Touch Screen and Method of Manufacturing the Same

• US 20120038564A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Gap Young, Na, Hyun Min, Hong, Hyuk Jin
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,256 B2
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, a touch screen is provided, the touch screen characterized by: an indium tin oxide (ITO) film deposited on a top surface of a flexible plastic film; a first metal layer deposited on the ITO film, and a second metal layer plated on the first metal layer. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch screen and the method of manufacturing the same having the excellent sensitivity while securing durability may be provided.

Claims

1. A touch screen, comprising:

an indium tin oxide (ITO) film deposited on a top surface of a flexible plastic film;

a first metal layer deposited on the ITO film;

a second metal layer plated on the first metal layer;

a third metal layer plated on the second metal layer.

2. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic film comprises at least any one of PET, PES, PC, PE, PI, and Acryl.

3. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein the metal layer comprises a buffer layer comprising at least any one of Ag, Cu, Au, and Al.

4. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein the second metal layer comprises at least one of Ag, Cu, Au, and Al.

5. The touch screen according to claim 1, wherein the third metal layer comprises the same metal as that of the seed layer.

6. A method of manufacturing a touch screen, comprising:

heat-treating an ITO film from to prevent the shrinkage thereof;

removing and pre-processing impurities on a surface of the ITO film;

depositing a first metal layer on the pre-processed ITO film;

depositing a second metal layer on the firs metal layer; and

plating a third metal layer on the second metal layer.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of removing and pre-processing of the impurities on the surface of the ITO film comprises pre-processing by generating ion beams using at least one of O₂, O₃, N₂, N₂O, NO₂, and CO₂.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the removing and pre-processing of the impurities on the surface of the ITO film comprises pre-processing by generating plasma using at least any one of Ar, Kr, Xe, and Ne.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

forming the first metal layer by vacuum-depositing at least any one of Ni, Cr, Ni—

Cr, Ti, Sn, and Mo on the pre-processed ITO film;

forming the second metal layer by vacuum-depositing at least any one of Ag, Cu, Au, and Al; and

plating the third metal layer with the same metal as the second metal layer.