TOUCH PANEL, AND DISPLAY APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH TOUCH PANEL

• US 20150042903A1
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Misaki, Katsunori
• Granted Patent: US 9,280,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133388 with constructional differences between the display region and the peripheral region
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 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

Provided is a highly reliable configuration of a one glass solution touch panel, in which a sensor electrode and a wiring line can be reliably connected to each other. A touch panel (1) is provided with: an insulating substrate (10) having a sensing area (V) and a non-sensing area (P); sensor electrodes (11, 12), which are formed in the sensing area (P); terminals (13), which are formed in the non-sensing area (P); wiring lines (14), which electrically connect the sensor electrodes (11, 12) and the terminals (13); a light-shielding layer (171), which is formed to cover the non-sensing area (P); and a planarizing film (172), which is formed to cover the light-shielding layer (171). The planarizing film (172) is formed only in the non-sensing area (P).

Claims

1. :

A touch panel, comprising;

an insulating substrate having a sensing area and a non-sensing area;

sensor electrodes formed in the sensing area of the insulating substrate;

terminals formed in the non-sensing area of the insulating substrate;

wiring lines that electrically connect the sensor electrodes to the terminals;

a light-shielding layer formed in the non-sensing area; and

a planarizing film covering the light-shielding layer, the planarizing film being formed only in the non-sensing area of the insulating substrate and having a forward taper on an edge thereof adjacent to the sensing area,

wherein the terminals and the wiring lines are formed over the planarizing film, the wiring lines being formed at least in the non-sensing area.

2. :

The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising a first insulating film formed so as to overlap the wiring lines in a plan view.

3. :

The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the wiring lines are formed in a layer below the first insulating film.

4. :

The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the wiring lines are formed in a layer above the first insulating film.

5. :

The touch panel according to claim 2,

wherein the sensor electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode,

wherein the first electrode includes a plurality of first island-shaped electrodes disposed along a first direction and a first connecting portion that connects adjacent said first island-shaped electrodes,

wherein the second electrode includes a plurality of second island-shaped electrodes disposed along a second direction that intersects with the first direction, and a second connecting portion that connects adjacent said second island-shaped electrodes, and

wherein said touch panel further comprises a second insulating film that insulates the first electrode from the second electrode.

6. :

The touch panel according to claim 5,

wherein the second insulating film has openings, and

wherein the second island-shaped electrodes and the second connecting portion are connected through the openings.

7. :

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the wiring lines straddle the sensing area and the non-sensing area.

8. :

The touch panel according to claim 5, further comprising third connecting portions that connect the sensor electrodes to the wiring lines, the third connecting portions being made of the same material as the second connecting portion.

9. :

The touch panel according to claim 8,

wherein the second connecting portion is formed over the second insulating film, and

wherein the third connecting portions are formed over the first insulating film.

10. :

The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the second connecting portion and the third connecting portions are formed in the same step.

11. :

The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the second connecting portion and the third connecting portions are formed so as to be thicker than the first island-shaped electrodes and the second island-shaped electrodes.

12. :

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the terminals are formed so as to overlap the wiring lines in a plan view in the non-sensing area.

13. :

A display device equipped with a touch panel, comprising;

a liquid crystal display device; and

the touch panel according to claim 1.