TOUCH PANEL

• US 20180321769A1
• Filed: 06/29/2018
• Published: 11/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: KIMURA, Hajime, YAMAZAKI, Shunpei
• Granted Patent: US 11,048,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• 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

A touch panel which is thin, has a simple structure, or is easily incorporated into an electronic device is provided. The touch panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a third conductive layer, a fourth conductive layer, liquid crystal, and an FPC. The first conductive layer has a function of a pixel electrode. The second conductive layer has a function of a common electrode. The third and fourth conductive layers each have a function of an electrode of a touch sensor. The FPC is electrically connected to the fourth conductive layer. The first, second, third, and fourth conductive layers and the liquid crystal are provided between the first and second substrates. The first, second, and third conductive layers are provided over the first substrate. The FPC is provided over the first substrate.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a first conductive layer;

a second conductive layer;

a third conductive layer;

a fourth conductive layer;

liquid crystal; and

an FPC,

wherein the FPC is electrically connected to the fourth conductive layer,

wherein the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer, the fourth conductive layer, and the liquid crystal are provided between the first substrate and the second substrate,

wherein the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the third conductive layer are provided over the first substrate, and

wherein the FPC is provided over the first substrate.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising a fifth conductive layer and a connector,

wherein the fifth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate,

wherein the second substrate is provided with the fourth conductive layer, and

wherein the fourth conductive layer and the fifth conductive layer are electrically connected to each other through the connector.

3. The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer are formed from a same layer.

4. The touch panel according to claim 1,

wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, and

wherein one of the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer is provided on the same plane as the second conductive layer.

5. The touch panel according to claim 1,

wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate,

wherein the third conductive layer is provided on the same plane as the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer, and

wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided on the same plane as the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer.

6. The touch panel according to claim 1,

wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, and

wherein the second conductive layer and one of the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer are formed from a same layer.

7. The touch panel according to claim 1,

wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, and

wherein the first conductive layer and one of the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer are formed from a same layer.

8. A touch panel comprising:

a pixel electrode over a first substrate;

a common electrode over the pixel electrode;

liquid crystal over the common electrode;

an electrode of a touch sensor over the liquid crystal;

a second substrate over the electrode of the touch sensor; and

an FPC electrically connected to the electrode of the touch sensor,

wherein the FPC is provided over the first substrate, and

wherein a pair of electrodes of the touch sensor comprises a part of the pixel electrode and the electrode of the touch sensor.

9. The touch panel according to claim 8, further comprising a conductive layer and a connector,

wherein the conductive layer is provided over the first substrate,

wherein the second substrate is provided with the electrode of the touch sensor, and

wherein the electrode of the touch sensor and the conductive layer are electrically connected to each other through the connector.

10. The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the first substrate is a flexible substrate.

11. The touch panel according to claim 8,

wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode are overlapped with each other, and

wherein the common electrode and the electrode of the touch sensor are overlapped with each other.