Film lamination with flex-tails for a touch sensor
First Claim
1. A touch sensor, comprising:
- a touch surface;
a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface, wherein at least a portion of the first OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction;
a row film including row termination pads on a row end that are bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the row film faces the touch surface, wherein the row film end extends outward in the one direction from the first OCA layer and overhangs the touch surface to define a gap between the row end of the row film and the touch surface for receiving the row termination pads bonded to the flex-tails and an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) in the gap, wherein the ACF covers the row film termination pads prior to lamination, wherein the row end of the row film including the row termination pads and the flex-tails are non-adhered to the first OCA layer such that the row termination pads are exposed in the gap after the row film is laminated to the first OCA layer, and wherein the darkened surface is applied to a side of the row film where the row termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails;
a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the row film, wherein at least a portion of the second OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in another direction, the one direction and the another direction being different; and
a column film including column termination pads on a column end bonded to column flex-tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer, wherein the column end extends outward in the anther direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Different lamination methods may be used to create a touch sensor with a darkened side of metalized film facing the user. One lamination method includes laminating a metalized film to an optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer such that an edge of the metalized film including the termination pads remain un-adhered to the OCA layer. Flex-tails may be bonded to the termination pads at a later time by bending up the un-adhered edge. Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) may be placed on the termination pads prior to laminating the metalized films. Flex-tails may be placed onto an OCA layer in a location where the termination pads on the metalized film will be located when laminated to the OCA layer. A strip of ACF may be placed on the flex-tail pads. The flex-tails may be bonded to the termination pads of the metalized film prior to the metalized film being laminated.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A touch sensor, comprising:
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a touch surface; a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface, wherein at least a portion of the first OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction; a row film including row termination pads on a row end that are bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the row film faces the touch surface, wherein the row film end extends outward in the one direction from the first OCA layer and overhangs the touch surface to define a gap between the row end of the row film and the touch surface for receiving the row termination pads bonded to the flex-tails and an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) in the gap, wherein the ACF covers the row film termination pads prior to lamination, wherein the row end of the row film including the row termination pads and the flex-tails are non-adhered to the first OCA layer such that the row termination pads are exposed in the gap after the row film is laminated to the first OCA layer, and wherein the darkened surface is applied to a side of the row film where the row termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails; a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the row film, wherein at least a portion of the second OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in another direction, the one direction and the another direction being different; and a column film including column termination pads on a column end bonded to column flex-tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer, wherein the column end extends outward in the anther direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for laminating layers of a touch sensor, comprising:
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providing a touch surface; applying a darkened surface to a metalized film of the touch sensor facing the touch surface; covering termination pads with Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) prior to lamination; laminating an Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer to the touch surface, wherein at least a portion of the OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction; bonding flex-tails to termination pads of the metalized film used in the touch sensor prior to laminating the metalized film to the OCA layer such that a portion of the metalized film extends outward in the one direction from the OCA layer; defining a gap between the outwardly extending portion of the metalized film and the touch surface when laminating the metalized film to the OCA layer for receiving the row termination pads and the ACF in the gap; and exposing the termination pads in the gap after the metalized film is laminated as a result of the outwardly extending portion of the metalized film including the termination pads and the flex-tails not adhering to the OCA layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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a glass touch surface; a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface, wherein at least a portion of the first OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction; a first metalized film including termination pads on a first end that are bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the first metalized film faces the touch surface, wherein the first end extends outward in the one direction from the first OCA layer and overhangs the glass touch surface to define a gap between the first end of the first metalized film and the glass touch surface for receiving the termination pads bonded to the flex-tails and an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) in the gap, wherein the ACF covers the termination pads prior to lamination, wherein the first end of the first metalized film including the termination pads and the flex-tails are non-adhered to the first OCA layer such that the termination pads are exposed in the gap after the first metalized film is laminated to the first OCA layer, and wherein the darkened surface is applied to a side of the first metalized film where the termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails; a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the first metalized film, wherein the second OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in another direction, the one direction and the another direction being different; and a second metalized film including termination pads on a second end bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer, wherein the second end extends outward in the another direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification