TOUCH PANEL ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
First Claim
1. A method of forming a touch panel assembly, comprising:
- depositing a layer of conductive material on a first surface of a glass sheet;
patterning the conductive material into a first set of electrodes;
forming a color filter layer on a second surface of the glass sheet, the second surface being opposite the first surface;
forming a thin film transistor (TFT) display layer;
connecting the thin film transistor (TFT) display layer to the color filter layer using an adhesive to form an intermediate stack;
injecting a layer of liquid crystal material into space between the TFT display layer and the color filter layer in the intermediate stack;
bonding at least one electrical connector to the intermediate stack;
connecting a first polarizer to an upper surface of the intermediate stack and a second polarizer to a lower surface of the intermediate stack, the first polarizer having a first polarization oriented at approximately ninety degrees with respect to a second polarization of the second polarizer; and
connecting a top stack to the first polarizer to form a final stack, the top stack including at least a cover glass sheet and an upper patterned conductive layer, the upper patterned conductive layer forming a second set of electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two layer touch panel structure utilizes direct-bonded touch panel and liquid crystal display (LCD) stackups for devices like tablets and computers. The top surface of a color filter and a receive conducting layer are placed close to the surface of the stackup. Placing a layer of conductive material on top of the color filter, on top of the polarizer, or on the cover glass can enable the process to be greatly simplified and cheaper than conventional processes, while maintaining excellent electrical and touch performance, and reducing ITO pattern visibility. Such a process also can utilize a large color filter, enabling significantly more pieces to be formed from a single stack and thus further improving efficiency and cost.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of forming a touch panel assembly, comprising:
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depositing a layer of conductive material on a first surface of a glass sheet; patterning the conductive material into a first set of electrodes; forming a color filter layer on a second surface of the glass sheet, the second surface being opposite the first surface; forming a thin film transistor (TFT) display layer; connecting the thin film transistor (TFT) display layer to the color filter layer using an adhesive to form an intermediate stack; injecting a layer of liquid crystal material into space between the TFT display layer and the color filter layer in the intermediate stack; bonding at least one electrical connector to the intermediate stack; connecting a first polarizer to an upper surface of the intermediate stack and a second polarizer to a lower surface of the intermediate stack, the first polarizer having a first polarization oriented at approximately ninety degrees with respect to a second polarization of the second polarizer; and connecting a top stack to the first polarizer to form a final stack, the top stack including at least a cover glass sheet and an upper patterned conductive layer, the upper patterned conductive layer forming a second set of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of forming a touch panel assembly, comprising:
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forming a pattern of electrodes in a layer of conductive material deposited on a first surface of a glass sheet; forming a color filter layer on a second surface of the glass sheet, the second surface being opposite the first surface; connecting a thin film transistor (TFT) display layer to the color filter layer to create an intermediate stack; placing liquid crystal material between at least a portion of the TFT display layer and the color filter layer; connecting at least one electrical connector to the intermediate stack; connecting a first polarizer to an upper surface of the intermediate stack and a second polarizer to a lower surface of the intermediate stack, the first polarizer having a first polarization oriented at approximately ninety degrees with respect to a second polarization of the second polarizer; and connecting a cover glass sheet to the connecting stack to form the touch panel assembly, the cover glass having formed thereon an upper patterned conductive layer forming a second set of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 9. The method of claim 9, wherein connecting the at least one electrical connector to the intermediate stack includes connecting an electrical connector of the at least one electrical connector to one of the individual cells.
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16. A touch panel stack, comprising:
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a cover glass layer; a first polarizer positioned proximate a first surface of the cover glass layer; a first set of electrodes formed on a second surface of the cover glass layer, the second surface being opposite the first surface; a thin film transistor (TFT) display component; a glass sheet positioned between the cover glass layer and the TFT display component, the glass sheet having a color filter layer formed thereon; a liquid crystal layer between the glass sheet and the TFT display component; a second polarizer proximate a first side of the TFT display component, the first side being opposite a second side of the TFT display component, the second side of the TFT display component being proximate the first polarizer; and a second set of electrodes positioned proximate at least one of the color filter layer, the glass sheet, or the second polarizer, wherein the second set of electrode is separated from the first set of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification