Plastic Film and Touch Sensor

• US 20140218053A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG
• Inventors: Ullmann, Andreas, Fix, Walter, Katschorek, Haymo, Laus, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 9,599,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/658
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• 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

Disclosed is a plastic film and a touch module produced therefrom. The module is constructed from two conductive layers with an insulation layer in between, as are used in capacitive touch pads and/or touch screens, for example. The problem of connecting the respective x or y sensors across two planes in a cost-effective manner employs foldable sensor planes in the plastic film suitable for mass production. The connections and conductor tracks are concentrated on one plane on a sensor side wherein the sensor planes are arranged on flexible materials. The registering of the two planes relative to each other is simplified via a secure mechanical connection of the two planes via a fold in the film.

Claims

1. Plastic film which has at least three areas (2, 3 and 6), namely at least a first (2) and second (3) transparent area, in which the plastic film has strip conductors (5, 10) at least on one side, wherein the strip conductors (5) of the first transparent area are aligned transverse to the strip conductors (10) of the second transparent area, with the result that, when the plastic film is folded together along a fold line (4), they form crossover points (17), and a third area (6) which is arranged between the first and the second transparent area (2, 3) and which has the fold line (4) as well as connection tracks (7) for connecting the strip conductors (5, 10) of the first and/or second transparent area (2, 3).

2. Plastic film according to claim 1, wherein the third area (6) is formed transparent.

3. Plastic film according to claim 1, wherein the third area (6) is formed non-transparent.

4. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein in the first and/or second transparent area (2, 3) the strip conductors (5, 10) are formed as conductive areas which have in each case a network of conductive tracks with a width smaller than/equal to 20 μ

m, wherein the conductive tracks are arranged at a distance from each other which allows the respective network to appear transparent for the human eye.

5. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein electrically conductive layers, the conductive areas, the strip conductors, the connection tracks for connecting the strip conductors, and/or connections (5, 7, 8, 10) on the plastic film are formed from the same conductive material.

6. Plastic film according to one of claim 3 or 4, wherein the conductive tracks inside the networks are arranged such that their periodicity is interrupted, wherein in particular either the angle is varied in the case of parallel lines or the periodicity changes in the case of wavy lines, with the result that when superimposed the networks display no moiré

effect.

7. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein the coverage of the carrier with conductive material within the transparent conductive areas amounts to 20% of the surface area or less.

8. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least the third area (6) has an additional reinforcement and/or protective layer (14) between the first and second transparent areas (2, 3).

9. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein the third area (6) has a gap (11) through which the fold line (4) is shortened.

10. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein the plastic film is a transparent or partially transparent plastic film and in particular consists of polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene or polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene or polyester or polycarbonate or PMMA or polyamide or polyimide.

11. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein the plastic film comprises a paper or card layer at least in areas, or consists of paper or card.

12. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein the plastic film is formed by a multi-layered hybrid material which has in particular plastic layers and layers of fibrous material.

13. Plastic film according to one of the previous claims, wherein the plastic film also has at least one fourth area which adjoins the first and/or second transparent area (2, 3) and wherein, after the adhesion of the first and second areas, the fourth area projects beyond the edge thereof.

14. Touch sensor which has a plastic film according to claim 1, wherein the first and second transparent areas (2, 3) are connected to each other via a transparent and electrically insulating layer (12) by folding the plastic film along the fold line (4), and wherein in particular the connections (8) of the strip conductors (5, 10) of the two transparent conductive areas (2, 3) lying on different planes are brought together on one plane by means of the third area (6) comprising the fold line.

15. Touch sensor according to claim 14, wherein the electrically insulating layer (12) consists of an OCA, an optical clear adhesive.

16. Touch sensor according to one of claim 14 or 15, wherein a protective layer (14) is provided in a bend area which comprises the fold line (4).