductive region in the projection area of the first conductive layer corresponds to the electrode frame, and the projection area of the third conductive layer in the first conductive layer corresponds to the preset icon space. In addition, the shape of the electrode frame may be substantially rectangular; and the preset icon space may also be substantially rectangular and co-edge with the electrode frame and does not overlap.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a touch panel, first forming a first conductive layer on a substrate; secondly defining a first conductive region in the first conductive layer by etching; and An electrode frame is disposed in the conductive region, and a preset icon space is reserved between the electrode frame and the boundary of the first conductive region; wherein the preset icon space is used to touch at least one of the operation interfaces of the touch panel Control icon. In addition to the above steps, the method of manufacturing the touch panel may further include forming a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer having a second conductive region and a third conductive region. The second conductive region and the third conductive The region is insulated, and the projection area of the second conductive region in the first conductive layer corresponds to the electrode frame, and the projection region of the third conductive region in the first conductive layer corresponds to the preset icon space. In the above touch panel, the shape of the electrode frame may be substantially rectangular; in addition, the preset icon space may be a rectangle that is co-edge and does not overlap with the electrode frame, and the touch panel has a plurality of touchable interfaces in the operation interface. Controlling the icon, the plurality of touch control icons are arranged along the direction of the preset icon space and the electrode frame. The manufacturing method of the touch panel further includes adjusting the position of each of the touch control icons so that the corresponding voltage signal conforms to the resolution that the controller can process.

According to the touch panel structure and the manufacturing method of the present invention, an icon for independent operation can be disposed outside the active area of the conventional touch panel, so that the operation interface and the operation mode of the touch panel have more variation and design flexibility. The embodiments of the present invention will be described later in detail.

11‧‧‧First substrate

12‧‧‧second substrate

21‧‧‧First conductive layer

211‧‧‧First conductive area

22‧‧‧Second conductive layer

3‧‧‧ spacers

4‧‧‧electrode frame

51‧‧‧First wire

52‧‧‧second wire

53‧‧‧ Third wire

54‧‧‧fourth wire

6‧‧‧Touch action area

7‧‧‧Touch control icon

The first figure is the basic structure diagram of the resistive touch panel; the second figure is the main composition diagram of the five-wire resistive touch panel; the third figure is the perspective projection of the structure of one embodiment of the present invention Figure.

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 skilled in the art of touch panel technology can understand and implement the present invention by the following description.

One embodiment of the present invention is a touch panel having a separate icon, and a perspective projection of the main constituent elements is shown in the third figure. Wherein, the first conductive layer has a first conductive region 211. The boundary of the first conductive region 211 is drawn by a broken line in the figure, and the range can be defined by etching in actual production. The dotted line in the figure is equivalent to the etching line; however, the method is not limited by etching, and the shape can also be Change according to actual needs. The electrode frame 4 is disposed in the first conductive region 211, and the area is smaller than the first conductive region 211, and a portion of the first conductive region 211 is reserved as a preset icon space, and the touchable icon 7 in the touch interface of the touch panel is Corresponding to this preset icon space. For example, the electrode frame 4 is substantially rectangular, and the preset icon space is another rectangle that is co-edge with the electrode frame 4 and does not overlap. Since the electrode structure on each side of the electrode frame 4 is not a simple linear form, but may have structural changes of various details (for example, the design shown in the drawing), it is described herein as "substantially rectangular". In addition, in order to apply a voltage to the electrode frame 4, the touch actuation region 6 has a voltage distribution, and the third figure also discloses a plurality of wires for connecting the corners of the electrode frame 4 with the controller (not shown), including The first wire 51, the second wire 52, the third wire 53, and the fourth wire 54.

In the architecture of the third diagram of the drawing, when the touch actuation region 6 is to be formed with a voltage drop in the x direction, the voltage supplied from the first wire 51 and the second wire 52 is V _XL and the third wire 53 and the fourth wire 54 are 54 The supplied voltage is V _XH . Then, when the touch actuation region 6 is controlled to form a voltage drop in the y direction, the voltage supplied from the first wire 51 and the fourth wire 54 is V _YH and the voltage supplied from the second wire 52 and the third wire 53 is V _YL . Since the range of the touch actuation region 6 is smaller than the electrode frame 4, the voltage range actually used for detection and output is less than V _XH and greater than V _XL in the x direction and less than V _YH and greater than V _YL in the y direction. However, in order to distinguish the voltage signal of each touchable icon 7 from the voltage signal in the touch actuation area 6, when a voltage is applied in the x direction of the electrode frame 4, the position of the adjacent two touchable icons 7 in the x direction is The corresponding voltage signal difference ΔV must satisfy: The voltage signal V _Y-icon corresponding to the position of the y-direction of each touchable icon 7 must satisfy: Wherein V _Y2 and V _Y1 are the highest and lowest voltages in the y direction of the touch actuation zone 6, respectively, corresponding to the upper and lower edges of the touch actuation zone 6 in the figure. The above description is taken as an example of the architecture in the third figure of the drawing, that is, the preset icon space or the touchable icon 7 is disposed below the electrode frame 4 in the figure, but can also be disposed on the electrode in the figure based on the same principle. The left side, the right side, or the upper side of the box 4, the general knowledge in the field can also calculate the position limit of setting the touchable icon 7 in the same manner. For further independent control of the icon, refer to the Patent Application No. 201007540 of the Republic of China, in the second conductive layer (not shown in the third figure, please refer to the second figure of the figure) using the design of the plurality of conductive regions, each The conductive regions are insulated from each other and respectively correspond to the touch actuating region 6 of the first conductive layer and the touchable icon 7 in the preset icon space, and have independent signal wires. In this way, each touchable icon 7 can be independently controlled from the touch actuation zone 6, and the icon and touch actuation zone 6 can be simultaneously touched.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a touch panel having a separate icon, the steps of which include:

(1) forming a first conductive layer on a first substrate, the material of the first substrate may be, for example, PET or glass, and the material of the first conductive layer may be, for example, ITO, so the first substrate and the first substrate A conductive layer is permeable to light.

(2) defining the first conductive layer as a first conductive region, the range of which is, for example, The etching method defines the boundaries of the conductive regions on a complete conductive material. Referring to the symbol 211 of the third figure of the drawing, the dotted line around it represents the etched line.

(3) an electrode frame is disposed on the first conductive region, the electrode frame is smaller than the first conductive region, and a predetermined icon space is reserved. For example, the structure of the component symbol 4 in the third figure of the drawing may be referred to. It is substantially rectangular, and a part of the first conductive area (the component symbol 211 in the figure) is left as a preset icon space in the lower part of the figure, and is used for the touchable icon in the interface of the touch panel (component symbol 7 in the figure). .

Forming a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer, the material of which may be, for example, ITO, such that the second conductive layer is permeable to light. The second conductive layer is divided into a third conductive region and at least a fourth conductive region, and the third conductive region and the fourth conductive region do not overlap and are insulated from each other. The area of the third conductive region projected by the first conductive layer corresponds to the first conductive region, and the region of the fourth conductive region projected by the first conductive layer corresponds to the second conductive region.

In the above steps, the position of the touchable icon has its limitation, and the corresponding voltage signal must not overlap with the touch actuation area and conform to the resolution of the controller or the signal processing device. Taking the architecture of the third figure as an example, when the touch actuation region 6 is to form a voltage drop in the x direction, the voltage supplied by the first wire 51 and the second wire 52 is V _XL and the third wire 53 and the fourth wire are The voltage supplied by 54 is V _XH . Then, when the touch actuation region 6 is controlled to form a voltage drop in the y direction, the voltage supplied from the first wire 51 and the fourth wire 54 is V _YH and the voltage supplied from the second wire 52 and the third wire 53 is V _YL . Therefore, the voltage signal difference ΔV corresponding to the position of the adjacent two touchable icons 7 in the x direction must satisfy: The voltage signal V _YI corresponding to the position of the y-direction of each touchable icon 7 must satisfy: Wherein V _Y2 and V _Y1 are the highest and lowest voltages in the y direction of the touch actuation zone 6, respectively, corresponding to the upper and lower edges of the touch actuation zone 6 in the figure.

It should be noted that the above steps are not necessarily in accordance with the order listed in the label, and may vary according to the actual needs and the arrangement of the process.

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‧‧‧First conductive area

22‧‧‧Second conductive layer

3‧‧‧ spacers

4‧‧‧electrode frame

51‧‧‧First wire

52‧‧‧second wire

53‧‧‧ Third wire

54‧‧‧fourth wire

6‧‧‧Touch action area

7‧‧‧Touch control icon

Claims (18)

A touch panel includes: a first conductive layer having a first conductive region; and an electrode frame disposed in the first conductive region, the electrode frame having a pre-prediction between the boundary of the first conductive region An icon space is provided, and the preset icon space is co-edge and does not overlap with the electrode frame; wherein the preset icon space corresponds to a plurality of touch control icons in the operation interface of the touch panel, wherein the electrode frame is The corner is provided with a plurality of wires, wherein the plurality of wires provide a first maximum voltage and a first minimum voltage in a first direction, so that two adjacent ones of the plurality of touch control icons correspond to the first direction The voltage signal difference is greater than or equal to a difference between the first maximum voltage and the first minimum voltage and a resolution of the touch panel. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires provide a second minimum voltage and a second maximum voltage in a second direction different from the first direction, so that the plurality of wires can be The voltage signal corresponding to the second direction of the touch control icon is less than or equal to a difference between the second minimum voltage and a calculated value, wherein the calculated value is a difference between the second maximum voltage and the second minimum voltage The quotient of the resolution of the touch panel. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the electrode frame has a touch action area, and the voltage signals of the plurality of touch control icons are different from the voltage signals of the touch action area. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer and having a second conductive region and a third conductive region, the second conductive The region is insulated from the third conductive region; the second conductive region is in a projected region of the first conductive layer Corresponding to the electrode frame, the projection area of the third conductive region in the first conductive layer corresponds to the preset icon space. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the electrode frame is substantially rectangular in shape. The touch panel of claim 4, wherein the preset icon space is substantially rectangular. A method for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising: forming a first conductive layer on a substrate; defining a first conductive region in the first conductive layer by etching; and providing an electrode frame in the first conductive region; A preset icon space is reserved between the electrode frame and the boundary of the first conductive area, and the preset icon space is co-edge and does not overlap with the electrode frame; wherein the preset icon space is used for corresponding touch a plurality of touch control icons in the operation interface of the panel, wherein the corners of the electrode frame are provided with a plurality of wires, wherein the plurality of wires provide a first maximum voltage and a first minimum voltage in a first direction, so that the plurality The quotient of the adjacent two voltage touch signals corresponding to the first direction of the touch control icon is greater than or equal to the difference between the first maximum voltage and the first minimum voltage and the resolution of the touch panel value. The method of manufacturing the touch panel of claim 7, wherein the plurality of wires provide a second minimum voltage and a second maximum voltage in a second direction different from the first direction, such that The voltage signal corresponding to the second direction of the plurality of touch control icons is less than or equal to a difference between the second minimum voltage and a calculated value, wherein the calculated value is one of the second maximum voltage and the second minimum voltage The difference between the difference and the resolution of the touch panel. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the electrode frame has a touch action area, and the voltage signals of the plurality of touch control icons are different from the voltage signals of the touch action area. The method of manufacturing the touch panel of claim 7, further comprising forming a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer having a second conductive region and a first a third conductive region, the second conductive region is insulated from the third conductive region, and the projection region of the second conductive region in the first conductive layer corresponds to the electrode frame, and the third conductive region is at the first The projection area of the conductive layer corresponds to the preset icon space. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the electrode frame is substantially rectangular in shape. The method of manufacturing the touch panel of claim 11, wherein the preset icon space is rectangular, and the touch panel has a plurality of touch control icons in the operation interface, and the plurality of touch control icons are along the The preset icon space is arranged in the direction of the edge of the electrode frame. A touch panel includes: a first conductive layer having a first conductive region; and an electrode frame disposed in the first conductive region, the electrode frame having a pre-prediction between the boundary of the first conductive region An icon space is provided, and the preset icon space is co-edge and does not overlap with the electrode frame; wherein the preset icon space corresponds to a plurality of touch control icons in the operation interface of the touch panel, wherein the electrode frame is a plurality of wires are disposed at a corner, the plurality of wires providing a second minimum voltage and a second maximum voltage in a second direction, such that the voltage signals corresponding to the plurality of touch control icons in the second direction are less than or equal to The second minimum voltage and a calculated value The difference is the calculated value of the difference between the second maximum voltage and the second minimum voltage and the resolution of the touch panel. The touch panel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of wires provide a first maximum voltage and a first minimum voltage in a first direction different from the second direction, so that the plurality of wires can be The voltage signal difference corresponding to the first two directions of the touch control icon is greater than or equal to a difference between the first maximum voltage and the first minimum voltage and a resolution of the touch panel. The touch panel of claim 13, wherein the electrode frame has a touch action area, and the voltage signals of the plurality of touch control icons are different from the voltage signals of the touch action area. A method for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising: forming a first conductive layer on a substrate; defining a first conductive region in the first conductive layer by etching; and providing an electrode frame in the first conductive region; A preset icon space is reserved between the electrode frame and the boundary of the first conductive area, and the preset icon space is co-edge and does not overlap with the electrode frame; wherein the preset icon space is used for corresponding touch a plurality of touch control icons in the operation interface of the panel, wherein the corners of the electrode frame are provided with a plurality of wires, wherein the plurality of wires provide a second minimum voltage and a second maximum voltage in a second direction, so that the plurality The voltage signal corresponding to the second direction of the touch control icon is less than or equal to the difference between the second minimum voltage and a calculated value, wherein the calculated value is a difference between the second maximum voltage and the second minimum voltage The value of the quotient of the resolution of the touch panel. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein the plurality of wires provide a first maximum voltage and a first minimum voltage in a first direction different from the second direction, so that the plurality of wires can be The voltage signal difference corresponding to the first two directions of the touch control icon is greater than or equal to a difference between the first maximum voltage and the first minimum voltage and a resolution of the touch panel. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein the electrode frame has a touch action area, and the voltage signals of the plurality of touch control icons are different from the voltage signals of the touch action area.