Display substrate electrodes with auxiliary metal layers for enhanced conductivity
First Claim
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1. A method for enhancing the conductivity of transparent conductive electrodes comprising the steps of:
- providing a substantially transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer thereon;
forming parallel strips of resist material on the transparent conductive layer, thereby leaving areas of the transparent conductive layer uncovered by the resist material;
depositing a metal coating on the transparent conductive layer and strips of resist material using a collimated beam of metallic material, whereby the collimated beam is incident at such an angle as to be partially blocked by the parallel strips of resist material, thereby leaving portions of the uncovered transparent conductive layer exposed;
removing the exposed portions of the transparent conductive layer; and
removing the strips of resist material and any metal coating thereon to form a plurality of independently addressable electrodes on the substrate.
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Abstract
A method for enhancing the conductivity of transparent conductive electrodes on display substrates by providing patterned auxiliary metallic layers adjacent to the transparent conductive material. The method of the present invention eliminates the need for aligning the auxiliary metal layers with preexisting transparent conductive electrodes by providing for simultaneous patterning of the auxiliary metal layers and formation of the independently addressable electrodes.
63 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing the conductivity of transparent conductive electrodes comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer thereon; forming parallel strips of resist material on the transparent conductive layer, thereby leaving areas of the transparent conductive layer uncovered by the resist material; depositing a metal coating on the transparent conductive layer and strips of resist material using a collimated beam of metallic material, whereby the collimated beam is incident at such an angle as to be partially blocked by the parallel strips of resist material, thereby leaving portions of the uncovered transparent conductive layer exposed; removing the exposed portions of the transparent conductive layer; and removing the strips of resist material and any metal coating thereon to form a plurality of independently addressable electrodes on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for enhancing the conductivity of transparent conductive electrodes comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially transparent substrate having a first major surface; patterning strips of resist material on the smooth major surface of the substrate to thereby leave areas of the substrate exposed, each said strip of resist material having a bottom edge adjacent to the substrate, a top edge opposing the bottom edge, and two opposing side edges; depositing a metal to cover at least a portion of the resist strips and the exposed areas of the substrate; forming continuous metal strips along the side edges of the resist strips by selectively removing portions of the metal; depositing a transparent conductive film to substantially cover the resist strips, the metal strips, and the exposed areas of the substrate; and removing the resist strips and any portions of metal and transparent conductive film adjacent to the top edges of said strips to thereby form independently addressable electrodes on the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the electrodes comprise strips of the transparent conductive film each having side edges bordered by the remaining continuous metal strips. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for enhancing the conductivity of transparent conductive electrodes comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially transparent substrate having a first major surface; providing a transparent conductive layer adjacent the first major surface of the substrate; forming a contiguous metallic coating adjacent the transparent conductive layer, wherein at least a portion of the metallic coating has a periodic array of holes therein; and removing portions of the transparent conductive layer and any metallic coating thereon to thereby form a plurality of independently addressable electrodes on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification