TOUCH PANEL STACKUP

• US 20120113043A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Liu, Chen-Yu, Liu, Cheng-Ping
• Granted Patent: US 9,652,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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

A touch panel stackup comprises a substrate having a substantially transparent first region and a substantially opaque second region, a sensing electrode detecting a tactile signal, a conductive circuit electrically coupled with the sensing electrode, and a masking element configured on the second region of the substrate, wherein the sensing electrode, the conductive circuit, and the masking element are integrally formed on the substrate.

Claims

1. A touch panel stackup, comprising:

a singular integrated substrate having a substantially transparent region and a neighboring region next to the substantially transparent region;

a masking element configured on the neighboring region of the substrate;

an electrode detecting a tactile signal; and

a conductive circuit transmitting the tactile signal to a signal processor,

wherein the electrode and the masking element are integrally formed, and wherein the integrally formed electrode and masking element are positioned on one surface of the substrate.

2. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode is electrically coupled with the conductive circuit.

3. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the masking element has a through hole, and the conductive circuit is electrically coupled with the electrode via the through hole.

4. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on the masking element.

5. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein a part of the masking element is configured on the electrode.

6. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on one surface of the substrate with the electrode.

7. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein a part of the masking element is configured on the conductive circuit.

8. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on the masking element and a part of the masking element is configured on the electrode.

9. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the masking element is made of an anisotropic conductive material.

10. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on one surface of the substrate with the electrode, and the conductive circuit is configured between the substrate and the masking element.

11. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein a part of the electrode is configured on the masking element and a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode and electrically coupled with the electrode.

12. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on the masking element and a part of the electrode is configured on the conductive circuit and electrically coupled with the conductive circuit.

13. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element.

14. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the masking element between the conductive circuit and the masking element.

15. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the dielectric element, and the masking element are configured on one surface of the substrate with the electrode.

16. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the masking element and the conductive circuit.

17. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the electrode is electrically coupled with the conductive circuit.

18. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on the dielectric element.

19. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein a part of the electrode is configured on the dielectric element.

20. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein a part of the electrode is configured on the dielectric element and a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode.

21. The touch panel stackup of claim 13, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on the dielectric element and a part of the electrode is configured on the conductive circuit.

22. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride (SixNy), and non-conductive polymer.

23. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on one surface of the substrate with the electrode, the masking element is configured on the conductive circuit and a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode.

24. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is configured on one surface of the substrate with the electrode and the masking element and a part of electrode are configured on the conductive circuit.

25. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is electrically coupled with the electrode, further a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode and the other part of conductive circuit is configured on the masking element.

26. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the dielectric element, and the masking element are configured on one surface of the substrate with the electrode, a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode and the other part of conductive circuit is configured on the dielectric element.

27. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element isolating the conductive circuit and the electrode from the masking element.

28. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the masking element and the conductive circuit, and between the masking element and the electrode.

29. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a vertical sensing electrode.

30. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a horizontal sensing and vertical sensing electrode.

31. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of inorganic conductive materials and organic conductive materials.

32. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein an element is configured on the substrate, the material of the element is selected from the group consisting of anti-scratch material, anti-glare material, and anti-reflective material.

33. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the material of electrode is selected from the group consisting of Indium Tin Oxide, Aluminum Zinc Oxide, Zinc Tin Oxide, conductive glass, conductive Polymer, and Carbon Nanotube.

34. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the material of conductive circuit is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, and copper.

35. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode and the conductive circuit are made of the same material.

36. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the masking element is made of substantially opaque photoresistor, resin, or ink.

37. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the neighboring region is configured on the edge of the substrate.

38. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the masking element can be pasted, printed, dyed, sputtered, or coated on the substrate.

39. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode further comprises a sensing electrode pattern and an electrical wire.

40. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode further comprises a sensing electrode pattern, an electrical wire and an insulator.

41. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode further comprises:

a first sensing electrode pattern;

a second sensing electrode pattern;

a first electrical wire;

a second electrical wire; and

an insulator.

42. The touch panel stackup of claim 41, wherein the insulator electrically isolates the first electrical wire from the second electrical wire.

43. The touch panel stackup of claim 41, wherein the insulator is configured on the first electrical wire, the second electrical wire is configured on the insulator and the second electrical wire is electrically coupled with the first sensing electrode pattern and the second sensing electrode pattern.

44. The touch panel stackup of claim 41, wherein the insulator further comprises a through hole and the second electrical wire is electrically coupled with the first sensing electrode pattern and the second sensing electrode pattern via the through hole.

45. The touch panel stackup of claim 41, wherein the first conductive circuit is configured on the substrate, the insulator is configured on the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire is configured on the insulator.

46. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the electrode further comprises a sensing electrode pattern and a first electrical wire and the sensing electrode pattern and the electrical wire are made of same material.

47. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the touch panel stackup is a capacitive type, and the electrode further comprises a sensing electrode pattern which senses the tactile signal in vertical and horizontal directions in accordance with the variations of capacitance.

48. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, the touch panel stackup is a capacitive one, wherein the electrode further comprises a plurality of sensing electrode patterns and a plurality of corresponding geocodes.

49. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, wherein the masking comprises a through hole, with a dimension less than 30 μ

m in diameter.

50. The touch panel stackup of claim 1, further comprising a conductive adhesive electrically coupled with the electrode and conductive circuit.

51. A touch panel stackup, comprising:

a singular integrated substrate, comprising a viewable region and a neighboring region next to the viewable region;

a masking element configured on the neighboring region;

an electrode for sensing a tactile signal; and

a conductive circuit for transmitting the tactile signal to a signal processor,

wherein the electrode and the conductive circuit are configured on one surface of the substrate.

52. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element.

53. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the conductive circuit.

54. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the masking element and the conductive circuit.

55. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the electrode is electrically coupled with the conductive circuit.

56. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein a part of the dielectric element is configured on the electrode.

57. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode.

58. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein a part of the electrode is configured on the conductive circuit.

59. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride (SixNy), and non-conductive polymer.

60. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the conductive circuit, wherein a part of the dielectric element is configured on the electrode.

61. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the neighboring region.

62. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the masking element is configured on the dielectric element.

63. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the conductive circuit and the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode.

64. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element isolating the electrode from the masking element.

65. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element isolating the conductive circuit and the electrode from the masking element.

66. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the masking element and the electrode.

67. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the masking element and the conductive circuit between the masking element and the electrode.

68. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the conductive circuit, wherein the masking element is configured on the dielectric element.

69. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the conductive circuit, wherein a part of the dielectric element is configured on the electrode and the masking element is configured on the dielectric element.

70. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the electrode is electrically coupled with the conductive circuit.

71. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the masking element comprises a through hole, and the conductive circuit is electrically coupled with the electrode via the through hole.

72. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the masking element is made of anisotropic conductive material.

73. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the conductive circuit is configured between the substrate and the masking element.

74. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode and the masking element is configured on the conductive circuit.

75. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein a part of the electrode is configured on the conductive circuit and the masking element is configured on the conductive circuit.

76. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, further comprising a conductive adhesive electrically coupled with the electrode and the conductive circuit.

77. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the electrode and the conductive circuit are substantially made of the same material.

78. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the electrode further comprises a sensing electrode pattern, an electric wire and an insulator.

79. The touch panel stackup of claim 51, wherein the electrode further comprises:

a first sensing electrode pattern;

a second sensing electrode pattern;

a first electric wire;

a second electric wire; and

an insulator.

80. A touch panel stackup, comprising:

a singular integrated substrate including a viewable region and a neighboring region next to the viewable region;

a masking element configured on the neighboring region;

an electrode for sensing a tactile signal; and

a conductive circuit for transmitting the tactile signal to a signal processor,

wherein the electrode and the conductive circuit are configured on one surface of the substrate, and wherein the masking element is configured on the other surface of substrate.

81. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, further comprising a protective element configured on the masking element.

82. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, further comprising a protective element, wherein the protective element is configured on one surface of the substrate with the masking element.

83. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, further comprising a conductive adhesive electrically coupled with the electrode and the conductive circuit.

84. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, wherein a part of the conductive circuit is configured on the electrode.

85. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, wherein a part of electrode is configured on the conductive circuit.

86. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, further comprising a protective element selected from the group consisting of anti-scratch material, anti-glare material, and anti-reflective material.

87. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, further comprising a protective element substantially made of the same material of the substrate.

88. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, wherein the masking element is configured on the substrate and the substrate and the electrode are configured on the conductive circuit.

89. The touch panel stackup of claim 80, wherein the masking element is configured on the substrate and the substrate and the conductive circuit are configured on the electrode.

90. A touch panel stackup, comprising:

a singular integrated substrate including a viewable region and a neighboring region next to the viewable region;

a masking element configured on the neighboring region;

a first electrode for sensing the tactile signal of a first direction;

a second electrode for sensing the tactile signal of a second direction; and

a conductive circuit electrically coupled with the first electrode,

wherein the first electrode and the conductive circuit are configured on one surface of the substrate, and wherein the second electrode is configured on the other surface of the substrate.

91. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, wherein the masking element is configured on one surface of the substrate with the second electrode.

92. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a protective element configured on the second electrode.

93. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a conductive adhesive electrically coupled with the first electrode and the conductive circuit.

94. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the second electrode.

95. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the second electrode and the masking element.

96. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising:

a dielectric element configured on the second electrode; and

a protective element configured on the dielectric element.

97. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a dielectric element, wherein the dielectric element is configured on one surface of the substrate with the second electrode.

98. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the second electrode on the substrate, the substrate is configured on the first electrode and the first electrode is configured on the conductive circuit.

99. The touch panel stackup of claim 90, further comprising a dielectric element configured on the second electrode on the substrate, the substrate is configured on the conductive circuit, and the conductive circuit is configured on the first electrode.

100. A touch panel stackup, comprises:

a singular integrated substrate includes a viewable region and a neighboring region next to the viewable region;

a first sensing electrode for sensing a tactile signal;

a conductive circuit electrically coupled with the first sensing electrode; and

a masking element configured on the neighboring region,

wherein the first sensing electrode, the conductive circuit and the masking element are configured on the substrate.

101. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the first sensing electrode is configured between the masking element and the conductive circuit.

102. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the conductive circuit is configured between the masking element and the first sensing electrode.

103. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein at least a part of the masking element is configured between the first sensing electrode and the conductive circuit.

104. The touch panel stackup of claim 103, wherein the first sensing electrode is electrically coupled with the conductive circuit via an open hole on the masking element.

105. The touch panel stackup of claim 103, wherein the masking element is made of the anisotropic conductive material, and the first sensing electrode is electrically coupled with the conductive circuit via the masking element.

106. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the substrate is configured between the masking element and the conductive circuit.

107. The touch panel stackup of claim 106, wherein the first sensing electrode is configured between the substrate and the conductive circuit.

108. The touch panel stackup of claim 106, further comprising a first protective element that substantially covers the masking element.

109. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, further comprising a second sensing electrode, and the substrate is configured between the first and second sensing electrodes.

110. The touch panel stackup of claim 109, further comprising a second protective element substantially covers the second sensing electrode.

111. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the conductive circuit and the first sensing electrode are made of the same material.

112. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the first sensing electrode and the masking element.

113. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the conductive circuit and the masking element.

114. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the first sensing electrode comprises a plurality of first electrode patterns on a first surface that is used to sense a tactile signal in a first direction, and the touch panel stackup further comprising:

a second sensing electrode comprises a plurality of second electrode patterns on the first surface for sensing the tactile signal in a second direction;

a first electric wire electrically coupled with said plurality of first electrode patterns;

an insulator that covers the first electric wire partially; and

a second electric wire configured on the insulator and electrically coupled with said plurality of second electrode patterns.

115. The touch panel stackup of claim 114, wherein the second electric wire and the second sensing electrode are made of the same material.

116. The touch panel stackup of claim 114, wherein at least a part of the masking element covers the second electrode patterns, and the second electric wire is electrically coupled with said plurality of second electrode patterns via one or more open holes on the masking element.

117. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the first sensing electrode comprises one or more geocoded electrode patterns for sensing a tactile signal in a first direction and a tactile signal in a second direction.

118. The touch panel stackup of claim 117, wherein the geocoded electrode patterns is selected from a group consisting of round, oval, triangular, rectangular, trapezoid, and polygonal.

119. The touch panel stackup of claim 117, wherein the geocoded electrode patterns are in different sizes.

120. The touch panel stackup of claim 117, wherein the geocoded electrode patterns have different conductivity.

121. The touch panel stackup of claim 100, wherein the viewable region is used to implement the touch operation functions.

122. The touch panel stackup of claim 110, wherein the second protective element and the second sensing electrode have substantially similar refractive index.

123. The touch panel stackup of claim 109, further comprising a dielectric element configured between the second sensing electrode and the masking element.

124. The touch panel stackup of claim 123, wherein the dielectric element and the second sensing electrode have substantially similar refractive index.

125. The touch panel stackup of claim 112, wherein the dielectric element and the first sensing electrode have substantially similar refractive index.

126. The touch panel stackup of claim 113, wherein the dielectric element and the first sensing electrode have substantially similar refractive index.