Touch Sensor

• US 20170139511A1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sekisui Polymatech Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Polymatech Japan Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohsawa, Yuta, HONMATSU, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 10,725,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 3/0443 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96078 Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers

Abstract

A touch sensor includes a sensor sheet that includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, wires that extend from the sensor electrodes, and a connection portion for connection to a substrate. The sensor sheet is formed with a body portion in which the sensor electrodes are formed, and a tail portion that projects from the body portion and that includes a terminal. A protective layer is stacked on at least a part of the tail portion. A folded portion in which the sensor sheet has been bent permanently is formed in the tail portion on which the protective layer is stacked.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising a sensor sheet that has a plurality of sensor electrodes, a connection portion for connection to a substrate, and wires that extend from the sensor electrodes to the connection portion, characterized in that

the sensor sheet has an electrode formation portion in which the sensor electrodes are formed, and an edge portion in which the wires and the connection portion are formed, and

the edge portion has a protective layer and a folded portion in which the sensor sheet has been bent permanently along a folding line that passes through the protective layer.

2. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer which is located in the folded portion is provided at a position at which the protective layer does not overlap the wires.

3. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer which is located in the folded portion is provided at a position at which the protective layer overlaps the wires.

4. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion is formed with a widened portion that is wider than the connection portion and that is narrower than the electrode formation portion, and the widened portion is provided with the protective layer to form the folded portion.

5. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the widened portion is formed to be shaped so as to be widened from the connection portion toward the electrode formation portion.

6. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer is constituted of a resin film.

7. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer has a thickness of 50 μ

m to 75 μ

m.

8. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least the sensor electrodes, the connection portion, and the wires are provided on each of one surface and the other surface of the sensor sheet.

9. An electronic device comprising a housing and the touch sensor according to claim 1 provided inside the housing.