Multilayer with radiation absorber and touch screen

• US 6,846,579 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Feldman, Rodney D., Cok, Ronald S., Anderson, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dye, Rena
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Camie S
• Application Number:
  US10/077,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20030170492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 428/690, 428/917, 428/292.1, 428/297.1, 428/323, 428/212, 430/273.1, 313/503, 313/504
• US Class Current: 428/690
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree

Abstract

A transparent multilayer comprises (a) a first conductive layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer and a film forming binder, (b) a second conductive layer, and (c) spacer elements separating the first and second conductive layers, the first conductive layer further comprising an actinic radiation absorbing compound. The film is useful as a component in a touch screen display.

Claims

1. A transparent multilayer comprising (a) a first conductive layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer and a film forming binder, (b) a second conductive layer, and (c) spacer elements separating the first and second conductive layers that prevent contact between the conductive layers (a) and (b) in the absence of contact by an external object, wherein the first conductive layer (a) contains embedded spacers(c) that protrude from the surface of the layer, the first conductive layer further comprising an actinic radiation absorbing compound.

2. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the radiation absorbing compound absorbs UV radiation having a wavelength less than 400 nm.

3. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the radiation absorbing compound absorbs radiation across a spectrum from 400 to 700 nm.

4. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the radiation absorbing compound selectively absorbs light in a portion of the spectrum from 400 to 700 nm.

5. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the radiation absorbing compound comprises a hydroxybenzophenone, a hydroxybenzotriazole, or a hydroxyphenyltriazine compound.

6. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the radiation absorbing compound comprises a visible dye.

7. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the intrinsically conductive polymer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted polythiophene, polyaniline, polypyrrole, and poly(p-phenylene vinylene) compound.

8. The multilayer of claim 7 wherein the intrinsically conductive polymer is a polythiophene compound.

9. The multilayer or claim 8 wherein the intrinsically conductive polymer is a polyethylenedioxythiophene compound.

10. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the spacers are microspheres.

11. The multilayer of claim 10 wherein the microspheres are not water-wettable.

12. The multilayer of claim 11 wherein the microspheres comprise a polymeric resin.

13. The multilayer of claim 12 wherein the polymeric resin contains a cross-linked repeating unit.

14. The multilayer of claim 12 wherein the polymeric resin contains a repeating unit selected from styrenic and acrylic groups.

15. The multilayer of claim 9 wherein the polyethylenedioxythiophene polymer is represented Formula I wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently hydrogen or an alkyl, alkylenyl or cycloalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or together form a substituted or unsubstituted group or a substituted or unsubstituted 1,2-cyclohexylene group.

16. The multilayer of claim 1 additionally comprising a polyanion compound selected from the anions of polymeric polycarboxylic acids and polymeric polysulfonic acids.

17. The multilayer of claim 1 additionally comprising a conductivity enhancing compound selected from polyhydroxy, polycarboxy, polyamide and polylactam compounds.

18. The multilayer of claim 1 wherein the film forming binder comprises gelatins, gelatin derivatives, maleic acid or maleic anhydride copolymers, cellulose derivatives (such as carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate, diacetyl cellulose, and triacetyl cellulose), polyvinyl alcohol, and poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides and methacrylamides, itaconic acid and its half-esters and diesters, styrenes, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile, vinyl acetates, vinyl ethers, vinyl and vinylidene halides, and olefins;

polyurethanes, polyesterionomers;

or polysiloxanes.

19. A touch screen, comprising;

a) a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer;

b) a flexible transparent cover sheet having a second conductive layer on the surface and located relative to the transparent substrate so that the first and second conductive layers face each other; and

c) spacer elements located between said conductive layers to prevent contact in the absence of external deformation;

wherein at least one of the first or second conductive layers comprises an intrinsically conductive polymer and a film forming binder, wherein a conductive layer contains embedded spacers(c) that protrude from the surface of the layer, the layer further comprising a compound capable of absorbing actinic radiation.

20. A display device comprising an OLED and the screen of claim 19.

21. A display device of claim 20 wherein the transparent substrate is also a substrate of the OLED that emits light through the OLED substrate.

22. A display device of claim 20 wherein the transparent substrate is also a cover of the OLED that emits light through the transparent OLED cover.

23. The touch screen of claim 19, wherein the spacer elements are embedded in the conductive layer on the flexible transparent cover sheet.

24. The touch screen of claim 19, wherein the spacer elements are embedded in the conductive layer on the transparent substrate.

25. The touch screen of claim 19, wherein a conductive layer that comprises an intrinsically conductive polymer is present on both the transparent substrate and the flexible transparent cover sheet.