TOUCH PANEL DEVICE

• US 20100231531A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Su-Mi, Lee, Sung-Kyu, Lee, Yong-Woo, Park, Se-Ki, Kang, Sung-Wook, Yang, Byung-Duk, Kim, Jae-Hyun, Hwang, Seong-Mo
• Application Number:
  US12/551,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20100231531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a touch panel device. A touch panel device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a touch panel and a touch panel controller for controlling the touch panel, wherein the touch panel includes a lower electrode layer, a solid insulating layer disposed on the lower electrode layer, a fluent insulating layer disposed on the solid insulating layer, and an upper electrode layer disposed on the fluent insulating layer.

Claims

1. A touch panel device comprising:

a touch panel; and

a touch panel controller for controlling the touch panel,

wherein the touch panel includes;

a lower electrode layer,

a solid insulating layer disposed on the lower electrode layer,

a fluent insulating layer disposed on the solid insulating layer, and

an upper electrode layer disposed on the fluent insulating layer.

2. The touch panel device of claim 1, wherein

the lower electrode layer includes a plurality of lower electrodes having a belt shape and extending in a first direction, and the upper electrode layer includes a plurality of upper electrodes having a belt shape and extending in a second direction, and

the first direction and the second direction cross each other.

3. The touch panel device of claim 2, wherein

a width of the lower electrode or a width of the upper electrode is different according to position.

4. The touch panel device of claim 3, wherein

the width of the lower electrode or the width of the upper electrode gradually changes according to position.

5. The touch panel device of claim 2, wherein

at least one of a thickness of the fluent insulating layer and a thickness of the solid insulating layer changes according to position.

6. The touch panel device of claim 5, wherein

at least one of the thickness of the fluent insulating layer and the thickness of the solid insulating layer gradually changes according to position.

7. The touch panel device of claim 5, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a liquid crystal material.

8. The touch panel device of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of first input signal lines each connecting a first terminal of the upper electrode to the touch panel controller;

a plurality of first output signal lines each connecting a second terminal of the upper electrode to the touch panel controller;

a plurality of second input signal lines each connecting a first terminal of the lower electrode to the touch panel controller; and

a plurality of second output signal lines each connecting a second terminal of the lower electrode to the touch panel controller.

9. The touch panel device of claim 2, wherein

the plurality of first output signal lines are grouped as one signal line to be connected to the touch panel controller, and the plurality of second output signal lines are grouped as one signal line to be connected to the touch panel controller.

10. The touch panel device of claim 2, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a liquid crystal material.

11. The touch panel device of claim 2, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a plurality of spacers maintaining a thickness of the fluent insulating layer.

12. The touch panel device of claim 1, wherein

at least one of a thickness of the fluent insulating layer and a thickness of the solid insulating layer gradually change according to position.

13. The touch panel device of claim 11, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a liquid crystal material.

14. The touch panel device of claim 11, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a plurality of spacers maintaining a thickness of the fluent insulating layer.

15. The touch panel device of claim 1, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a liquid crystal material.

16. The touch panel device of claim 1, wherein

the fluent insulating layer includes a plurality of spacers maintaining a thickness of the fluent insulating layer.

17. A touch panel device comprising:

a touch panel; and

a touch panel controller for controlling the touch panel,

wherein the touch panel includes;

a lower electrode layer including a plurality of lower electrodes,

an insulating layer disposed on the lower electrode, and

an upper electrode layer disposed on the insulating layer and including a plurality of upper electrodes intersecting the lower electrodes,

wherein a width of the lower electrode or a width of the upper electrode is different according to position.

18. The touch panel device of claim 17, wherein

the width of the lower electrode or the width of the upper electrode gradually changes according to position.

19. The touch panel device of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of first input signal lines each connecting a first terminal of the upper electrode to the touch panel controller;

a plurality of first output signal lines each connecting a second terminal of the upper electrode to the touch panel controller;

a plurality of second input signal lines each connecting a first terminal of the lower electrode to the touch panel controller; and

a plurality of second output signal lines each connecting a second terminal of the lower electrode to the touch panel controller.

20. The touch panel device of claim 19, wherein

the plurality of first output signal lines are grouped as one signal line to be connected to the touch panel controller, and the plurality of second output signal lines are grouped as one signal line to be connected to the touch panel controller.