TRANSPARENT ELECTRODE MEMBER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND CAPACITIVE SENSOR THAT USES TRANSPARENT ELECTRODE MEMBER

• US 20200133416A1
• Filed: 12/23/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YAMAI, Tomoyuki, KOMAI, Eiichi, HIRAKI, Yuta, YAZAWA, Manabu, TASHIRO, Keita, TAKAHASHI, Hideaki
• Granted Patent: US 11,073,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• 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 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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: H01B 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/14 comprising conductive layers or films on insulating-supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/00 Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/09 Use of materials for the conductive, e.g. metallic pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/026 Nanotubes or nanowires
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/03 Conductive materials

Abstract

A transparent electrode member has a transparent electrode layer formed of a dispersion layer which includes a matrix and conductive nanowires dispersed therein to provide an optical adjustment region including a conductive portion having a first dispersion density and an optical adjustment portion having a second dispersion density smaller than the first dispersion density. The transparent electrode layer includes a plurality of first and second electrodes each having the optical adjustment region, and a first wire provided between and electrically connecting two adjacent first electrodes. A region of an insulating layer is formed between the first wire and the second electrodes, and between the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The first wire and a part of the first electrodes in a vicinity of the first wire are formed of a non-adjustment region of the dispersion layer including the conductive portion while lacking the optical adjustment portion.

Claims

1. A transparent electrode member comprising:

a base having a translucent property, the base having a first surface;

a transparent electrode layer having a translucent property and provided on the first surface, the transparent electrode layer being formed of a dispersion layer which includes a matrix made of an insulating material and conductive nanowires dispersed in the matrix such that the dispersion layer has a conductive portion having a first dispersion density of the conductive nanowires and at least one optical adjustment portion having a second dispersion density smaller than the first dispersion density, thereby forming an optical adjustment region in the dispersion layer, the transparent electrode layer including;

a plurality of first transparent electrodes arranged in a first direction, the first transparent electrodes having the optical adjustment region;

a first transparent wire provided between and electrically connecting two adjacent first transparent electrodes, the first transparent wire having a width smaller than a width of the first transparent electrodes viewed from a third direction normal to the first surface; and

a plurality of second transparent electrodes arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction such that the first transparent electrodes and the second transparent electrodes are adjacent to one another viewed from the third direction, the second transparent electrodes having the optical adjustment region; and

an insulating layer provided on the first surface, the insulating layer including;

a first insulating region formed on at least part of a peripheral region surrounding a region in which the transparent electrode layer is formed, viewed from the third direction; and

a second insulating region formed between the first transparent wire and the second transparent electrodes adjacent thereto, and between the first transparent electrodes and the second transparent electrodes adjacent thereto, viewed from the third direction,

wherein the first transparent wire is formed of a non-adjustment region of the dispersion layer which includes the conductive portion and lacks the optical adjustment portion, and a part of the first transparent electrodes in a vicinity of the first transparent wire includes the non-adjustment region.

2. The transparent electrode member according to claim 1, wherein a part of the second transparent electrodes in the vicinity of the first transparent wire includes the non-adjustment region.

4. The transparent electrode member according to claim 1, wherein a reflectivity of the insulating layer is smaller than a reflectivity of the conductive portion.

5. The transparent electrode member according to claim 4, wherein the insulating layer is made of the insulating material of which the matrix of the dispersion layer is made.

6. The transparent electrode member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical adjustment portion is disposed within the conductive portion.

7. The transparent electrode member according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the optical adjustment portions per unit area of the transparent electrode in the optical adjustment region is 40% or less.

8. The transparent electrode member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical adjustment region includes a plurality of optical adjustment portions discretely disposed in the conductive portion.

3. The transparent electrode member according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second transparent wire provided between and electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes, the second transparent wire crossing over the first transparent wire with an insulating material interposed therebetween in the third direction.