Touch panel

• US 10,386,972 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Seung-Rok
• Primary Examiner(s): Soto Lopez, Jose R
• Application Number:
  US15/082,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20170160830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 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 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

A touch panel includes a base substrate, a first pattern, a first insulation layer, a second pattern, and a second insulation layer. The first pattern is disposed on the base substrate. The first pattern includes a driving line extended in a second direction that crosses a first direction and first sensing electrodes that are electrically connected to the driving line and arranged in the second direction. The first insulation layer is disposed on the first pattern and the base substrate covering the first pattern. The second pattern is disposed on the first insulation layer. The second pattern includes a sensing line extended in the first direction and second sensing electrodes that are electrically connected to the sensing line and arranged in the first direction. The second insulation layer is disposed on the second pattern and the first insulation layer covering the second pattern.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a base substrate;

a first pattern disposed on the base substrate, the first pattern comprising;

a driving line extended in a second direction that crosses a first direction; and

first sensing electrodes that are electrically connected to the driving line and arranged in the second direction;

a first insulation layer disposed on the first pattern and the base substrate covering the first pattern;

a second pattern disposed on the first insulation layer, the second pattern comprising;

a sensing line extended in the first direction;

second sensing electrodes that are electrically connected to the sensing line and arranged in the first direction; and

a second insulation layer disposed on the second pattern and the first insulation layer covering the second pattern, and

a reflective index matching layer disposed on the base substrate, the reflective index matching layer comprising a high reflectance layer and a low reflectance layer, wherein the reflective index matching layer is disposed between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer such that the high reflectance layer contacts the first insulation layer,

wherein a side of a first sensing electrode of the first sensing electrodes being coincident with a side of a second sensing electrode of the second sensing electrode.

2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein:

the touch panel further comprises unit areas that are arranged in the first direction and the second direction, a unit area of the unit areas comprises;

two adjacent first sensing cells, each comprising the first sensing electrodes, and

two adjacent second sensing cells, each comprising the second sensing electrodes, and

the second pattern overlaps an area of the unit area where the first pattern is not formed.

3. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensing electrodes comprise first branches extending from the driving line, and

the second sensing electrodes comprise second branches extending from the sensing line.

4. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein:

the first pattern further comprises a first dummy pattern that is spaced apart from the first sensing electrodes,

the second pattern comprises a second dummy pattern that is spaced apart from the second sensing electrodes,

at least one side of the first dummy pattern coincides with at least one side of the second branches, and

at least one side of the second dummy pattern coincides with at least one side of the first branches.

5. The touch panel of claim 4, wherein:

the first dummy pattern is disposed between the second branches that are disposed adjacent to each other, and

the second dummy pattern is disposed between the first branches that are disposed adjacent to each other.

6. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein widths of the first branches and widths of the second branches are substantially equal to each other.

7. The touch panel of claim 6, wherein the widths of the first branches and the widths of the second branches are about 10 μ

m to about 20 μ

m.

8. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein the widths of the first branches and gaps between the first branches that are disposed adjacent each other are substantially equal.

9. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern each comprise a transparent conductive material.

10. The touch panel of claim 9, wherein the first pattern comprises silver nano-wire.

11. The touch panel of claim 10, wherein a thickness of the second pattern is greater than a thickness of the first pattern.

12. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first insulation layer comprises an organic insulation material.

13. The touch panel of claim 12, wherein the first insulation layer has a substantially level upper surface.

14. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein:

the high reflectance layer comprises niobium oxide, and

the low reflectance layer comprises silicon oxide.

15. The touch panel of claim 1, the touch panel further comprises:

two first sensing cells disposed adjacent to each other in a unit area, each first sensing cell comprising the first sensing electrode; and

two second sensing cells disposed adjacent each other in the unit area and alternately arranged with the first sensing cell in a matrix form, each second sensing cell comprises the second sensing electrode,

the first and second patterns are disposed in the unit area to substantially cover the entire unit area.

16. A touch panel, comprising:

a first pattern comprising;

first sensing electrodes arranged in a second direction that crosses a first direction and electrically connected to each other along the second direction; and

first dummy patterns spaced apart from the first sensing electrodes; and

a first insulation layer disposed on the first pattern; and

a second pattern comprising;

second sensing electrodes arranged in the first direction and electrically connected to each other along the first direction;

second dummy patterns spaced apart from the second sensing electrodes, and

a reflective index matching layer disposed on the base substrate, the reflective index matching layer comprising a high reflectance layer and a low reflectance layer, wherein the reflective index matching layer is disposed between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer such that the high reflectance layer contacts the first insulation layer,

wherein internal edges of the first sensing electrodes define first openings and first shapes of the first openings are coincident with the second dummy patterns, and

wherein internal edges of the second sensing electrodes define second openings and second shapes of the second openings are coincident with the first dummy patterns.

17. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein:

the second dummy patterns are disposed within the first openings, and

the first dummy patterns are disposed within the second openings.