Electrode structure of the touch panel, method thereof and touch panel

• US 8,698,001 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2011
• 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: Yu, Jing, Ye, Huilin, Wang, Rongwa
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US13/210,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20120298405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 174/250, 341/33, 345173-175, 200/600, 427/58
• US Class Current: 174/250
• 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 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/048 characterised by their structure H01G11/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/0425 Making electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/044 Conductor-insulator-semiconductor electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/048 Making electrodes

Abstract

An electrode structure is provided. The electrode structure comprises a plurality of first conductive cells and second conductive cells separated from each other and disposed on a substrate; a plurality of first conductive lines connecting adjacent said first conductive cells and a plurality of second conductive lines connecting adjacent said second conductive cells; wherein each said second conductive line comprises a conducting element and a pair of second conductive branches disposed at two sides of said conducting elements and connecting said conducting element to adjacent said second conductive cells; said first conductive lines and said second conductive lines are insulated and intersected. The method of forming an electrode structure is also provided.

Claims

1. An electrode structure, comprising:

a plurality of first conductive cells and second conductive cells separated from each other and disposed on a substrate;

a plurality of first conductive lines connecting adjacent said first conductive cells and a plurality of second conductive lines connecting adjacent said second conductive cells;

wherein each said second conductive line comprises at least one conducting element and at least one pair of second conductive branches disposed at two sides of said conducting elements and connecting said conducting element to adjacent said second conductive cells;

said first conductive lines and said second conductive lines are insulated and intersected.

2. The electrode structure of claim 1, wherein said conducting elements are separated and insulated from said first conductive lines.

3. The electrode structure of claim 2, wherein a window is formed in each said first conductive line, and each said conducting element is located in said window with a closed gap formed between said conducting element and said first conductive line.

4. The electrode structure of claim 1, wherein an insulating layer is disposed between said first conductive lines and said second conductive branches.

5. The electrode structure of claim 4, wherein said insulating layer comprises a plurality of insulating elements.

6. The electrode structure of claim 1, wherein said first conductive cells and said second conductive cells are made of transparent conductive material.

7. The electrode structure of claim 1, wherein said conducting elements are made of transparent conductive material or metal.

8. The electrode structure of claim 1, wherein said second conductive branches are made of transparent conductive material or metal.

9. The electrode structure of claim 7, wherein said transparent conductive material is selected from a group of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO) or Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO).

10. The electrode structure of claim 8, wherein said transparent conductive material is selected from a group of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO) or Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO).

11. The electrode structure of claim 7, wherein said metal is selected from a group of Aluminum, Copper, Silver.

12. The electrode structure of claim 8, wherein said is selected from a group of Aluminum, Copper, Silver.

13. The electrode structure of claim 6, wherein said insulating layer is made of transparent insulating material.

14. The electrode structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of signal traces connecting to said first conductive cells and said second conductive cells.

15. The electrode structure of claim 4, wherein said first conductive lines are disposed on said substrate.

16. The electrode structure of claim 4, wherein said second conductive branches are disposed on said substrate.

17. The electrode structure of claim 1, wherein length of each said pair of second conductive branches is less than distance between two adjacent said second conductive cells.

18. A touch panel, comprising an electrode structure of claim 1 for generating touch sensing signals, and a controller for receiving and processing said touch sensing signals.