DARK FILM LAMINATION FOR A TOUCH SENSOR

• US 20140362050A1
• Filed: 06/08/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Jason D., Green, Mark, Emery, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 9,448,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/00 Layered products comprising a layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/04 comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/42 Alternating layers, e.g. ABAB(C), AABBAABB(C)
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/00 Metals, their alloys or their compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2315/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/00 Electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/02 characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/144 using layers with different mechanical or chemical conditions or properties, e.g. layers with different thermal shrinkage, layers under tension during bonding constructional features for tensioning B32B38/1825
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/14 Printing or colouring
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/142 Variation across the area of the layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/05 the layers not being connected over the whole surface, e.g. discontinuous connection or patterned connection using interposed adhesives or bonding materials applied in spaced arrangements B32B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 : Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 : by opto-electronic means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Different lamination methods may be used to create a touch sensor with a darkened side of metalized film facing the user. One lamination method includes laminating a metalized film to an optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer such that an edge of the metalized film including the termination pads remain un-adhered to the OCA layer. Flex-tails may be bonded to the termination pads at a later time by bending up the un-adhered edge. Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) may be placed on the termination pads prior to laminating the metalized films. Flex-tails may be placed onto an OCA layer in a location where the termination pads on the metalized film will be located when laminated to the OCA layer. A strip of ACF may be placed on the flex-tail pads. The flex-tails may be bonded to the termination pads of the metalized film prior to the metalized film being laminated.

Claims

1. A touch sensor, comprising:

a touch surface;

a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface;

a row film including row termination pads on a row end that are bonded to flex tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the row film faces the touch surface;

a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the row film;

a column film including column termination pads on a column end bonded to column flex tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch surface is glass and the darkened surface is applied to one side of the row film and to one side of the column film.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein a portion of the row end of the row film including the row termination pads overlap the first OCA layer and is non-adhered to the first OCA layer such that the row termination pads are exposed after the row film is laminated to the first OCA layer.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein a portion of the column end of the column film including the column termination pads overlap the second OCA layer and is non-adhered to the second OCA layer such that the column termination pads are exposed after the column film is laminated to the second OCA layer.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) covers the row film termination pads prior to lamination.

6. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) covers the column film termination pads prior to lamination.

7. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the flex-tails are bonded to the row film termination pads and to the column film termination pads after the row film is laminated and the column film is laminated.

8. The touch sensor of claim 7, wherein the flex-tails are bonded to the first OCA layer before the row film is laminated to the OCA.

9. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the flex-tails are attached to the row film before the row film is laminated to the first OCA layer.

10. The touch sensor of claim 1, where the flex tails are bonded using ACF.

11. A method for laminating layers of a touch sensor, comprising:

bonding flex-tails to termination pads of a metalized film used in the touch sensor prior to laminating the metalized film; and

laminating the metalized film including the bonded flex-tails to a touch surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein bonding the flex-tails to termination pads of the metalized film used in the touch sensor prior to laminating the metalized film comprises attaching the termination pads using an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF).

13. The method of claim 11, wherein bonding the flex-tails to termination pads of metalized metalized film used in the touch sensor prior to laminating the metalized film comprises bonding the flex-tails to row termination pads of a row metalized metalized film and bonding the flex-tails to column termination pads of a column metalized metalized film.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein laminating the metalized film including the bonded flex-tails to the touch surface comprises laminating a darkened side of the metalized film toward the touch surface such that the darkened side obscures wires in the metalized film.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising testing the metalized film including the flex-tails before laminating the metalized film to the touch surface.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a glass touch surface;

a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface;

a first metalized film including termination pads on a first end that are bonded to flex tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the first metalized film faces the touch surface;

a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the first metalized film;

a second metalized film including termination pads on a second end bonded to flex tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the darkened surface is applied to one side of the first metalized film and to one side of the second metalized film.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a display that is coupled to the touch sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a processor that is configured to process touch input received from the touch sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first metalized film is a row film and the second metalized film is a column film.

wherein the darkened surface is applied to one side of the first metalized film and to one side of the second metalized film.