In-mould molding touch module and method for manufacturing the same

• US 7,977,953 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Min-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Vincent Q
• Application Number:
  US11/963,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,298 Days
• Field of Search: 324/661, 324/658, 324/76.11, 345/173
• US Class Current: 324/660
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/028 Indium tin oxide [ITO]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/074 Actuation by finger touch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

An in-mold molding touch module includes a plastic film, a touch circuit and a molding rind. The plastic film includes an inner surface and an outer surface for handling and touching. At least one region of the inner surface and a corresponding region of the outer surface define a touch area. The touch circuit is arranged on the inner surface in the touch area. The molding rind is integrated on the inner surface by an in-mold injecting mode to contain the touch circuit for forming a one-piece body. In addition, the invention also provides a method for manufacturing an in-mold molding touch module.

Claims

1. An in-mold molding touch module comprising:

a plastic film having an inner surface and an outer surface for handling and touching, and at least one region of the inner surface and a corresponding region of the outer surface defining a touch area;

at least a touch circuit integrated on the inner surface in the touch area;

and a molding rind molded on the inner surface being an in-mold injected contain the touch circuit to form a one-piece body.

2. The in-mould molding touch module of claim 1, wherein the touch circuit is an inducing capacitive touch circuit made of indium tin oxide (ITO) or a press touch circuit made of conductive printing ink.

3. The in-mould molding touch module of claim 1, wherein the touch area comprises a first touch region and a second touch region, and the touch circuit comprises:

an inducing capacitive touch circuit made of ITO, the inducing capacitive touch circuit coated on the inner surface in the first touch region; and

a press touch circuit made of conductive printing ink, the press touch circuit coated on the inner surface in the second touch sense region.

4. The in-mould molding touch module of claim 3, wherein a window is formed in the molding rind to expose the inducing capacitive touch circuit, and a display unit is configured in the window for display images through the inducing capacitive touch circuit and a transparent region of the plastic film.

5. The in-mould molding touch module of claim 3, wherein the molding rind further contains the capacitive touch sense circuit for forming the one-piece body.