CN104345997B - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a touch panel, which includes a first substrate, a plurality of first electrode lines and a plurality of second electrode lines. The first electrode lines and the second electrode lines are arranged side by side on the first substrate and extend in two different directions respectively. Each first electrode line includes a plurality of electrode pads and a plurality of first connecting sections connecting the electrode pads, wherein each first connecting section has two ends and a middle section, the width of each first connecting section decreases from the two ends toward the middle section, and the corners of the connection between the two ends and the corresponding electrode pads are smooth curved surfaces. The second electrode lines are electrically insulated from the first electrode lines, and each second electrode line intersects with the vertical projection of the corresponding first connecting section on the first substrate to form an overlapping area.

Description

touch panel

technical field

The present application relates to a touch panel, and in particular to a capacitive touch panel.

Background technique

In recent years, with the rapid development and application of information technology, wireless mobile communications and information home appliances, many information products have been replaced by traditional input devices such as keyboards or mice in order to achieve more convenience, smaller size and more humanization. Switch to using a touch panel as an input device. Touch panels can be roughly classified into resistive touch panels, capacitive touch panels, optical touch panels, acoustic wave touch panels, and electromagnetic touch panels according to different sensing modes. Compared with other types of touch panels, the capacitive touch panel has the advantages of fast response time, good reliability and high definition, so it is widely used in various handheld electronic devices.

The capacitive touch panel forms a sensing array through a plurality of interlaced electrode lines (such as driving lines and sensing lines) to achieve surface sensing. When the user touches the touch panel with a finger, the touch panel will determine the position touched by the finger according to the capacitance change on the sensing array. However, the known capacitive touch panel easily generates parasitic capacitance at the intersection of the electrode lines, which is not conducive to the calculation of the touch position, resulting in poor sensing sensitivity. Therefore, in order to reduce the influence of parasitic capacitance, the known designs usually choose to increase the distance between the electrode lines at the intersecting positions, such as increasing the thickness of the insulating material between the electrode lines, which will cause a burden on the manufacturing cost and increase the contact. Control panel thickness. On the contrary, if the parasitic capacitance is reduced by reducing the line width of the electrode lines at the intersections, the problem of disconnection is likely to occur at the turning point where the line width changes, which affects the production process yield and reliability of the touch panel.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the present application is to provide a touch panel with good manufacturing process yield and reliability.

To achieve the above purpose, the touch panel proposed by the present application includes a first substrate, a plurality of first electrode lines and a plurality of second electrode lines. The first electrode lines are arranged side by side on the first base material and respectively extend along a first direction. Each first electrode line includes a plurality of electrode pads and a plurality of first connection sections, any two adjacent electrode pads are connected through one of the corresponding first connection sections, and the width of the electrode pads is greater than the width of the first connection section, wherein Each first connection section has two ends for connecting the electrode pads and a middle part between the two ends, the width of each first connection section decreases from the two ends toward the middle part and presents a necked shape, Moreover, the corners at the joints between the two ends of each first connecting segment and the corresponding electrode pads are smooth curved surfaces. The second electrode lines are arranged side by side on the first substrate, and extend along a second direction respectively, and the second direction intersects with the first direction. The second electrode wires are electrically insulated from the first electrode wires, and the vertical projection of each second electrode wire on the first substrate intersects the vertical projection of the corresponding first connection section of the first electrode wire on the first substrate , to form an overlapping region respectively.

Based on the above, since the width of each first connection section of each first electrode line decreases from the two ends of the connection electrode pad toward the middle part between the two ends, it presents a necked shape, and the two ends of each first connection section The connection between the end portion and the corresponding electrode pad has a smooth curved corner, which can avoid stress concentration at the connection, thereby reducing the probability of the first connection section breaking from the connection with the corresponding electrode pad. Accordingly, the first electrode lines of the touch panel of the present application are not easy to be broken from the connection between the first connecting section and the corresponding electrode pads during manufacture or use, and have good manufacturing process yield and reliability.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present application more comprehensible, the following specific embodiments are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the first electrode line and the second electrode line in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 A is the partial enlarged view of the first connection section of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3B is a partial enlarged view of the first connecting section of another embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 3C is a partially enlarged view of the first connection section of another embodiment of the present application;

4 is a partial enlarged view of the first electrode line and the second electrode line according to another embodiment of the present application;

5A to 5C are cross-sectional views of different embodiments of the touch panel of the present application.

Symbol Description

100: touch panel

102: First substrate

104: Second substrate

106: protective layer

110: first electrode wire

112: electrode pad

114: The first connection segment

114a: both ends

114b: Middle part

120: Second electrode wire

122: Second connection segment

130: insulating material

C: junction

D1: first direction

D2: Second direction

L1, L2: Length

R1: Overlapping region

r1, r2: radius of curvature

S1: first surface

S2: second surface

W1, W2: Width

detailed description

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present application. In order to make the drawing clearer, FIG. 1 omits some film layers or components that may exist in the touch panel. Please refer to FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, a touch panel 100 includes a first substrate 102 , a plurality of first electrode lines 110 and a plurality of second electrode lines 120 . The first electrode lines 110 are arranged side by side on the first substrate 102 and respectively extend along the first direction D1. Each first electrode line 110 includes a plurality of electrode pads 112 and a plurality of first connecting segments 114 . Any two adjacent electrode pads 112 are connected through one of the corresponding first connecting sections 114 .

In addition, the second electrode lines 120 are arranged side by side on the first substrate 102 and respectively extend along the second direction D2, and the second direction D2 intersects the first direction D1. The second electrode lines 120 are electrically insulated from the first electrode lines 110, and the second electrode lines 120 extending along the second direction D2 intersect with the first electrode lines 110 extending along the first direction D1, so as to be on the first substrate 102 Form a sensing array. The first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 in this embodiment are, for example, a combination of a driving line and a sensing line, and the material may be indium tin oxide (Indium Tin Oxide, ITO) or indium zinc oxide (Indium Zinc Oxide). , IZO) and other transparent conductive substances, but the application does not limit the types and materials of the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 .

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the first electrode line and the second electrode line in FIG. 1 . Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In this embodiment, since the second electrode lines 120 intersect the first electrode lines 110, the vertical projections of the second electrode lines 120 on the first substrate 102 will be consistent with the first electrode lines 102. The vertical projections of the corresponding first connecting sections 114 of the electrode lines 110 on the first substrate 102 intersect to form overlapping regions R1 respectively. If the overlapping region R1 between the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 is reduced, the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 can be effectively reduced.

In this embodiment, firstly, the length of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 is reduced by reducing the width of the first connecting section 114 of each first electrode line 110 . Please refer to FIG. 2 , the width W1 of the electrode pad 112 of each first electrode line 110 in this embodiment is greater than the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 . Here, the width W1 of the electrode pad 112 refers to the length of the electrode pad 112 in the second direction D2 , and the width W2 of the first connection section 114 refers to the length of the first connection section 114 in the second direction D2 . At this time, since the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 becomes smaller, the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 becomes smaller, thereby reducing the area of the overlapping region R1 to reduce the contact between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode. The parasitic capacitance generated at the intersection of the lines 120.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, each first connecting section 114 has two ends 114a for connecting the electrode pads 112 and a middle part 114b between the two ends 114a. The width W2 of each first connecting section 114 decreases gradually from the two end portions 114a toward the middle portion 114b to present a necked shape. In other words, each first connecting segment 114 has a maximum width at both end portions 114a and a minimum width at the middle portion 114b. The aforementioned width W2 of the first connecting section 114 refers to the maximum width of each first connecting section 114 at both ends 114a, and the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 refers to the length L1 of each first connecting section 114 in the second direction D2. The smallest width produced by the middle portion 114b. Therefore, when the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 is reduced to reduce the area of the overlapping region R1 , the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 along the second direction D2 will actually be smaller than the width W2 .

FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view of the first connection section in FIG. 2 . Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A at the same time. In this embodiment, the corners of the joints C between the two ends 114a of each first connecting section 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 are smooth curved surfaces, and the corners of each first connecting section 114 Both side surfaces of the middle part 114b are planes. Since the width W2 of each first connecting section 114 is gradually reduced from the two end portions 114a toward the middle portion 114b to present a necked shape, and the corners C at the joints C between the two end portions 114a and the corresponding electrode pads 112 are smooth curved surfaces, which can be While reducing the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 , the probability of breaking the first connecting section 114 from the connection C with the corresponding electrode pad 112 is reduced. The above-mentioned smooth curved surface at the corner of the connection C is, for example, an arc surface with a radius of curvature r1, but the first connecting section 114 is not limited to the above-mentioned shape.

Fig. 3B is a partially enlarged view of the first connecting section according to another embodiment of the present application. Please refer to FIG. 3B , in the present embodiment, the corners C of the joints C between the two ends 114a of each first connecting section 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 are smooth curved surfaces. In addition, the corners of the joints C between the two ends 114a of each first connecting segment 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 and the two sides of the middle part 114b form an arc surface with a radius of curvature r2. Since each first connecting section 114 presents a necked shape, and the corners of the connecting part C and the two sides of the middle part 114b form a curved surface, the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 can be reduced while reducing the number of first connecting sections 114 The probability of breaking C from its connection with the corresponding electrode pad 112 .

FIG. 3C is a partially enlarged view of the first connecting section according to another embodiment of the present application. Please refer to FIG. 3C , in the present embodiment, the corners C of the joints C between the two ends 114a of each first connecting section 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 are smooth curved surfaces. In addition, each middle portion 114b is located in a corresponding overlapping region R1, and opposite side surfaces of each middle portion 114b are planes. The corners of the joints C between the two ends 114a of each first connecting section 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 form an arc surface with a radius of curvature r3, and the arc surface with a radius of curvature r3 extends into the overlapping region R1 and connects opposite side surfaces of each intermediate portion 114b. Since each of the first connecting sections 114 presents a necked shape, and the corner of the connecting part C forms a circular arc surface and extends into the overlapping region R1, the width W2 of the first connecting section 114 can be reduced while reducing the number of the first connecting section 114 The probability of breaking C from its connection with the corresponding electrode pad 112 . In addition to the above three embodiments, the first connecting section 114 may also have other shapes. For example, in other embodiments, the two sides of each first connection section 114 and the corner of the connection C may form an elliptical arc surface or a parabolic surface, and the application does not limit the shape of the first connection section 114 .

Please refer to FIG. 2, in addition to reducing the area of the overlapping region R1 by reducing the width W2 of the first connecting section 114, this embodiment can also consider the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 and the overlapping region R1 The relationship of the length L2 in the first direction D1. In this embodiment, the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 is less than or equal to the length L2 of the overlapping region R1 in the first direction D1. Here, the length L1 of the overlapping region R1 in the second direction D2 refers to the minimum width of the first connecting segment 114 in the middle portion 114b, and the length L2 of the overlapping region R1 in the first direction D1 refers to the second electrode line 120 width. The width of the second electrode line 120 refers to the length of the second electrode line 120 in the first direction D1. Since the second electrode lines 120 in this embodiment are strip electrode lines, the length of the second electrode lines 120 in the first direction D1 is the length L2 of the overlapping region R1 in the first direction D1. In other words, the overlapping region R1 formed by the first connecting section 114 of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 on the first substrate 102 has a length L1 along the second direction D2 (the minimum width of the first connecting section 114 ) and a length L2 along the first direction D1 (the width of the second electrode line 120 ), and the length L1 is less than or equal to the length L2.

In addition, please refer to FIG. 1 again. In this embodiment, the touch panel 100 further includes a plurality of second connection sections 122 for connecting the second electrode lines 120 to transmit signals. The second connection section 122 is adjacent to the edge of the first substrate 102 , and every two adjacent second electrode lines 120 are connected through the corresponding second connection section 122 . However, in other embodiments, every three or more adjacent second electrode lines 120 may be connected through corresponding second connection segments 122 . Accordingly, in this embodiment, two, three or more than three second electrode lines 120 can be corresponding to a single sensing area (not shown), which helps to reduce the width of individual second electrode lines 120 . Of course, in other embodiments, each second electrode line 120 can also be connected to the second connection section 122 independently.

Based on the above, this embodiment reduces the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by narrowing the overlapping region R1 to provide good sensing sensitivity. The corners of the first connection section 114 at the connection C of the corresponding electrode pad 112 are smooth curves to avoid stress concentration and reduce the possibility of breaking the first connection section 114 from the connection C of the corresponding electrode pad 112 . In other words, the first electrode lines 110 of the touch panel 100 of the present embodiment are not easily broken from the connection C between the first connecting section 114 and the corresponding electrode pads 112 during manufacture or use.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a first electrode line and a second electrode line according to another embodiment of the present application. Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, any two adjacent electrode pads 112 of each first electrode line 110 are connected through one of the corresponding first connecting sections 114, but in the embodiment of FIG. Among them, any two adjacent electrode pads 112 of each first electrode line 110 may be connected through corresponding two first connecting sections 114 . The vertical projection of each second electrode line 120 on the first substrate 102 intersects with the vertical projection of the corresponding first connecting section 114 of the first electrode line 110 on the first substrate 102 to form overlapping regions R1 respectively, and each There are two overlapping regions R1 between the second electrode lines 120 and each of the first electrode lines 110 . However, in other embodiments, any two adjacent electrode pads 112 of the first electrode line 110 may be connected through more first connecting segments 114 , which is not limited in the present application.

5A to 5C are cross-sectional views of different embodiments of the touch panel of the present application. The aforementioned design principles can be applied to various touch panels. Several possible cross-sectional structures of the touch panel 100 shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are described below in sequence.

First, please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5A. FIG. 5A shows a possible cross-sectional structure of the touch panel 100 along line A-A' of FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the touch panel 100 further includes a second substrate 104, the second substrate 104 is disposed on the first substrate 102, and the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 are located on the second substrate respectively. 104 on opposite sides. More specifically, the first electrode lines 110 are located on the first substrate 102 , and the second electrode lines 120 are located on the second substrate 104 . The second substrate 104 is disposed on the first substrate 102 and covers the first electrode lines 110 . In addition, the second substrate 104 may be covered with a protective layer 106 to protect the second electrode lines 120 . In terms of production, the first electrode wire 110 and the second electrode wire 120 can be fabricated on the first base material 102 and the second base material 104 respectively, and then the first base material 102 and the second base material 104 are bonded to each other. And a protection layer 106 is coated on the second substrate 104 . The first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104 are light-transmitting substrates such as glass or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate), and can be attached to each other by optically clear adhesive (OCA). However, the present invention does not limit the materials and bonding methods of the first base material 102 and the second base material 104 .

Since this embodiment can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by narrowing the overlapping region R1 as mentioned above, without changing the capability of the touch chip, the second The distance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 can be appropriately reduced, that is, the thickness of the second substrate 104 can be reduced. In this way, the amount of the second base material 104 can be reduced, the production cost can be saved, and the overall touch panel 100 can have a smaller thickness and good light transmittance.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5B. FIG. 5B shows another possible cross-sectional structure of the touch panel 100 along the line A-A' of FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the first substrate 102 has a first surface S1 and a second surface S2 opposite to the first surface S1, wherein the first electrode line 110 is located on the first surface S1, and the second electrode line 120 is located on the second surface S1. on the second surface S2. In manufacturing, for example, the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 are respectively fabricated on the first surface S1 and the second surface S2 of the first substrate 102 using the first substrate 102 as a base. The first substrate 102 is, for example, a transparent substrate such as glass or PET, but the present invention does not limit the materials of the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104 .

Similarly, since this embodiment can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by reducing the overlapping region R1 as mentioned above, without changing the capability of the touch chip Next, the distance between the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 can be appropriately reduced, that is, the thickness of the first substrate 102 can be reduced. In this way, the amount of the first base material 102 can be reduced, the production cost can be saved, and the overall touch panel 100 can have a smaller thickness and good light transmittance.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5C. FIG. 5C shows another possible cross-sectional structure of the touch panel 100 along the line B-B' of FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the first substrate 102 has a first surface S1 , and the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 are located on the first surface S1 of the first substrate 102 . Since the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 need to be electrically insulated from each other, one of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 needs to cross over one of the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 another. More specifically, in this embodiment, the second electrode line 120 corresponding to the part of the first connecting section 114 of the first electrode line 110 crosses the first electrode line 110 and is located above the first connecting section 114, To form the aforementioned overlapping region R1. In addition, the touch panel 100 further includes an insulating material 130 . The insulating material 130 is located on the first surface S1 and interposed between the second electrode lines 120 and the corresponding first connecting sections 114 of the first electrode lines 110 to isolate the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 . The first substrate 102 is, for example, a transparent substrate such as glass or PET, but the present invention does not limit the materials of the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 104 . In addition, in other embodiments, the first connecting section 114 of the first electrode line 110 can also cross over the second electrode line 120 and be located above the second electrode line 120. Please do not limit the way of connecting the two. .

Similarly, since this embodiment can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line 110 and the second electrode line 120 by reducing the overlapping region R1 as mentioned above, without changing the capability of the touch chip Next, the distance between the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 can be properly reduced, such as reducing the thickness of the insulating material 130 . In this way, the amount of the insulating material 130 can be reduced, and the production cost can be saved, and the overall touch panel 100 can have a small thickness and good light transmittance.

Although the foregoing embodiments illustrate several possible structures of the touch panel 100 of the present application, they are not intended to limit the present application. For example, the shapes and layouts of the first electrode lines 110 and the second electrode lines 120 are not limited to the contents of the foregoing embodiments.

To sum up, the touch panel of the present application can reduce the parasitic capacitance between the first electrode line and the second electrode line by reducing the overlapping area between the two, and further reduce the distance between the two. In this way, the amount of materials used can be reduced, the production cost can be saved, and the overall touch panel can have a small thickness and good light transmittance. At the same time, since the width of each first connection section of each first electrode line is gradually reduced from the two ends of the connection electrode pad toward the middle part between the two ends, it presents a necked shape, and the two ends of each first connection section The connection between the portion and the corresponding electrode pad has a corner showing a smooth curved surface, which can avoid stress concentration at the connection, thereby reducing the probability of the first connecting section breaking from the connection between the first connecting segment and the corresponding electrode pad. Accordingly, the first electrode lines of the touch panel of the present application are not easy to be broken from the connection between the first connecting section and the corresponding electrode pads during manufacture or use, so that the yield and reliability of the manufacturing process can be ensured.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in conjunction with the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Anyone skilled in the art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. a kind of contact panel, including：

The first base material；

Multiple first electrode lines, side by side in the first base material, and extend, respectively the first electrode line along a first direction respectively Including multiple electrode pads and multiple first linkage sections, wantonly two those adjacent electronic padses pass through those corresponding first linkage sections One of be connected, and those electronic padses width be more than those the first linkage sections width, wherein respectively first linkage section has Width to connect the pars intermedia, respectively first linkage section of the both ends and position of those electronic padses between the both ends To be successively decreased by the both ends towards the pars intermedia and constriction shape is presented, and respectively the both ends of first linkage section with it is corresponding The corner of the junction of those electronic padses is smooth surface；And

Multiple second electrode lines, side by side in the first base material, and extend along a second direction respectively, the second direction with should First direction intersects, and those second electrode lines are electrically insulated from those first electrode lines, and respectively the second electrode line this Upright projection those first linkage sections corresponding with those first electrode lines on one base material are vertical in the first base material Projection is intersecting, to form an overlapping region respectively, and respectively width of those electronic padses of the first electrode line in the second direction Degree is consistent and more than those width of the first linkage section in the second direction, and the respectively respectively electronic pads of the first electrode line It is shaped as rectangle.

2. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein length of the overlapping region in the second direction is less than or equal to The length of the overlapping region in the first direction.

3. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, in addition to one second base material, are configured in the first base material, those first Electrode wires are located at the opposite sides of second base material with those second electrode lines respectively.

4. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, the wherein the first base material have first surface and relative to first table The second surface in face, those first electrode lines are located on the first surface, and those second electrode lines are located on the second surface.

5. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, in addition to an insulation material, wherein those first electrode lines and those the second electricity Polar curve is located at a first surface of the first base material, and the insulation material is located on the first surface and between those second electrode lines Between those first linkage sections of those corresponding first electrode lines.

6. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, the wherein smooth surface are circular arc camber.

7. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respectively both ends of first linkage section and those corresponding electrodes The corner of the junction of pad and the two sides of the pars intermedia form circular arc camber.

8. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein respectively the middle part is in the corresponding overlapping region, and respectively in this Between the opposite sides face in portion be plane, each turn of the both ends of first linkage section and the junction of those corresponding electronic padses Angle forms circular arc camber, and the circular arc camber extends in the overlapping region and connects the opposite sides face of the respectively pars intermedia.

9. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein respectively wantonly the two of the first electrode line those adjacent electronic padses pass through Corresponding two the first linkage sections are connected.

10. contact panel as claimed in claim 1, in addition to multiple second linkage sections, the edge of the neighbouring the first base material, often The adjacent second electrode line of more than two is connected by corresponding second linkage section.