WO2013032097A1

WO2013032097A1 - Conductor pattern, touch panel module, and electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2013032097A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/002603
Authority: WO
Inventors: Il Hyun Yun; Hoai Sig Kang; Sung Han Kim; Hyung Cheol Shin
Original assignee: Zinitix Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zinitix Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-02
Filing date: 2012-04-05
Publication date: 2013-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-02
Also published as: CN103907084A; KR20130025637A; KR101319946B1

Abstract

Provided are a conductor pattern, a touch panel module, and an electronic device. The conductor pattern, which is formed on a substrate surface of a capacitive touch panel and includes a plurality of conductive cells and a plurality of conductive wires, includes: a first cell and a second cell disposed in a first direction; and N first wires (N is an integer and N ≥ 2) connecting N first contact points of the first cell with N second contact points of the second cell, wherein the first cell has at least one first concave part recessed from each of the N first contact points toward the inside of the first cell.

Description

CONDUCTOR PATTERN, TOUCH PANEL MODULE, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

The present disclosure relates to a conductor pattern, a touch panel module having the conductor pattern, and an electronic device using the touch panel module.

A touch input device is called as an input device for sensing a touch position of a finger on a touch panel and providing information on the sensed touch position as input information. There are several methods used for the touch input device, and representative examples thereof include a resistance method and a capacitive method. The capacitive method mainly includes a self capacitive method and a mutual capacitive method.

The mutual capacitive method includes an operating pattern and a sensing pattern formed of a transparent conductive material, and a capacitance may be formed between the two patterns. If a finger is put near the two patterns or touches them, a value of a capacitance between the two patterns is changed. Accordingly, if it is measured whether a value of a capacitance between the two patterns is changed, it is confirmed whether a touch panel is touched by a finger. For this, once an electrical signal is applied to the operating pattern, charges are injected into the sensing pattern. Since an amount of injected charges may vary according to a capacitance value between the operating and sensing patterns, a change of the capacitance may be detected by measuring the amount of injected charges. As a result, it is detected whether a touch input is made or not.

The present disclosure is to provide a conductor pattern for reducing the resistance of a conductor pattern used in a capacitive touch input device, and a technique using the same. The scope of the present invention is not restricted only by this technical problem.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a conductor pattern, which is formed on a substrate surface of a capacitive touch panel and includes a plurality of conductive cells and a plurality of conductive wires, includes: a first cell and a second cell disposed in a first direction; and N first wires (N is an integer and N ≥ 2) connecting N first contact points of the first cell with N second contact points of the second cell, wherein the first cell has at least one first concave part recessed from each of the N first contact points toward the inside of the first cell.

The conductor pattern may further include: a third cell and a fourth cell disposed in a second direction; and a second wire connecting the third cell with the fourth cell.

The third cell may be disposed adjacent to the first cell and the second cell, and may have a convex part protruding toward the first concave part of the first cell.

The capacitive touch panel may have a multilayer structure; the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell may be disposed on the same layer of the capacitive touch panel; at least one of the N first wires may intersect the second wire; and an insulation layer may be formed between the at least one of the N first wires and the second wire in order to prevent a short circuit at the intersection portion.

The N first wires may be disposed on the same layer as the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell; the insulation layer may be stacked on the at least one of the N first wires; and the second wire may be stacked on the insulation layer.

The second wire may be disposed on the same layer as the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell; the insulation layer may be stacked on the second wire; and the at least one of the N first wires may be stacked on the insulation layer.

The conductor pattern may further include: a third cell and a fourth cell disposed in a second direction; and a second wire connecting the third cell with the fourth cell. The second cell may have at least one second concave part recessed toward the inside of the second cell between each of the N second contact points; and the third cell may be disposed adjacent to the first cell and the second cell and has a first convex part protruding toward the first concave part of the first cell and a second convex part protruding toward the second concave part.

The conductor pattern may further include a signal transmission wire connected to the first cell and a signal transmission wire connected to the third cell.

The first cell selectively may receive an AC signal or a DC signal.

The first cell, the second cell, the third cell, the fourth cell, the N first wires, and the second wire may be formed of a transparent conductive material.

The third cell and the fourth cell may have holes at the center part of each of the third cell and the fourth cell.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a touch panel module includes: a touch panel including the conductor pattern; and the touch panel controlling device configured to drive the touch panel and receive a touch input signal from the touch panel.

In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment, an electronic device includes: a touch panel including the conductor pattern; a touch panel controlling device configured to drive the touch panel and receive a touch input signal form the touch panel; a processor configured to receive the touch input signal from the touch panel controlling device to process at least one program; and a touch screen display configured to output a result of the program processed by the processor.

In accordance with still another exemplary embodiment, a conductor pattern includes: a pattern in which the unit conductor pattern is repeatedly connected in the ± x directions and the ± y directions, the unit conductor pattern including one driving electrode cell having N sub cells repeatedly connected in the ± y directions and N sensing electrode cells disposed being spaced a predetermined distance from the one driving electrode cell (N is an integer and N >1), wherein end parts in the ± x directions of each sub cell in the conductor pattern have a shape that is progressively narrowed in the ± x directions; and two adjacent driving electrode cells in one driving electrode of the conductor pattern are connected to each other through the N connection wires at the contact points 157 corresponding to the vertices of the end parts in the ± x directions of each sub cell.

The driving electrode may be formed by repeatedly connecting the driving electrode cells in the conductor pattern in the ±x directions, and the sensing electrode may be formed by repeatedly connecting the sensing electrode cells in the conductor pattern in the ±y directions.

The driving electrode cells and the sensing electrode cells in the conductor pattern may be disposed on the same layer, and an insulation layer may be formed to insulate the driving electrode from the sensing electrode in an intersection area where the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes in the conductor pattern intersect each other.

Exemplary embodiments can be understood in more detail from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating an example of a conductor pattern according to an embodiment;

Figures 2A to 2E are views illustrating a touch panel of Figure 1 according to an embodiment;

Figures 3A to 3G are views illustrating a touch panel according to an embodiment;

Figures 4A to 4F are views illustrating a structure of a driving electrode cell and a sensing electrode cell according to an embodiment;

Figures 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, and 7C are views illustrating a unit conductor pattern and an electrode pattern formed by repeatedly connecting the unit conductor pattern according to another embodiment;

Figures 8A and 8B are views illustrating a unit conductor pattern and an electrode pattern formed by repeatedly connecting the unit conductor pattern according to an embodiment;

Figures 9A and 9B are views illustrating a current flow in a driving electrode cell according to an embodiment;

Figures 10A and 10B are views illustrating the shape of a driving electrode according to another embodiment; and

Figure 11 is a view illustrating a unit conductor pattern according to an embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the dimensions of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity of illustration.

Figure 1 is a view illustrating an electronic device using a conductor pattern according to an embodiment.

The electronic device 100 may receive an input signal through a touch panel 1. The touch panel 1 may be formed including a substrate that has a matrix-shaped electrode pattern. The electronic device 100 may include the touch panel 1 for delivering a touch input signal, a touch panel controlling device 3 for outputting a signal for driving the touch panel 1 and receiving an input signal from the touch panel 1, a voltage driver 2 for receiving a touch panel driving signal from the touch panel controlling device 3 to generate a touch panel driving voltage, a main processor 4 for receiving a touch input signal from the touch panel controlling device 3 to execute a program stored in a storage device 5, the storage device 5 for storing at least one program executed according to a touch input signal, and a display device 6 for outputting a processed result of the main processor 4. The display device 6 may overlap the touch panel 1.

The touch panel controlling device 3 may include a touch sensing unit for sensing a signal inputted from the touch panel 1, a panel driving unit for generating a touch panel driving signal to deliver an input signal to the touch panel 2, and a touch panel processor for controlling them. The touch panel processor may be a reprogrammable processor, or a processor operated by a dedicated logic such as a state machine.

Other than that, although not shown in the drawings, the electronic device 100 may include a RAM or another type of a storage device, and may further include another device such as a watchdog.

Figure 2A is a detailed view of the touch panel 1 shown in Figure 1.

The touch panel 1 may include a plurality of transparent electrodes C1 to CM extending in a first direction, for example, a vertical direction, and a plurality of transparent electrodes R1 to RN extending in a second direction, for example, a parallel direction. Here, the first direction may be perpendicular to the second direction, but is not limited thereto. In this specification, for convenience of description, an electrode in a vertical direction may be called as a column electrode or a sensing electrode 20, and an electrode in a parallel direction may be called as a row electrode or a driving electrode 10. The sensing electrodes 20 and the driving electrodes 10 intersect each other, and an intersection point or a region around it may be called as a pixel 15.

Stray capacity (Cstray) may exist in each pixel 15, which is a capacitance between electric components, between wirings, and between wirings, elements, and a substrate. Since the stray capacity serves as a condenser in a high frequency circuit or a pulse circuit, it may affect an operation.

Once voltage is applied to the driving electrode 10, electrons may be injected into the sensing electrode 20 through a mutual capacitance Csense at the intersection points of the driving electrodes 10 and the sensing electrodes 20. Charges Qsense inputted to each sensing electrode 20 may be represented with the multiplication of a first level Vdrive of a driving signal and a mutual capacitance Csense (that is, Qsense = Vdrive * Csense).

The touch panel 1 may be formed with a multilayer structure, and the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 may be formed on different layers or the same layer. Figures 2B and 2C are views of when the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 are formed on different layers. Figures 2D and 2E are views of when the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 are formed on the same layer. An insulation layer may be provided between the sensing electrodes 20 and the driving electrodes 20 in order to prevent a short circuit therebetween. A protection layer 30 may be formed on the sensing electrode 20 and the driving electrode 10. Once voltage is applied to the driving electrode 10, an electric field 510 is formed, flowing from the driving electrode 10 toward the sensing electrode 20. According to the amount of the electric field 510, a value of a mutual capacitance Csense between the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 may be determined. Once a touch input by a finger 600 is made as shown in Figure 2C or 2E, a part of the electric field 510 flowing from the driving electrode 10 is cut off, so that a mutual capacitance value between the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 may be changed (Csense → Csense - ΔCsense).

When the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 are formed on the same layer as shown in Figures 2D and 2E, an insulator may be provided between the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 in order to prevent a short circuit at the intersection points of the driving electrodes 10 and the sensing electrodes 20. Its detailed content will be described again with reference to Figures 4E and 4F and the descriptions related thereto.

Referring to Figure 2A again, a driving signal such as a pulse train in which a voltage Vdrive of a first level and a 0 V voltage of a second level are periodically repeated during a specific time interval may be applied to one (i.e., R1 of Figure 2A) of the driving electrodes 10. After the specific time interval, the driving electrode 10 to which a driving signal is inputted may be changed. DC voltage, for example, 0 V, may be applied to the remaining driving electrodes 10 except the driving electrode 10 to which the driving signal is inputted. A circuit, which is formed including the sensing electrode 20, a sensing circuit connected to each sensing electrode 20, and the driving electrode 10, may include resistance and capacitance components. At this point, a time constant may be determined by the multiplication of values of resistance and capacitance components in a part of or entire circuit. Lowering a value of the time constant may shortened the period of a pulse train inputted to the circuit. Here, since the driving electrode 10 and the sensing electrode 20 themselves have a resistance, it is necessary to lower a resistance value thereof. According to an embodiment, an electrode structure that lowers a resistance value of the driving electrode 10 itself or the sensing electrode 20 itself is disclosed.

Figure 3A is a plan view of a touch panel 1 according to an embodiment.

The touch panel 1 includes a substrate 101 and a plurality of sensing electrodes 20 and driving electrodes 10 formed on the substrate 101. As shown in Figure 3A, each sensing electrode 20 extends along the y-axis and each driving electrode 10 extends along the x-axis. Each driving electrode 10 includes a plurality of driving electrode cells 110 and each sensing electrode 20 includes a plurality of sensing electrode cells 120. Four driving electrodes 10 and five sensing electrodes 20 are shown as an example in Figure 3A but their numbers may vary according to an embodiment.

The driving electrode 10 has a pattern in which a unit cell having the same shape is repeatedly connected according to an embodiment. Herein, the unit cell having the same shape may be called as the driving electrode cell 110. Additionally, the sensing electrode 20 has a pattern in which a unit cell having the same shape is repeatedly connected according to an embodiment. Herein, the unit cell having the same shape may be called as the sensing electrode cell 120.

According to an embodiment, the driving electrode 10 has a shape in which unit cells are repeatedly connected along one direction. Herein, the unit cells at one end portion or both end portions of the driving electrode 10 may have a modified shape from that of other unit cells. So do the unit cells at one end portion or both end portions of the sensing electrode 20.

However, the unit cells at the edge of the driving electrode 10 may have a modified shape from that of the repeating driving electrode cell 110 and the unit cells at the edge of the sensing electrode 20 may have a modified shape from that of the repeating sensing electrode cell 120.

Figure 3B illustrates one driving electrode cell 110 of Figure 3A, and Figure 3C illustrates one sensing electrode cell 120 of Figure 3A.

Figure 3D illustrates one driving electrode 10 formed with a plurality of combined driving electrode cells 110, and Figure 3E illustrates one sensing electrode 20 formed with a plurality of sensing electrode cells 120.

Figure 3F illustrates a set of driving electrodes including a plurality of driving electrodes 10, and Figure 3G illustrates a set of sensing electrodes including a plurality of sensing electrodes 20.

Figure 4A illustrates a view of when two driving electrode cells 110 and two sensing electrode cells 120 are combined with each other. The pattern shown in Figure 3A is formed by repeatedly combining unit structures in x and y directions, where each of the unit structure is formed by mutually combining one driving electrode cell 110 and two sensing electrode cells 120. Or, the pattern shown in Figure 3A is formed by combining the set of driving electrodes of Figure 3F and the set of sensing electrodes of Figure 3G.

Hereinafter, a bond structure of the driving electrode cells 110 will be described with reference to Figures 4A and 4B. Each driving electrode cell 110 may have conductivity. The first driving electrode cell 111 and the second driving electrode cell 112 may be disposed along the x-direction. The first driving electrode cell 111 and the second driving electrode cell 112 may be connected to each other by using a first conductor wire 131 and a second conductor wire 132, each of which is one of driving electrode connection wires 130 connecting the driving electrode cells 110. Each of the first conductor wire 131 and the second conductor wire 132 may be connected at a first contact point 151 and a second contact point 152 of the first driving electrode cell 111. The first driving electrode cell 111 may have a concave part 180 that is recessed toward the inside of the first driving electrode cell 111 between the first contact points 151 and the second contact point 152. Although it is described that there are a plurality of contact points 150 at one side of the driving electrode cell 110 as shown in Figure 4A, there may be a plurality of contact points 150 at the other side. Additionally, although it is described that there is the concave part 180 at one side of the driving electrode cell 110 as shown in Figure 4B, there may be another concave part at the other side.

The first sensing electrode cells 121 and the second sensing electrode cells 122 may be disposed along the y-axis, and may be disposed between the first driving electrode cell 111 and the second driving electrode cell 112. The first sensing electrode cell 121 and the second sensing electrode cell 122 may be connected to each other by using a third conductor wire 141, which is one of sensing electrode connection wires 140 connecting the sensing electrode cells 120. At this point, the second conductor wire 132 and the third conductor wire 141 intersect each other. A short circuit between the sensing electrode 20 and the driving electrode 10 may be prevented by forming an insulator at the intersection point of the second conductor wire 132 and the third conductor wire 141.

The sensing electrode 120 may have a hollow shape as shown in Figure 3C. However, according to an embodiment, its inside may not be hollow. The sensing electrode cell 121 is disposed between two adjacent driving electrode cells 111 and 112, and protruding

parts

125 and 126 extending toward the concave part 180 may be formed at the sensing electrode cell 121. In general, as sensing electrodes are more uniformly distributed on a touch panel, sensing ability is improved further. As shown in Figures 2C and 3C, the electric field 510, which may be blocked by a finger 600, is required to be uniformly distributed over an entire touch panel in order to sense a touch input. That is, for the uniform distribution of the electric field 510, sensing electrodes are required to be uniformly distributed over an entire touch panel.

Figure 4C is a plan view illustrating an intersection point CB of the driving electrode connection wire 130 and the sensing electrode connection wire 140 in detail. The sensing electrode connection wire 140 is formed on the substrate 101 and the driving electrode connection wire 130 is formed on the sensing electrode connection wire 140. An insulator 170 may be formed between the sensing electrode connection wire 140 and the driving electrode connection wire130 in order to prevent a short circuit therebetween. Figure 4D is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 4C. The driving electrode connection wire 130 is electrically insulated from the sensing electrode connection wire 140 through the insulator 170.

Figure 4E is a plan view illustrating an intersection point CB of a driving electrode and a sensing electrode in a conductor pattern according to another embodiment. Figure 4F is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 4E. As shown in Figure 4C and 4D, the sensing electrode connection wire 140 may be on the substrate 101 and the driving electrode connection wire 130 may be on the sensing electrode connection wire 140. On the contrary, as shown in Figure 4E and 4F, the driving electrode connection wire 130 may be on the substrate 101, and the sensing electrode connection wire 140 may be on the driving electrode connection wire 130.

The driving electrode cell 110 and the driving electrode connection wire 130 were described as if they were different components as shown in Figures 3A to 3F and Figures 4A to 4F. However, the two components may be simultaneously formed through one process, or may be separately formed through different processes, and then, may be electrically connected to each other. In the same manner, the sensing electrode cell 120 and the sensing electrode connection wire 140 may be described.

Figure 5A, Figure 5B, Figure 6A, Figure 6B, Figure 7A, and Figure 7B illustrate a conductor pattern of when a driving electrode and a sensing electrode are formed on the same layer according to another embodiment.

Figure 5A is a view of a unit conductor pattern constituting a touch panel according to an embodiment. The unit conductor pattern includes a driving electrode cell 110_1 and a sensing electrode cell 120_1. A signal applied to the driving electrode cell 110_1 is inputted into a contact point 153 and is outputted through a contact point 154. The flow of current may vary according to the shape of a current-flowing conductor. When current passes through the contact points 153 and 154 having a limited area as shown in Figure 5A, the area with reference number 177 may not contribute to the smooth flow of current.

When the unit conductor pattern of Figure 5A is repeated in the x-axis and the y-axis, a touch pattern of Figure 5B is obtained. At this point, although not shown in Figure 5B, the driving electrode cells 110_1 are connected to each other along the x-axis and the sensing electrode cells 120_1 are connected to each other along the y-axis. In the pattern structure of Figure 5B, since an area in the touch panel that the sensing electrode cells 120_1 occupy is small, sensing resolution is low.

Figure 6A is a view of a unit conductor pattern constituting a touch panel according to another embodiment. The unit conductor pattern includes a driving electrode cell 110_2 and a sensing electrode cell 120_2. A signal applied to the driving electrode cell 110_2 is inputted into a contact point 153 and is outputted through a contact point 154.

When the unit conductor pattern of Figure 6A is repeated in the x-axis and the y-axis, a touch pattern of Figure 6B is obtained. At this point, although not shown in Figure 6B, the driving electrode cells 110_2 are connected to each other along the x-axis and the sensing electrode cells 120_2 are connected to each other along the y-axis.

Compared to the electrode pattern of Figure 5B, since an area in the touch panel that the sensing electrode cells 120_2 occupy is relatively large in the pattern structure of Figure 6B, sensing resolution may be improved. Additionally, an area corresponding to the area 177 in the driving electrode cell 110_1 is relatively improved in the driving electrode cell 110_2.

Figure 7A is a view of a unit conductor pattern constituting a touch panel according to another embodiment. The unit conductor pattern includes a driving electrode cell 110_3 and a sensing electrode cell 120_3. A signal applied to the driving electrode cell 110_3 is inputted into a contact point 153 and is outputted through a contact point 154. Current may flow through one pair of contact points as shown in Figure 7A, or may flow through more than two pairs of contact points as shown in Figure 7C. When the unit conductor pattern of Figure 7A is repeated in the x-axis and the y-axis, a touch pattern of Figure 7B is obtained. At this point, although not shown in Figure 7B, the driving electrode cells 110_3 are connected to each other along the x-axis and the sensing electrode cells 120_3 are connected to each other along the y-axis.

Compared to the electrode pattern of Figure 6A, since the sensing electrode cell 120_3 of Figure 7A further includes a protruding portion 195, the sensing ability of a touch input may be further improved.

Figure 8A is a view of a unit conductor pattern constituting a touch panel according to an embodiment. The unit conductor pattern includes a driving electrode cell 110 and two sensing electrode cells 120 connected to each other. A signal applied to the driving electrode cell 110 is inputted into a contact point 153 and is outputted through a contact point 154.

When the unit conductor pattern of Figure 8A is repeated in the x-axis and the y-axis, a touch pattern of Figure 8B is obtained. Although not shown in Figure 8B, the driving electrode cells 110 are connected to each other along the x-axis and the sensing electrode cells 120 are connected to each other along the y-axis. The electrode pattern of Figure 8B is identical to that of the touch panel 1 of Figure 3A.

Compared to the electrode pattern of Figure 7A, the area in the electrode pattern that the sensing electrode cell 120 of Figure 8A occupies is almost similar to the area that the sensing electrode cell 120_3 of Figure 7A occupies. However, as described with reference to Figure 9, in that a resistance of the driving pattern cell 110 of Figure 8A is less than that of the driving pattern cell 110_3 of Figure 7A, the pattern of Figure 8A is more advantageous.

Figure 9A is a view illustrating a current flow in the driving electrode cell 110_3 of Figure 7A. Figure 9B is a view illustrating a current flow in the driving electrode cell 110 of Figure 8A.

In the driving electrode cell according to Figures 9A and 9B, current may flow into the driving electrode cell through the contact point 153 and may flow out through the contact point 154. At this point, the area 177 that does not contribute to the current flow of the driving electrode cell 110_3 of Figure 9A is broader than that 177 of the driving electrode cell 110 of Figure 9B. Therefore, a resistance of the driving electrode cell 110_3 of Figure 9A has a larger value than that of the driving electrode cell 110 of Figure 9B.

As mentioned above, the shape of the driving electrode 10 described with reference to Figures 3A to 3F, 4A to 4F, and 8A and 8B is effective in lowering the resistance value of a driving electrode. The driving electrode cell 110 having a shape, in which two hexagonal small cells are connected, was described with reference to Figures 3A to 3F, 4A to 4F, and 8A and 8B, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Hereinafter, various shapes of the driving electrode cells 110 are exemplarily described according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 10A is a view illustrating the shape of a driving electrode cell according to another embodiment. Although the driving electrode cell 110 with the shape of two connected hexagonal cells is shown in Figure 8A, the driving electrode cell 110 with the shape of two connected oval (circular) cells is shown in Figure 10A.

Figure 10B is a view illustrating the shape of a driving electrode cell according to another embodiment. Although the driving electrode cell 110 with the shape of two connected hexagonal cells is shown in Figure 8A, the driving electrode cell 110 with the shape of three connected hexagonal cells is shown in Figure 10B. From there, it is understood that the driving electrode cell may further have the shape of at least four connected small cells according to another embodiment.

The shape of the driving electrode cell according to one embodiment may be described from various points of view.

Firstly, the driving electrode cell according to an embodiment may be connected to another driving electrode cell through at least two contact points. At this point, the driving electrode cell has a concave part recessed toward the inside thereof, by using as vertices the at least two contact points on the driving electrode cell.

Secondly, one driving electrode cell according to an embodiment is paired with at least two sensing electrode cells to form one unit conductor pattern. This unit conductor pattern is repeatedly connected in the x-axis and the y-axis, so that an electrode pattern for a touch panel may be completed.

Thirdly, the driving electrode according to an embodiment extends along the +x direction and the ?x direction. This driving electrode may be formed when driving electrode cells having the same shape are repeatedly connected along the +x direction and the ?x direction. At this point, one driving electrode cell has a shape, in which at least two sub cells that are narrowed along the +x direction and the ?x direction are bonded in the ± y directions. Here, the x direction and the y direction may be perpendicular to each other. The end part of each sub cell in the ± x directions may be connected to a sub cell of another driving electrode cell.

Figure 11 is a view illustrating a conductor pattern according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figure 11, a conductor pattern according to an embodiment is a pattern in which the unit conductor pattern 200 is repeatedly connected in the ± x directions and the ± y directions. The unit conductor pattern 200 includes one driving electrode cell 110 having N sub cells 110_1 and 110_2 repeatedly connected in the ± y directions and N

sensing electrode cells

121 and 122 disposed being spaced a predetermined distance from the one driving electrode cell 110. At this point, N is an integer and N > 1. The end parts 190 in the ± x directions of each sub cell (e.g., 110_1 and 110_2) in the conductor pattern have a shape that is progressively narrowed in the ± x directions, and two adjacent driving electrode cells in one driving electrode of the conductor pattern may be connected to each other through the N connection wires at the contact points 157 corresponding to the vertices of the end parts 190 in the ± x directions of each sub cell.

Hereinafter, a conductor pattern according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11.

A conductor pattern according to an embodiment is a pattern that is formed on the surface of the substrate 101 in a capacitive touch panel, and includes a plurality of

conductive cells

110 and 120, and a plurality of

conductive wires

130 and 140. This conductive pattern may include a first cell 111 and a second cell 112 disposed in the first direction (e.g., the x-direction) and N first wires 131 and 132 connecting the N first contact points 151 and 152 of the first cell 111 with the N second contact points of the second cell 112 (N is an integer and N ≥ 2). At this point, the first cell 111 may have at least one first concave part 180 that is recessed from the middle of the N first contact points 151 and 152 toward the inside of the first cell 111. This conductor pattern may further include the third cell 121 and the fourth cell 122 disposed in the second direction (e.g., the y direction) and the second wire 141 connecting the third cell 121 with the fourth cell 122.

The above mentioned driving electrode cell 110, sensing electrode cell 120, driving electrode connection wire 130, sensing electrode connection wire 140, insulator 170, protection layer 30, and substrate 101 may be formed of transparent material.

According to an embodiment, the resistance of a conductive pattern used in a capacitive touch input device may be reduced. As a result, the time constant of a touch input device circuit may be reduced, so that a touch input device may operate faster than before.

Although the conductor pattern, the touch panel module, and the electronic device have been described with reference to the specific embodiments, they are not limited thereto. Therefore, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A conductor pattern, which is formed on a substrate surface of a capacitive touch panel and comprises a plurality of conductive cells and a plurality of conductive wires, comprising:

a first cell and a second cell disposed in a first direction; and

N first wires (N is an integer and N ≥ 2) connecting N first contact points of the first cell with N second contact points of the second cell,

wherein the first cell has at least one first concave part recessed from each of the N first contact points toward the inside of the first cell.
The conductor pattern of claim 1, further comprising:

a third cell and a fourth cell disposed in a second direction; and

a second wire connecting the third cell with the fourth cell.
The conductor pattern of claim 2, wherein the third cell is disposed adjacent to the first cell and the second cell, and has a convex part protruding toward the first concave part of the first cell.
The conductor pattern of claim 2, wherein the capacitive touch panel has a multilayer structure;

the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell are disposed on the same layer of the capacitive touch panel;

at least one of the N first wires intersects the second wire; and

an insulation layer is formed between the at least one of the N first wires and the second wire in order to prevent a short circuit at the intersection portion.
The conductor pattern of claim 4, wherein the N first wires are disposed on the same layer as the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell;

the insulation layer is stacked on the at least one of the N first wires; and

the second wire is stacked on the insulation layer.
The conductor pattern of claim 4, wherein the second wire is disposed on the same layer as the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell;

the insulation layer is stacked on the second wire; and

the at least one of the N first wires is stacked on the insulation layer.
The conductor pattern of claim 1, further comprising:

a third cell and a fourth cell disposed in a second direction; and

a second wire connecting the third cell with the fourth cell,

wherein the second cell has at least one second concave part recessed toward the inside of the second cell between each of the N second contact points; and

the third cell is disposed adjacent to the first cell and the second cell and has a first convex part protruding toward the first concave part of the first cell and a second convex part protruding toward the second concave part.
The conductor pattern of claim 2, further comprising a signal transmission wire connected to the first cell and a signal transmission wire connected to the third cell.
The conductor pattern of claim 8, wherein the first cell selectively receives an AC signal or a DC signal.
The conductor pattern of claim 2, wherein the first cell, the second cell, the third cell, the fourth cell, the N first wires, and the second wire are formed of a transparent conductive material.
The conductor pattern of claim 2, wherein the third cell and the fourth cell have holes at the center part of each of the third cell and the fourth cell.
A touch panel module comprising:

a touch panel comprising the conductor pattern of any one of claims 1 to 12; and

the touch panel controlling device configured to drive the touch panel and receive a touch input signal from the touch panel.
An electronic device comprising:

a touch panel comprising the conductor pattern of any one of claims 1 to 12;

a touch panel controlling device configured to drive the touch panel and receive a touch input signal form the touch panel;

a processor configured to receive the touch input signal from the touch panel controlling device to process at least one program; and

a touch screen display configured to output a result of the program processed by the processor.
A conductor pattern comprising:

a pattern in which the unit conductor pattern is repeatedly connected in ± x directions and ± y directions, the unit conductor pattern comprising one driving electrode cell having N sub cells repeatedly connected in ± y directions and N sensing electrode cells disposed being spaced a predetermined distance from the one driving electrode cell (N is an integer and N >1),

wherein end parts in ± x directions of each of the sub cells in the conductor pattern have a shape that is progressively narrowed in ± x directions; and

two adjacent driving electrode cells in one driving electrode of the conductor pattern are connected to each other through the N connection wires at the contact points 157 corresponding to the vertices of the end parts in ± x directions of each sub cell.
The conductor pattern of claim 14, wherein the driving electrode is formed by repeatedly connecting the driving electrode cells in the conductor pattern in ±x directions, and the sensing electrode is formed by repeatedly connecting the sensing electrode cells in the conductor pattern in ±y directions.
The conductor pattern of claim 14, wherein the driving electrode cells and the sensing electrode cells in the conductor pattern are disposed on the same layer, and an insulation layer is formed to insulate the driving electrode from the sensing electrode in an intersection area where the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes in the conductor pattern intersect each other.
A touch panel module comprising:

a touch panel comprising the conductor pattern of any one of claims 14 to 16; and

a touch panel controlling device configured to drive the touch panel and receive a touch input signal from the touch panel.
An electronic device comprising:

a touch panel comprising the conductor pattern of any one of claims 14 to 16;

a touch panel controlling device configured to drive the touch panel and receive a touch input signal from the touch panel;

a processor configured to receive the touch input signal from the touch panel controlling device to process at least one program; and

a touch screen display configured to output a result of the program processed by the processor.