CURVED TOUCH PANEL

• US 20120111479A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sung, Kuo-Hua, Feinstein, Casey J., Grespan, Silvio
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/102
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10146 Face treatment, e.g. etching, grinding or sand blasting
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10211 Doped dielectric layer, electrically conductive, e.g. SnO2:F
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1866 conforming the layers or laminate to a convex or concave profile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1031 with preshaping of lamina

Abstract

A method of forming a curved touch surface is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method includes depositing a touch sensor pattern on a flexible substrate; and curving the flexible substrate, using a chuck surface supporting the flexible substrate, to conform to a shape of a curved cover surface. Then, the curved flexible substrate can be laminated or otherwise adhered to the cover surface. The flexible substrate can be a glass substrate greater than 200 μm in thickness, and can be reduced to a desired thickness below 200 μm after the touch sensor pattern is deposited thereon. The flexible substrate can be curved by supporting the flexible substrate on the chuck surface such that the flexible substrate conforms to a shape of the chuck surface, or forcing the flexible substrate against the cover surface, such that the flexible substrate conforms to the shape of the curved cover surface.

Claims

1. A method of forming a curved touch surface, comprising:

depositing a touch sensor pattern on a flexible substrate;

curving the flexible substrate, using a chuck surface supporting the flexible substrate, to conform to a shape of a curved cover surface; and

laminating the curved flexible substrate to the cover surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is a glass substrate less than 200 μ

m in thickness.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is a glass substrate greater than 200 μ

m in thickness, and further comprising;

reducing the flexible glass substrate to a desired thickness after the touch sensor pattern is deposited thereon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the laminating comprises:

applying an adhesive to at least one of the flexible substrate and the curved cover surface; and

pressing at least of portion of the flexible substrate against the curved cover surface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the curving, comprises:

supporting the flexible substrate on the chuck surface such that the flexible substrate conforms to a shape of the chuck surface, wherein the chuck surface has a shape at least partially conforming to the shape of the curved cover surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the curving comprises:

forcing the flexible substrate against the cover surface, such that the flexible substrate conforms to the shape of the curved cover surface.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the flexible substrate is fastened to the chuck surface with a fastening unit.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the flexible substrate is secured to the chuck surface using vacuum suction.

9. The method of claim 7, where the fastening unit is thinner than the adhesive.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the chuck surface is included in a deformable chuck having an expandable surface conformable to the shape of the curved cover surface.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover surface includes a curvature along a plurality of axes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover surface is a cover glass.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover surface is plastic cover.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the adhesive is at least one of a pressure adhesive and a liquid adhesive.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor pattern is formed of at least one of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO), silver ink and copper.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch surface is incorporated within a computing system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the touch surface is incorporated within a display device.

18. A method of forming a curved touch surface, comprising:

forming one or more touch sensors on a flexible substrate oriented in a flat configuration;

forming a curved cover surface;

molding the flexible substrate to conform to the curved cover surface; and

adhering the conformed flexible substrate to the curved cover surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the molding, comprises:

supporting the flexible substrate on a chuck surface, such that the flexible substrate conforms to a shape of the chuck surface, wherein the chuck surface has a shape at least partially conforming to the shape of the curved cover surface.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the molding comprises:

forcing the flexible substrate against the curved cover surface, such that the flexible substrate conforms to the shape of the curved cover surface.

21. A system for forming a curved touch surface, comprising:

a flexible substrate including a touch sensor pattern deposited thereon;

a curved cover surface;

a first chuck surface configured for holding the curved cover surface; and

a second chuck surface supporting the flexible substrate and configured for guiding the flexible substrate against the curved cover surface, and causing the flexible substrate to conform to a shape of the curved cover surface.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible substrate is fastened to the second chuck surface with a fastening unit.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible substrate is secured to the second chuck surface using vacuum suction.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the second chuck surface is a deformable chuck surface having a expandable surface conformable to the shape of the curved cover surface.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible substrate is a glass substrate less than 200 μ

m in thickness.