IMPRINT CIRCUIT PATTERNING

• US 20070283832A1
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US11/552,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283832A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/487
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136295 Materials; Compositions; Manufacture processes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0108 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0326 Inorganic, non-metallic conductor, e.g. indium-tin oxide [ITO]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09036 Recesses or grooves in insulating substrate recess in metallic substrate H05K2201/09745
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0108 Male die used for patterning, punching or transferring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0014 Shaping of the substrate, e.g. by moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/107 by filling grooves in the support with conductive material H05K3/045, H05K3/101, H05K3/1258 and H05K3/465 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/16 by cathodic sputtering

Abstract

An imprint circuit patterning technique that shrinks the minimum feature dimension of circuit features formed on plastic substrates is provided. The imprint circuit patterning technique may be applied to the fabrication of LCDs, particularly LCDs including integral touch sensing. Substrates having patterned substantially transparent electrodes for use with such touch-sensing LCDs and the touch-sensing LCDs are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating an imprinted substrate, the method comprising:

providing a substrate;

imprinting the substrate by applying a tool to the substrate in the presence of at least one of heat and pressure to form an imprinted substrate;

depositing at least a first material substantially uniformly on at least a first portion of the imprinted substrate; and

depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a second portion of the imprinted substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first material and the second material are the same material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the imprinted substrate and the second portion of the substrate at least partially overlap.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a transparent polymer.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising integrating the imprinted substrate into a touch screen.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein depositing at least a first material substantially uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes sputtering ITO onto at least a portion of the imprinted substrate.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein depositing at least a first material substantially uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes removing ITO deposited on vertical surfaces of imprinted features.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes sputtering the second material onto at least a portion of the imprinted substrate.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second material is a metal.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes removing the second material deposited on vertical surfaces of imprinted features.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second material is a metal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes sputtering the second material onto at least a portion of the imprinted substrate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes removing the second material deposited on vertical surfaces of imprinted features.

14. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

depositing a substantially clear film on the imprinted substrate over at least a portion of the first and second materials deposited on the imprinted substrate.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising integrating the imprinted substrate into a touch screen.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein depositing at least a first material substantially uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes sputtering ITO onto at least a portion of the imprinted substrate.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein depositing at least a first material substantially uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes removing ITO deposited on vertical surfaces of imprinted features.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes sputtering a metal onto at least a portion of the imprinted substrate.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein depositing at least a second material substantially non-uniformly on at least a portion of the imprinted substrate includes removing metal deposited on vertical surfaces of imprinted features.

20. A touch screen comprising:

a substantially transparent substrate having a plurality of imprinted features; and

a plurality of electrically isolated, substantially transparent electrodes formed by substantially uniformly depositing a substantially electrically conductive material on the plurality of imprinted features.

21. The touch screen of claim 20 further comprising:

a plurality of conductive traces formed by substantially non-uniformly depositing a conductive material on at least some of the imprinted features.

22. The touch screen of claim 21 further comprising:

an index matching substantially clear film deposited over the plurality of electrodes.

23. The touch screen of claim 20 further comprising:

an index matching substantially clear film deposited over the plurality of electrodes.

24. A method of fabricating a touch screen comprising:

providing a substantially transparent substrate;

imprinting the substantially transparent substrate by applying a tool to the substrate in the presence of at least one of heat and pressure;

forming a plurality of electrically isolated, substantially transparent electrodes by substantially uniformly depositing ITO on imprinted features of the substantially transparent imprinted substrate; and

forming a plurality of conductive traces by substantially non-uniformly depositing one or more materials on the imprinted substrate.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the conductive traces are formed by substantially non-uniformly depositing ITO on the imprinted substrate.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the conductive traces are formed by substantially non-uniformly depositing a metal on the imprinted substrate.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

depositing an index matching substantially clear film on the substrate over the plurality of electrically isolated, substantially transparent electrodes.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising integrating the substrate into a touch screen.