Touch-sensing electrode structure and method of manufacturing the same

• US 10,039,181 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Glass Solutions (Xiamen), Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tpk Touch Systems (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chang, Chen-Hsin, Zhong, Bin, Wang, Fuding, Fei, Zhenjun, Chen, Lixian
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brittingham, Nathaniel P
• Application Number:
  US14/074,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20140131069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0213 Electrical arrangements not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0326 Inorganic, non-metallic conductor, e.g. indium-tin oxide [ITO]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10128 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/40 Forming printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a touch-sensing electrode structure, which includes a plurality of touch-sensing electrodes. Each of the touch-sensing electrodes includes a main body and a connecting portion connected to an end of the main body; wherein the width of the connecting portion is not less than a half width of the end of the main body. The touch-sensing electrode structure also includes a plurality of signal-transmitting wires, each of which includes a head portion and a tail wire connected to the head portion. The head portions of the signal-transmitting wires is superimposed on the connecting portions and electrically connected to the connecting portions respectively. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the above touch-sensing electrode structure is also provided.

Claims

1. A touch-sensing electrode structure, comprising:

a sensing electrode comprising a plurality of sensing pads and extending in a first direction from a first edge of a peripheral region of the touch-sensing electrode structure to a second edge of the peripheral region, wherein;

the sensing electrode has a main body disposed in a touch region and a connecting portion disposed in the peripheral region, wherein the connecting portion is connected to an end of the main body,

a width of the connecting portion is larger than or equal to half a width of the end of the main body, and

the width of the connecting portion and the width of the end of the main body are measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

a signal-transmitting wire having a head portion and a tail wire connected to the head portion, wherein;

the connecting portion has a first section, a second section and a third section, and the second section and the third section are disposed at two sides of the first section,

the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire is superimposingly disposed on the first section of the connecting portion of the sensing electrode to overlie the first section of the connecting portion of the sensing electrode and is electrically connected to the connecting portion of the sensing electrode, and the second section and the third section are exposed from the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire, and

a width of the head portion is larger than a width of the tail wire.

2. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is rectangular or trapezoidal shaped.

3. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the connecting portion is equal to half the width of the end of the main body.

4. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion is positioned at a central position of the end of the main body.

5. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion is positioned at a side of the end of the main body.

6. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the width of the connecting portion is equal to a width of the end of the main body; and

the width of the end of the main body is measured in the second direction.

7. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 6, wherein the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire covers part of the connecting portion.

8. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 7, wherein the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire is superimposingly disposed on a center of the connecting portion.

9. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 7, wherein the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire is superimposingly disposed on a side of the connecting portion.

10. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the connecting portion has a first edge that contacts the end of the main body and a second edge diametrically opposing the first edge, and

a distance between the first edge and the second edge is between 0.02 millimeters and 0.4 millimeters.

11. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure is disposed on a substrate.

12. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 11, further comprising:

a mask layer disposed within the peripheral region, wherein a bottom surface of the mask layer is in contact with the substrate and a top surface of the mask layer is in contact with the sensing electrode.

21. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the main body is part of a partial sensing pad of the sensing electrode that is adjacent the peripheral region,

the width of the connecting portion is larger than or equal to half a maximum width of the partial sensing pad, and

the maximum width of the partial sensing pad is measured in the second direction.

22. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of the main body and a top surface of the connecting portion are co-planar.

23. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the head portion is less than the width of the connection portion.

24. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is made from a first material and the head portion is made from a second material different than the first material.

25. The touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 24, wherein the tail wire is made from the second material.

13. A method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure, comprising:

forming a sensing electrode comprising a plurality of sensing pads and extending in a first direction from a first edge of a peripheral region of the touch-sensing electrode structure to a second edge of the peripheral region, wherein;

the sensing electrode has a main body disposed in a touch region and a connecting portion disposed in the peripheral region, wherein the connecting portion is connected to an end of the main body,

a width of the connecting portion is larger than or equal to half a width of the end of the main body, and

the width of the connecting portion and the width of the end of the main body are measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

forming a signal-transmitting wire having a head portion and a tail wire connected to the head portion, wherein;

the connecting portion has a first section, a second section and a third section, and the second section and the third section are disposed at two sides of the first section,

the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire is superimposingly disposed on the first section of the connecting portion of the sensing electrode to overlie the first section of the connecting portion of the sensing electrode and is electrically connected to the connecting portion of the sensing electrode, and the second section and the third section are exposed from the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire, and

a width of the head portion is larger than a width of the tail wire.

14. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 13, wherein the connecting portion is rectangular or trapezoidal.

15. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 13, wherein the width of the connecting portion is equal to half the width of the end of the main body.

16. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 15, wherein the connecting portion is positioned at a central position of the end of the main body.

17. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 15, wherein the connecting portion is positioned at a side of the end of the main body.

18. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 13, wherein the width of the connecting portion is equal to the width of the end of the main body.

19. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 18, wherein the head portion of the signal-transmitting wire covers part of the connecting portion.

20. The method of manufacturing a touch-sensing electrode structure according to claim 13, further comprising:

forming a mask layer disposed within the peripheral region, wherein a bottom surface of the mask layer is in contact with a substrate and a top surface of the mask layer is in contact with the sensing electrode.