Transparent conductive element, input device, electronic device, and master for fabrication of transparent conductive element

• US 8,741,424 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hidetoshi, Mizuno, Mikihisa, Ishiwata, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): MULVANEY, ELIZABETH EVANS
• Application Number:
  US13/876,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20130189502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 428/195.1, 428/201, 428/209, 345/173
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/002 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/0445 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: H01B 7/02 Disposition of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0296 Conductive pattern lay-out details not covered by sub groups H05K1/02 - H05K1/0295 H05K1/11 takes precedence; lay-out adapted to mounted component configuration H05K1/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24893 including particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24909 Free metal or mineral containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

A transparent conductive element includes a base having a first surface and a second surface, and a transparent electrode pattern part and a transparent insulating pattern part formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part are laid alternately on a base surface. Plural pore portions are randomly formed apart in the transparent electrode pattern part and. Plural island portions are randomly formed apart in the transparent insulating pattern part.

Claims

1. A transparent conductive element, comprising:

a base having a surface; and

a transparent conductive part and a transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface,

the transparent conductive part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly arranged,

the transparent insulating part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly arranged,

a boundary between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part having a random shape, and

a plurality of inverting portions being randomly formed at a boundary between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part, the inverting portions including the pore portions and the island portions taking the place of the pore portions at the boundary.

2. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein a ratio in average boundary length (L1/L2) between an average boundary length L1 of the transparent conductive part and an average boundary length L2 of the transparent insulating part is in a range of from 0.75 to 1.25.

3. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein an absolute value of a difference in reflection L value between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part is less than 0.3.

4. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein the pore portions and the island portions have a dot shape.

5. The transparent conductive element according to claim 4, wherein the dot shape is of at least one type selected from the group consisting of a circular shape, an oval shape, a shape formed by partially cutting off a circular shape, a shape formed by partially cutting off an oval shape, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with rounded off corners, and an indefinite shape.

6. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein a conductive portion between the pore portions and a void portion between the island portions have a mesh shape.

7. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein the pore portions have a dot shape, and a void portion between the island portions has a mesh shape.

8. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein a conductive portion between the pore portions has a mesh shape, and the island portions have a dot shape.

9. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part have respective random patterns different from each other and the random patterns different from each other mean patterns generated under different conditions of random pattern generation.

10. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein a coverage factor of the transparent conductive layer in the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part is 65% or more and 100% or less.

11. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent conductive part and a transparent insulating part alternately arranged on a rear surface opposite to the surface, and wherein

a difference in the sum of a coverage factor of the transparent conductive layer in the surface and that of the transparent conductive layer in the rear surface is in a range of from 0% to 60%.

12. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive part include a plurality of regions, and

when widths and lengths of the regions are W and L, respectively, a coverage factor of the transparent conductive layer is set to be larger in a region with a greater ratio of (L/W).

13. The transparent conductive element according to claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive part is a transparent electrode pattern part.

14. A transparent conductive element, comprising:

a base having a first surface and a second surface; and

a transparent electrode pattern part and a transparent insulating pattern part formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface,

the transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part being laid alternately on at least one of the first surface and the second surface,

the transparent electrode pattern part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly formed apart,

the transparent insulating pattern part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly formed apart,

a boundary between the transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part having a random shape, and

a plurality of inverting portions being randomly formed at a boundary between the transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part, the inverting portions including the pore portions and the island portions taking the place of the pore portions at the boundary.

15. An input device, comprising:

a first transparent conductive element comprising a first base having a surface, a first transparent conductive part and a first transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface of the first base; and

a second transparent conductive element comprising a second base having a surface, a second transparent conductive part and a second transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface of the second base, the second transparent conductive element being provided on a surface of the first transparent conductive element,

the first transparent conductive part and the second transparent conductive part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly formed,

the first transparent insulating part and the second transparent insulating part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly formed,

a boundary between the first transparent conductive part and the first transparent insulating part and a boundary between the second transparent conductive part and the second transparent insulating part both having a random shape, and

the random shape being a shape obtained by combining parts of the shapes of the pore portions and parts of the shapes of the island portions.

16. An electronic device, comprising a transparent conductive element including a base having a surface, a transparent conductive part and a transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface,

the transparent conductive part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly formed,

the transparent insulating part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly formed,

a boundary between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part having a random shape, and

the random shape being a shape obtained by combining parts of the shapes of the pore portions and parts of the shapes of the island portions.

17. A master for fabrication of a transparent conductive element, the master comprising a surface in which a transparent conductive part forming region and a transparent insulating part forming region are alternately arranged,

plural pore portions in the shape of recesses being randomly arranged in the transparent conductive part forming region,

plural island portions in the shape of projections being randomly arranged in the transparent insulating part forming region,

a plurality of inverting portions being randomly formed at a boundary between the transparent conductive part forming region and the transparent insulating part forming region, the inverting portions including the pore portions and the island portions taking the place of the pore portions at the boundary.

18. A transparent conductive element, comprising:

a base having a surface; and

a transparent conductive part and a transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface,

the transparent conductive part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly arranged,

the transparent insulating part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly arranged,

a boundary between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part having a random shape, and

the random shape being a shape obtained by combining parts of the shapes of the pore portions and parts of the shapes of the island portions.

23. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein a ratio in average boundary length (L1/L2) between an average boundary length L1 of the transparent conductive part and an average boundary length L2 of the transparent insulating part is in a range of from 0.75 to 1.25.

24. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein an absolute value of a difference in reflection L value between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part is less than 0.3.

25. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein the pore portions and the island portions have a dot shape.

26. The transparent conductive element according to claim 25, wherein the dot shape is of at least one type selected from the group consisting of a circular shape, an oval shape, a shape formed by partially cutting off a circular shape, a shape formed by partially cutting off an oval shape, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with rounded off corners, and an indefinite shape.

27. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein a conductive portion between the pore portions and a void portion between the island portions have a mesh shape.

28. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein the pore portions have a dot shape, and a void portion between the island portions has a mesh shape.

29. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein a conductive portion between the pore portions has a mesh shape, and the island portions have a dot shape.

30. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part have respective random patterns different from each other and the random patterns different from each other mean patterns generated under different conditions of random pattern generation.

31. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, further comprising a transparent conductive part and a transparent insulating part alternately arranged on a rear surface opposite to the surface, and wherein

a difference in the sum of a coverage factor of the transparent conductive layer in the surface and that of the transparent conductive layer in the rear surface is in a range of from 0% to 60%.

32. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein the transparent conductive part include a plurality of regions, and

when widths and lengths of the regions are W and L, respectively, a coverage factor of the transparent conductive layer is set to be larger in a region with a greater ratio of (L/W).

33. The transparent conductive element according to claim 18, wherein the transparent conductive part is a transparent electrode pattern part.

19. A transparent conductive element, comprising:

a base having a first surface and a second surface; and

a transparent electrode pattern part and a transparent insulating pattern part formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface,

the transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part being laid planarly and alternately on at least one of the first surface and the second surface,

the transparent electrode pattern part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly formed apart,

the transparent insulating pattern part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly formed apart,

a boundary between the transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part having a random shape, and

the random shape being a shape obtained by combining parts of the shapes of the pore portions and parts of the shapes of the island portions.

20. An input device, comprising:

a first transparent conductive element comprising a first base having a surface, a first transparent conductive part and a first transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface of the first base; and

a second transparent conductive element comprising a second base having a surface, a second transparent conductive part and a second transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface of the second base, the second transparent conductive element being provided on a surface of the first transparent conductive element,

the first transparent conductive part and the second transparent conductive part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly formed,

the first transparent insulating part and the second transparent insulating part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly formed, and

a plurality of inverting portions being randomly formed at a boundary between the first transparent conductive part and the first transparent insulating part and at a boundary between the second transparent conductive part and the second transparent insulating part, the inverting portions including the pore portions and the island portions taking the place of the pore portions at each boundary.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

a transparent conductive element including a base having a surface, a transparent conductive part and a transparent insulating part planarly and alternately arranged on the surface,

the transparent conductive part being a transparent conductive layer with plural pore portions randomly formed,

the transparent insulating part being a transparent conductive layer composed of plural island portions randomly formed, and

a plurality of inverting portions being randomly formed at a boundary between the transparent conductive part and the transparent insulating part, the inverting portions including the pore portions and the island portions taking the place of the pore portions at the boundary.

22. A master for fabrication of a transparent conductive element, the master comprising:

a surface in which a transparent conductive part forming region and a transparent insulating part forming region are planarly and alternately arranged,

plural pore portions in the shape of recesses being randomly arranged in the transparent conductive part forming region,

plural island portions in the shape of projections being randomly arranged in the transparent insulating part forming region,

a boundary between the transparent conductive part forming region and the transparent insulating part forming region having a random shape, and

the random shape being a shape obtained by combining parts of the shapes of the pore portions and parts of the shapes of the island portions.