Touch panel electrode comprising a base, two or more first electrode patterns, and two or more second electrode patterns, touch panel, and display device

• US 10,528,193 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hiroshige
• Primary Examiner(s): Dicke, Chad M
• Application Number:
  US15/087,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/02 Layer formed of wires, e.g. mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/04 comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• 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 3/0445 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

Provided are a conductive film in which the area of an intersection portion between a first electrode pattern and a second electrode pattern is defined and is suitable for a touch panel in terms of, for example, the accuracy of detection (S/N ratio), a touch panel including the conductive film, and a display device including the touch panel. The conductive film includes a transparent base, two or more first electrode patterns, and two or more second electrode patterns. The first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern face each other, with the transparent base interposed therebetween, and intersect each other. Each of the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern is a combination of a plurality of cells formed by thin metal wires. The area of an intersection portion between the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern is greater than 1 mm² and less than 20 mm².

Claims

1. A touch panel electrode comprising:

two or more first electrode patterns; and

two or more second electrode patterns,

wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern overlap each other being insulated,

the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern extend perpendicular to each other,

each of the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern is a combination of a plurality of cells formed by thin metal wires, and

the area of an overlapping portion between the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern is equal to or greater than 7 mm² and less than 11 mm².

2. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein the area of the overlapping portion is equal to or greater than 7 mm² and equal to or less than 8 mm².

3. The touch panel electrode according to claim 2

wherein among a plurality of cells of the second electrode pattern which are included in one overlapping portion and are arranged in a direction in which the first electrode pattern extends, a distance between a leading end of a cell that is located at one end and a leading end of a cell that is located at the other end is a first width of the overlapping portion along the first electrode pattern in a top view,

among a plurality of cells of the first electrode pattern which are included in one overlapping portion and are arranged in a direction in which the second electrode pattern extends, a distance between a leading end of a cell that is located at one end and a leading end of a cell that is located at the other end is a second width of the overlapping portion along the second electrode pattern in a top view, and

the area of the overlapping portion is the product of the first width and the second width.

4. The touch panel electrode according to claim 3,

wherein at least four cells are arranged within the first width, and

at least four cells are arranged within the second width.

5. The touch panel electrode according to claim 2,

wherein, in the overlapping portion, the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the first electrode pattern deviates from the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the second electrode pattern in a top view.

6. The touch panel electrode according to claim 5,

wherein cells forming the first electrode pattern and cells forming the second electrode pattern have the same size.

7. The touch panel electrode according to claim 3,

wherein, in the overlapping portion, the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the first electrode pattern deviates from the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the second electrode pattern in a top view.

8. The touch panel electrode according to claim 2,

wherein the surface electrical resistance of the first electrode pattern and the surface electrical resistance of the second electrode pattern are equal to or greater than 0.1 ohms/square and equal to or less than 300 ohms/square.

9. The touch panel electrode according to claim 8,

wherein, in the first electrode pattern or the second electrode pattern with at least higher surface electrical resistance, the ends of the thin metal wires form a curved shape.

10. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein among a plurality of cells of the second electrode pattern which are included in one overlapping portion and are arranged in a direction in which the first electrode pattern extends, a distance between a leading end of a cell that is located at one end and a leading end of a cell that is located at the other end is a first width of the overlapping portion along the first electrode pattern in a top view,

among a plurality of cells of the first electrode pattern which are included in one overlapping portion and are arranged in a direction in which the second electrode pattern extends, a distance between a leading end of a cell that is located at one end and a leading end of a cell that is located at the other end is a second width of the overlapping portion along the second electrode pattern in a top view, and

the area of the overlapping portion is the product of the first width and the second width.

11. The touch panel electrode according to claim 10,

wherein at least four cells are arranged within the first width, and

at least four cells are arranged within the second width.

12. The touch panel electrode according to claim 10,

wherein, in the overlapping portion, the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the first electrode pattern deviates from the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the second electrode pattern in a top view.

13. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein, in the overlapping portion, the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the first electrode pattern deviates from the position of a plurality of cells forming the overlapping portion in the second electrode pattern in a top view.

14. The touch panel electrode according to claim 13,

wherein cells forming the first electrode pattern and cells forming the second electrode pattern have the same size.

15. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein the surface electrical resistance of the first electrode pattern and the surface electrical resistance of the second electrode pattern are equal to or greater than 0.1 ohms/square and equal to or less than 300 ohms/square.

16. The touch panel electrode according to claim 15,

wherein, in the first electrode pattern or the second electrode pattern with at least higher surface electrical resistance, the ends of the thin metal wires form a curved shape.

17. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein a gap corresponding to at least the average diameter of the cells is formed between a portion other than the overlapping portion in the first electrode pattern and a portion other than the overlapping portion in the second electrode pattern in a top view.

18. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein a gap that is equal to or greater than 200 μ

m is formed between a portion other than the overlapping portion in the first electrode pattern and a portion other than the overlapping portion in the second electrode pattern in a top view.

19. A touch panel comprising:

the touch panel electrode according to claim 1.

20. A display device comprising:

the touch panel according to claim 19.

21. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1, wherein an opening ratio of the first electrode pattern to the second electrode pattern is equal to or greater than 95%.

22. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern overlap each other being insulated with a distance of equal to or greater than 5 μ

m and equal to or less than 350 μ

m.

23. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein the area of the overlapping portion is equal to or greater than 8 mm² and less than 11 mm².

24. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein a first dummy layer which is electrically insulated from the first electrode patterns is formed between the two adjacent first electrode patterns, and

a second dummy layer which is electrically insulated from the second electrode patterns is formed between the two adjacent second electrode patterns.

25. The touch panel electrode according to claim 1,

wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern overlap each other being insulated with a distance of equal to or less than 150 μ

m.