Sensing electrode layer and display panel

• US 8,411,063 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Ming-Shian, Chou, Shih-Po, Yang, Tun-Chun, Lee, Seok-Lyul
• Primary Examiner(s): Haley, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANK, EMILY J
• Application Number:
  US12/405,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a display medium. The display medium is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate has a pixel array. The second substrate includes first sensing electrodes arranged in a first direction and second sensing electrodes arranged in a second direction. Each of the first sensing electrodes is formed by alternately arranging first upper sensing electrode patterns and first lower shading electrode patterns. Each of the first upper sensing electrode patterns is electrically connected to the adjacent first lower shading electrode patterns. Each of the second sensing electrodes is formed by alternately arranging second upper sensing electrode patterns and second lower shading electrode patterns. Each of the second upper sensing electrode patterns is electrically connected to the adjacent second lower shading electrode patterns.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising:

a first substrate, a pixel array being disposed on the first substrate;

a second substrate, a sensing electrode layer being disposed on the second substrate and comprising;

a plurality of first sensing electrodes, arranged in a first direction, wherein each of the first sensing electrodes is constituted by alternately arranging a plurality of first upper sensing electrode patterns disposed above an insulating layer and a plurality of first lower shading electrode patterns disposed under the insulating layer such that the first upper sensing electrode patterns and the first lower shading electrode patterns are separated from each other by the insulating layer, and each of the first upper sensing electrode patterns is electrically connected to the adjacent first lower shading electrode patterns;

a plurality of second sensing electrodes, arranged in a second direction and being electrically insulated from the first sensing electrodes, wherein each of the second sensing electrodes is constituted by alternately arranging a plurality of second upper sensing electrode patterns disposed above the insulating layer and a plurality of second lower shading electrode patterns disposed under the insulating layer such that the second upper sensing electrode patterns and the second lower shading electrode patterns are separated from each other by the insulating layer, and each of the second upper sensing electrode patterns is electrically connected to the adjacent second lower shading electrode patterns; and

a display medium, sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate.

2. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a passivation layer, covering the sensing electrode layer; and

an electrode film, located on the passivation layer.

3. The display panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein a thickness of the passivation layer disposed between the sensing electrode layer and the electrode film ranges from 10 μ

m to 50 μ

m.

4. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first upper sensing electrode patterns is disposed above the corresponding second lower shading electrode pattern, and each of the second upper sensing electrode patterns is disposed above the corresponding first lower shading electrode pattern.

5. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first upper sensing electrode patterns and the second upper sensing electrode patterns are co-planar, and the first lower shading electrode patterns and the second lower shading electrode patterns are co-planar.

6. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein dimensions of the first upper sensing electrode patterns are substantially the same as dimensions of the second lower shading electrode patterns, and dimensions of the second upper sensing electrode patterns are substantially the same as dimensions of the first lower shading electrode patterns.

7. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein an area of each of the first upper sensing electrode patterns, an area of each of the first lower shading electrode patterns, an area of each of the second upper sensing electrode patterns, or an area of each of the second lower shading electrode patterns is ½

˜

⅔

of a unit sensing area.

8. The display panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the first contact structures and each of the second contact structures are at least a contact plug or a continuous contact structure.

9. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of first contact structures, disposed in the insulating layer and each of the first contact structures being located between the first upper sensing electrode pattern and the first lower shading electrode pattern adjacent to each other, so as to electrically connect the first upper sensing electrode pattern and the first lower shading electrode pattern; and

a plurality of second contact structures, disposed in the insulating layer and each of the second contact structures being located between the second upper sensing electrode pattern and the second lower shading electrode pattern adjacent to each other, so as to electrically connect the second upper sensing electrode pattern and the second lower shading electrode pattern.

10. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of peripheral circuits, each of the peripheral circuits being electrically connected to one of the first sensing electrodes or one of the second sensing electrodes.

11. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing electrode layer is divided into at least two regions, and the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes located in one of the at least two regions are electrically insulated from the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes located in the other of the at least two regions.

12. The display panel as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of peripheral circuits, each of the peripheral circuits being electrically connected to one of the first sensing electrodes or one of the second sensing electrodes in each of the at least two regions.

13. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes comprises a transparent conductive material or metal.

14. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensing electrodes and the first sensing electrodes are disposed on the same surface of the second substrate.

15. A sensing electrode layer, comprising:

a plurality of first sensing units, each of the first sensing units comprising;

a first upper sensing electrode pattern, disposed above an insulating layer; and

a second lower shading electrode pattern, disposed under the insulating layer such that the first upper sensing electrode patterns and the second lower shading electrode patterns are separated from each other by the insulating layer, wherein the first upper sensing electrode pattern and the second lower shading electrode pattern are overlapped;

a plurality of second sensing units, the second sensing units and the first sensing units being alternately arranged, each of the second sensing units comprising;

a second upper sensing electrode pattern, disposed above an insulating layer; and

a first lower shading electrode pattern, disposed under the insulating layer such that the second upper sensing electrode patterns and the first lower shading electrode patterns are separated from each other by the insulating layer, wherein the second upper sensing electrode pattern and the first lower shading electrode pattern being overlapped,

wherein the first upper sensing electrode patterns and the first lower shading electrode patterns located in the same row are electrically connected, and the second upper sensing electrode patterns and the second lower shading electrode patterns located in the same column are electrically connected.

16. The sensing electrode layer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first upper sensing electrode pattern and the second lower shading electrode pattern overlapped to each other have same signals.

17. The sensing electrode layer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second upper sensing electrode pattern and the first lower shading electrode pattern overlapped to each other have same signals.

18. The sensing electrode layer as claimed in claim 15, wherein dimensions of the first upper sensing electrode patterns are substantially the same as dimensions of the second lower shading electrode patterns, and dimensions of the second upper sensing electrode patterns are substantially the same as dimensions of the first lower shading electrode patterns.

19. The sensing electrode layer as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

at least a first contact structure disposed in the insulating layer and disposed between the first upper sensing electrode patterns and the first lower shading electrode patterns located in the same row to electrically connect the first upper sensing electrode patterns and the first lower shading electrode patterns; and

at least a second contact structure disposed in the insulating layer and disposed between the second upper sensing electrode patterns and the second lower shading electrode patterns located in the same column to electrically connect the second upper sensing electrode patterns and the second lower shading electrode patterns.

20. The sensing electrode layer as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least a first contact structure and the at least a second contact structure are at least a contact plug or a continuous contact structure.