Method of manufacturing a touch screen

• US 7,165,323 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Halsey, Eugene IV, Getz, Catherine A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tugbang; A. Dexter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai Van
• Application Number:
  US10/710,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20050037184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 298/46, 298/30, 298/31, 298/32, 427/126.6, 427/96.1, 427/96.2, 427/97.1, 427/97.3, 427/108, 427/110, 428/210, 428/209, 428/428, 428/332, 428/412
• US Class Current: 29/846
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/246 Vapour deposition
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/162 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3417 all coatings being oxide coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/06 Joining glass to glass by processes other than fusing fusing C03B23/20; units for use as elements for closing wall or like openings and comprising two or more parallel glass panes in spaced relationship, the panes being permanently secured together E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24926 including ceramic, glass, porcelain or quartz layer

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a touch screen that deposits a conductive layer or coating directly onto a surface of a sheet or ribbon or roll of thin glass material. The coated thin glass material may be cut to the desired shape or substrate for use as the outer, thin glass substrate of the touch screen device. Spacer elements and/or other functional coatings or layers or the like may also be applied to the conductive layer or opposite surface of the thin glass ribbon. Optionally, a functional coating or layer may be deposited or applied to a surface of a pre-cut thin glass substrate. The coated pre-cut thin glass substrate may be used as a top sheet for lamination as the protective top sheet of a touch screen device.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a touch screen, said method comprising:

providing a first substrate having a substantially transparent conductive coating on a surface thereof;

providing a sheet of glass, said glass sheet having a thickness of less than or equal to approximately 0.3 mm, said glass sheet having a first surface and a second surface opposed to said first surface;

depositing a substantially transparent conductive film on said first surface of said glass sheet;

depositing at least one functional coating at said second surface of said glass sheet, said at least one functional coating comprising at least one of an anti-glare coating, a diffuser surface coating, an anti-reflective coating and an anti-abrasion coating; and

assembling said glass sheet to said first substrate to form a touch screen device, said substantially transparent conductive coating on said surface of said first substrate opposing said substantially transparent conductive film on said first surface of said glass sheet when said glass sheet is assembled to said first substrate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said glass sheet comprises an elongated glass ribbon, said method including cutting at least one glass substrate from said glass sheet.

3. The method of claim 2 including unrolling said glass ribbon from a feed roll having said glass ribbon wound at least partially therearound.

4. The method of claim 3 including rolling said glass ribbon onto a take-up reel after said conductive coating is deposited on said first surface and said at least one functional coating is deposited on said second surface.

5. The method of claim 1 including disposing spacers on said first surface of said glass sheet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said glass sheet comprises a cut substrate.

7. The method of claim 6 including laminating said cut substrate to a second substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein depositing at least one functional coating comprises depositing an anti-glare coating at said second surface of said glass sheet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein depositing at least one functional coating comprises depositing a diffuser surface coating at said second surface of said glass sheet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein depositing at least one functional coating comprises depositing an anti-reflective coating at said second surface of said glass sheet.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein depositing at least one functional coating comprises depositing an anti-abrasion coating at said second surface of said glass sheet.

12. The method of claim 1 including washing said first surface of said glass sheet before said conductive coating is deposited thereon.

13. The method of claim 1 including washing said second surface of said glass sheet before said at least one functional coating is deposited thereon.