Touch panel, method for making the same, and display device adopting the same

• US 8,248,379 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Inventors: Liu, Chang-Hong, Jiang, Kai-Li, Liu, Liang, Fan, Shou-Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindi, Nabil
• Application Number:
  US12/286,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20090153506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 313/497, 313/310, 313/311, 313/309, 313/495, 381/164, 381/426, 349/123, 349/161, 349/149, 349/158
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A touch panel includes a first electrode plate, and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube structure comprised of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure are arranged isotropically, arranged along a same direction or arranged along different directions.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a first electrode plate comprising a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate; and

a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate and comprising a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate;

wherein at least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer comprises a carbon nanotube structure comprised of carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure are arranged isotropically, arranged along a same direction or arranged along different directions, an angle between a primary alignment direction of the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure and a surface of the carbon nanotube structure in contact with the first substrate or the second substrate is greater than 0° and

smaller than 15°

.

2. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein groups of the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure are joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force between the ends.

3. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the carbon nanotube structure is in an approximate range from 0.5 nanometers to 100 micrometers.

4. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, diameters of the single-walled carbon nanotubes are in an approximate range from 0.5 nanometers to 50 nanometers, diameters of the double-walled carbon nanotubes are in an approximate range from 1 nanometer to 50 nanometers, and diameters of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes are in an approximate range from 1.5 nanometers to 50 nanometers.

5. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electrode plate further comprises two first-electrodes located on the first conductive layer, each of the first-electrodes is oriented parallel to a second direction and electrically connected to the first conductive layer.

6. The touch panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second electrode plate further comprises two second-electrodes located on the second conductive layer, each of the second-electrodes is oriented parallel to a first direction and electrically connected to the second conductive layer.

7. The touch panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

8. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insulative frame located between the second electrode plate and the first electrode plate.

9. The touch panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein a plurality of dot spacers are located between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

10. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shielding layer located on a lower surface of the second substrate of the second electrode plate, wherein a material of the shielding layer is selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxides, antimony tin oxides, and carbon nanotube films.

11. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transparent protective film located on an upper surface of the first electrode plate, wherein a material of the transparent protective film is selected from the group consisting of silicon nitrides, silicon dioxides, benzocyclobutenes, polyester films, and polyethylene terephthalates.

12. A display device comprising:

a touch panel comprising;

a first electrode plate comprising a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate; and

a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate and comprising a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate;

wherein at least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer consists of a carbon nanotube structure consisting of carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure are arranged isotropically, arranged along a same direction, or arranged along different directions; and

a display element opposite and adjacent to the touch panel.

13. The display device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a first controller, a central processing unit, and a second controller;

the display element is connected to the first controller, and the central processing unit is connected to the second controller.

14. The display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the touch panel is spaced from the display element with a distance.

15. The display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the touch panel is located on the display element.

16. The display device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a passivation layer located on a surface of the touch panel, and a material of the passivation layer being selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride and silicon dioxide.

17. The display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure are substantially parallel to a surface of the carbon nanotube structure in contact with the first substrate or the second substrate.

18. The display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein an angle between a primary alignment direction of the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure and a surface of the carbon nanotube structure in contact with the first substrate or the second substrate is in a range from about 0°

to about 15°

.