TOUCH SCREEN PANEL AND FABRICATING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20150022731A1
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: KANG, Sung-Ku, KIM, Jung-Yun, PARK, Mi-Ae
• Application Number:
  US14/157,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022731A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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 method of fabricating a touch screen panel includes forming an insulating layer on a substrate. A pattern is formed in the insulating layer. The pattern includes concave portions and convex portions. Sensing electrodes are formed in at least a portion of the concave portions.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a touch screen panel, the method comprising:

forming an insulating layer on a substrate;

forming a pattern in the insulating layer, the pattern comprising concave portions and convex portions; and

forming sensing electrodes in at least a portion of the concave portions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the concave portions comprises at least one of a bottom surface substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate and a side surface extending in a direction intersecting the surface of the substrate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the sensing electrodes comprises a bottom surface portion and a side surface portion respectively corresponding to the bottom surface of a concave portion and the side surface of the concave portion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the thickness and length of the bottom surface portion are substantially equal to the thickness and length of the side surface portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrodes comprise:

first sensing electrodes disposed in an active area of the substrate, the first sensing electrodes being arranged in a first direction; and

second sensing electrodes disposed in the active area, the second sensing electrodes being arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sensing electrodes comprise mesh structures.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

forming bridge patterns electrically connecting adjacent second sensing electrodes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the insulating layer is formed on the bridge patterns, the bridge patterns being disposed between the insulating layer and the substrate.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the pattern in the insulating layer comprises trenches exposing end portions of the bridge pattern.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein bridge connecting portions are disposed in the trenches and electrically connect adjacent second sensing electrodes via corresponding bridge patterns.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein forming the bridge patterns comprises:

forming a conductive layer on the substrate; and

patterning the conductive layer to form the bridge patterns,

wherein connecting portions of adjacent second sensing electrodes at least partially overlap a corresponding bridge pattern disposed therebetween.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pattern comprises:

performing at least one of a photolithographic process and a imprinting process.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the sensing electrodes comprises:

forming a conductive layer on the insulating layer comprising the pattern; and

removing portions of the conductive layer disposed on the convex portions,

wherein remaining portions of the conductive layer disposed on the concave portions correspond to the sensing electrodes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

forming the conductive layer comprises sputtering a material on the insulating layer; and

removing the portions of the conductive layer comprises performing electron beam lithography.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate corresponds to a thin-film of at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), triacetylcellulose (TAC), and polyethersulfone (PES).

16. A touch screen panel, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

an insulating layer disposed on the flexible substrate, the insulating layer comprising a pattern of trenches formed therein; and

sensing electrodes at least partially formed in the trenches.

17. The touch screen panel of claim 16, wherein:

the trenches respectively comprise one or more bounding surfaces; and

each sensing electrode is disposed on each of the one or more bounding surfaces of a corresponding trench.

18. The touch screen panel of claim 17, wherein the one or more bounding surfaces of each trench defines one of an ovular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, and a rectilinear cross-section.

19. The touch screen panel of claim 17, wherein the thickness of each sensing electrode on each of the one or more bounding surfaces is substantially the same.

20. The touch screen panel of claim 16, wherein each of the sensing electrodes comprises fine sensing electrode lines forming a corresponding mesh structure.