Touch panel and method for fabricating the same

• US 20040169643A1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kuo-Hao Tseng
• Original Assignee: Kuo-Hao Tseng
• Inventors: Tseng, Kuo-Hao
• Application Number:
  US10/373,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A touch panel and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The touch panel comprises: a substrate, a first resistive layer formed on the substrate, a cover sheet disposed above the substrate with a gap, a second resistive layer formed on the cover sheet, and a plurality of insulative spacers formed within the gap between the cover sheet and the substrate. The first resistive layer is divided into a first active region and a first peripheral region by a first trench, and the second resistive layer is divided into a second active region and a second peripheral region by a second trench. According to the present invention, the formation of the trenches is laser-patterned without subject to photolithographic and etching processes. Thus, the issues of complicated process, device lifetime shortening, and production yield deterioration can be avoided.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a substrate;

a first resistive layer formed on said substrate, said first resistive layer being divided into a first active region and a first peripheral region by a first trench;

a pair of first electrodes formed at opposite edges of said first active region;

a pair of first wires formed along said first peripheral region in contact with said pair of first electrodes, respectively;

a cover sheet disposed above said substrate with a gap;

a second resistive layer formed on said cover sheet, said second resistive layer being divided into a second active region and a second peripheral region by a second trench;

a pair of second electrodes formed at opposite edges of said second active region;

a pair of second wires formed along said second peripheral region in contact with said pair of second electrodes, respectively; and

a plurality of insulative spacers formed within said gap between said cover sheet and said substrate.

2. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate is a glass substrate and said cover sheet is a polyester sheet.

3. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second resistive layers are made of material selected from a group consisting of indium-tin oxide (ITO) and zinc-tin oxide (ZTO).

4. A touch panel, comprising:

a substrate having a first resistive layer formed thereon;

a cover sheet, formed above said substrate with a gap, having a second resistive layer formed thereon, said second resistive layer being divided into an active region and a peripheral region by a trench; and

a plurality of insulative spacers formed within said gap between said cover sheet and said substrate.

5. The touch panel as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a pair of electrodes formed at opposite edges of said active region; and

a pair of wires formed along said peripheral region in contact with said pair of electrodes, respectively.

6. The touch panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein said substrate is a glass substrate and said cover sheet is a polyester sheet.

7. The touch panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second resistive layers are made of material selected from a group consisting of indium-tin oxide (ITO) and zinc-tin oxide (ZTO).

8. A method for fabricating a touch panel, comprising the following steps of:

(a) providing a substrate having a first resistive layer formed thereon;

(b) patterning said first resistive layer for forming a first trench to divide said first resistive layer into a first active region and a first peripheral region;

(c) forming a pair of first electrodes at opposite edges of said first active region;

(d) forming a pair of first wires along said first peripheral region in contact with said pair of first electrodes, respectively;

(e) providing a cover sheet having a second resistive layer formed thereon, said cover sheet being above said substrate with a gap;

(f) patterning said second resistive layer for forming a second trench to divide said second resistive layer into a second active region and a second peripheral region;

(g) forming a pair of second electrodes at opposite edges of said second active region;

(h) forming a pair of second wires along said second peripheral region in contact with said pair of second electrodes, respectively; and

(i) forming a plurality of insulative spacers within said gap between said cover sheet and said substrate.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step (b) is implemented by laser processing.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said laser processing is implemented by a laser means selected from a group consisting of Nd:

YAG laser, Argon laser, CO₂ laser and Excimer laser.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step (f) is implemented by laser processing.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, said laser processing is implemented by a laser means selected from a group consisting of Nd:

YAG laser, Argon laser, CO₂ laser and Excimer laser.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electrodes and wires are made of metal selected from a group consisting of Ag, Cr, Mo, and Al.

14. A method for fabricating a touch panel, comprising the following steps of:

(a) providing a substrate having a first resistive layer formed thereon;

(b) providing a cover sheet having a second resistive layer formed thereon, said cover sheet being above said substrate with a gap;

(c) patterning said second resistive layer to form a trench to divide said second resistive layer into an active region and a peripheral region; and

(d) forming a plurality of insulative spacers within said gap between said cover sheet and said substrate.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, herein the step (c) is implemented by laser processing.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, said laser processing is implemented by a laser means selected from a group consisting of Nd:

YAG laser, Argon laser, CO₂ laser and Excimer laser.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

forming a pair of electrodes at opposite edges of said active region; and

forming a pair of wires along said peripheral region in contact with said pair of electrodes, respectively.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said electrodes and wires are made of metal selected from a group consisting of Ag, Cr, Mo, and Al.

19. A method for fabricating a touch panel, comprising the following steps of:

(a) providing a substrate having a first resistive layer formed thereon;

(b) patterning said first resistive layer to expose a peripheral region of said substrate by laser processing;

(c) forming a pair of first electrodes at opposite edges of said first resistive layer;

(d) forming a pair of first wires along said peripheral region of said substrate in contact with said pair of first electrodes, respectively;

(e) providing a cover sheet having a second resistive layer formed thereon, said cover sheet being above said substrate with a gap;

(f) patterning said second resistive layer to expose a peripheral region of said cover sheet by laser processing;

(g) forming a pair of second electrodes at opposite edges of said second resistive layer;

(h) forming a pair of second wires along said peripheral region of said cover sheet in contact with said pair of second electrodes, respectively; and

(i) forming a plurality of insulative spacers within said gap between said cover sheet and said substrate.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the steps (b) and (f) are implemented by a laser means selected from a group consisting of Nd:

YAG laser, Argon laser, CO₂ laser and Excimer laser.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said electrodes and wires are made of metal selected from a group consisting of Ag, Cr, Mo, and Al.