Method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen

• US 20040149377A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Touch Systems Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bottari, Frank J., Marble, Andrea C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,077,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04113 Peripheral electrode pattern in resistive digitisers, i.e. electrodes at the periphery of the resistive sheet are shaped in patterns enhancing linearity of induced field
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0284 Paper, e.g. as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09436 Pads or lands on permanent coating which covers the other conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0531 Decalcomania, i.e. transfer of a pattern detached from its carrier before affixing the pattern to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/20 by affixing prefabricated conductor pattern H05K1/187, H05K3/046, H05K3/4658, H05K3/4682 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/207 using a prefabricated paste pattern, ink pattern or powder pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/28 Applying non-metallic protective coatings H05K3/0091 takes precedence; methods for intermediate insulating layers for build-up multilayer circuits H05K3/4673
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

A method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen. The method includes depositing, on a first surface of a decal strip, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern, placing the first surface of the decal strip on one edge of a touch screen, applying heat and pressure to an opposite surface of the decal strip until the edge electrode pattern is transferred from the first surface of the decal strip to the touch screen; and removing the decal strip.

Claims

1. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of a decal strip, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern;

placing the first surface of the decal strip on one edge of a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to an opposite surface of the decal strip until the edge electrode pattern is transferred from the first surface of the decal strip to the touch screen; and

removing the decal strip.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of depositing a wire trace pattern on the first surface of the decal strip.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of isolating the wire trace pattern from the edge electrode pattern after the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern are transferred to the touch screen.

4. The method of claim 3 in which isolating includes using a laser to remove material between the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 further including depositing a wire trace pattern on the decal strip and depositing an isolation layer between the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the isolation layer is disposed between the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern and the edge electrode pattern is deposited adjacent the wire trace pattern on the decal strip.

7. The method of claim 6 further including the step of depositing a protective layer between the decal strip and the edge electrode pattern and the wire trace pattern.

8. The method of claim 5 in which the isolation layer is disposed over the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern is deposited on the isolation layer.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of depositing a protective layer between the decal strip and the wire trace pattern.

10. The method of claim 1 in which heat and pressure is applied by a hot stamp machine equipped with a heated pad disposed between a feed roll of decal paper and take up roll and over a holder for the touch screen.

11. The method of claim 1 in which depositing includes screen printing the conductive material onto the decal strip.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the temperature used to apply heat is between 300 and 400°

F. and the pressure applied is between 15 Psi and 30 Psi.

13. The method of claim 7 in which the protective layer and the isolation layer are a lead borosilicate glass composition.

14. The method of claim 9 in which the protective layer and the isolation layer are a lead borosilicate glass composition.

15. A touch screen manufactured by the method of claim 1.

16. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern and wire traces to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of a decal strip, a protective layer;

depositing, on the protective layer, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern and one or more wire traces adjacent the edge electrode pattern;

depositing an isolation layer over each wire trace;

placing the decal strip on a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to the decal strip until the edge electrode pattern, the wire traces, the protective layer, and the isolation layer are transferred from the decal strip to the touch screen; and

removing the decal strip.

17. The method of claim 16 in which heat and pressure is applied by a hot stamp machine equipped with a heated pad disposed between a feed roll of decal paper and take up roll and over a holder for the touch screen.

18. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern and wire traces to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of a decal strip, a protective layer;

depositing, on the protective layer, conductive material in the form of one or more wire traces;

depositing over the one or more wire traces, an isolation layer;

depositing, on the isolation layer, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern;

placing the decal strip on a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to the decal strip until the edge electrode pattern, the wire traces, the isolation layer, and the protective layer are transferred from the decal strip to the touch screen; and

removing the decal strip.

19. The method of claim 18 in which heat and pressure is applied by a hot stamp machine equipped with a heated pad disposed between a feed roll of decal paper and take up roll and over a holder for the touch screen.

20. A decal for transferring an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen, the decal comprising:

decal strip; and

on one surface of the decal strip, a conductive material printed in the form of an edge electrode pattern.

21. The decal of claim 20 further including a wire trace pattern on the decal strip.

22. The decal of claim 20 further including a wire trace pattern on the decal strip and an isolation layer between the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern.

23. The decal of claim 22 in which the isolation layer is disposed between the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern and the edge electrode pattern deposited adjacent the wire trace pattern on the decal strip.

24. The decal of claim 23 further including a protective layer between the decal strip and the edge electrode and the wire trace pattern.

25. The decal of claim 22 in which the isolation layer is disposed over the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern is deposited on the isolation layer.

26. The decal of claim 25 further including a protective layer between the decal strip and the wire trace pattern.

27. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of decal paper, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern, a wire trace pattern, and an isolation layer between the edge electrode pattern and the wire trace pattern;

placing the first surface of the decal on a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to an opposite surface of the decal paper until the edge electrode pattern, the wire trace pattern, and the isolation layer are transferred to the touch screen; and

removing the decal paper.

28. The method of claim 27 in which the isolation layer is disposed over the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern is disposed adjacent the wire trace pattern.

29. The method of claim 28 further including disposing a protective layer between the decal paper and the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern.

30. The method of claim 27 in which the isolation layer is disposed over the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern is disposed on the isolation layer.

31. The method of claim 30 further including disposing a protective layer between the decal paper and the wire trace pattern.

32. The method of claim 27 in which heat and pressure is applied by a hot stamp machine equipped with a heated pad disposed between a feed roll of decal paper and take up roll and over a holder for the touch screen.

33. The method of claim 27 in which depositing includes screen printing.

34. The method of claim 27 in which the temperature used to apply heat is between 300 and 400°

F. and the pressure applied is between 15 Psi and 30 Psi.

35. A touch screen manufactured by the method of claim 27.

36. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern and wire traces to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of a decal paper, a protective layer;

depositing, on the protective layer, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern and one or more wire traces adjacent the edge electrode pattern;

depositing an isolation layer over each wire trace;

placing the decal on a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to the decal paper until the edge electrode pattern, the wire traces, the protective layer, and the isolation layer are transferred from the decal paper to the touch screen; and

removing the decal paper.

37. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern and wire traces to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of a decal paper, a protective layer;

depositing, on the protective layer, conductive material in the form of one or more wire traces;

depositing over the one or more wire traces, an isolation layer;

depositing, on the isolation layer, conductive material in the from of an edge electrode pattern;

placing the decal on a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to the decal paper until the edge electrode pattern, the wire traces, the isolation layer, and the protective layer are transferred from the decal paper to the touch screen; and

removing the decal paper.

38. A decal for transferring an edge electrode pattern and a wire trace pattern to a touch screen, the decal comprising:

decal paper; and

on one surface of the decal paper, a conductive material printed in the form of an edge electrode pattern and one or more wire traces proximate the edge electrode pattern and electrically isolated therefrom.

39. The decal of claim 38 further including a protective layer between a) the edge electrodes and wire traces and b) the decal paper, and an isolation layer over each wire trace.

40. The decal of claim 38 further including a protective layer between the wire traces and the decal paper, an isolation layer over each wire trace, and wherein the edge electrode pattern is located on the isolation layer.

41. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern and a wire trace pattern to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a heat transfer decal paper, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern and a wire trace pattern;

placing the decal on a touch screen;

applying heat and pressure to the decal paper until the edge electrode pattern and the wire trace pattern are transferred to the touch screen; and

removing the decal paper.

42. A decal for transferring an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen, the decal comprising:

heat transfer decal paper; and

on the decal paper, a conductive material printed in the form of an edge electrode pattern and one or more wire traces proximate the edge electrode pattern.

43. A method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen, the method comprising:

depositing, on a first surface of a decal strip, conductive material in the form of an edge electrode pattern;

employing a hot stamp machine equipped with a heated pad disposed between a feed roll of decal paper and take up roll and over a holder for the touch screen to place the first surface of the decal strip on one edge of the touch screen and to apply heat and pressure to an opposite surface of the decal strip until the edge electrode pattern is transferred from the first surface of the decal strip to the touch screen.