Touch panel and touch-sensitive display device

• US 8,854,326 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wintek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wintek Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Yi-Chun, Wu, Ming-Kung, Huang, Ping-Wen, Chou, Cheng-Yi, Wu, Yu-Hua, Shiu, Xuan-Chang, Wang, Chih-Yuan, Hsu, Ching-Fu, Liao, Shiao-Hui, Chang, Ting-Yu, Wang, Wen-Chun, Li, Hsiao-Ping, Wu, Fa-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US13/493,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-183, 156/249
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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: 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: H05K 1/0306 Inorganic insulating substrates, e.g. ceramic, glass
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/017 Glass ceramic coating, e.g. formed on inorganic substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09 Shape and layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10128 Display

Abstract

A touch panel structure and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed, in which the manufacturing method includes the steps of: providing a bonding layer; and forming a conductive pattern layer on the bonding layer; wherein the conductive pattern layer is composed of at least one first and at least one second major conductors with an insulation layer interposed between the first and the second major conductors. Comparing with the prior art for manufacturing touch panels, the disclosure is advantageous in material cost, production cost, and production yield; moreover, the panel lamination process can be simplified and the touch panel structure can be joined to a planar or curvy panel and facilitate the design of a thinner product.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a touch-sensing electrode structure formed on the flexible substrate; and

a curvy cover glass connected to the flexible substrate and the touch-sensing electrode structure via a bonding layer, wherein the flexible substrate, the touch-sensing electrode structure and the curvy cover glass are arranged in order, with the touch-sensing electrode structure being located between the flexible substrate and the curvy cover glass.

2. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is made of ultra-thin glass or a film.

3. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shape of the flexible substrate is substantially the same as a shape of the curvy cover glass.

4. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curvy cover glass has a wavy shape.

5. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bonding layer comprises an optically clear adhesive.

6. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bonding layer comprises an air gap and a sealant surrounding the air gap.

7. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a decorative layer disposed on the flexible substrate or the curvy cover glass.

8. The touch panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the decorative layer comprises at least one of ceramic, diamond-like carbon, color ink, photo resist and resin.

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

a metal trace layer electrically connected to the touch-sensing electrode structure; and

a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the metal trace layer.

10. The touch panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the touch panel further comprising a conductive media disposed between the flexible substrate and the curvy cover glass and electrically connected with the touch-sensing electrode structure and the flexible printed circuit board.

11. A touch-sensitive display device, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

an organic light-emitting diode formed on the flexible substrate;

a curvy cover glass covering the organic light-emitting diode; and

a touch-sensing electrode structure disposed between the organic light-emitting diode and the curvy cover glass, wherein the flexible substrate, the touch-sensing electrode structure and the curvy cover glass are arranged in order.

12. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure is in the form of a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure.

13. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the flexible substrate is made of ultra-thin glass or a film.

14. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a filler interposed between the touch-sensing electrode structure and the organic light-emitting diode; and

a sealant surrounding the filler and sealing the organic light-emitting diode.

15. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a passivation layer formed on the flexible substrate and covering the organic light-emitting diode, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure is formed on the passivation layer.

16. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a filler interposed between the touch-sensing electrode structure and the curvy cover glass; and

a sealant surrounding the filler.

17. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure comprises a plurality of first sensing series and second sensing series, wherein the first sensing series serve as a cathode layer of the organic light-emitting diode.

18. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second sensing series are formed on the curvy cover glass.

19. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a passivation layer formed on the flexible substrate and covering the organic light-emitting diode, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure is formed on the passivation layer.

20. A touch-sensitive display device, comprising:

a first flexible substrate;

an organic light-emitting diode formed on the first flexible substrate;

a second flexible substrate covering the organic light-emitting diode;

a touch-sensing electrode structure disposed on the second flexible substrate; and

a curvy cover glass connected to the second flexible substrate via a bonding layer, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure is disposed between the organic light-emitting diode and the curvy cover glass.

21. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure is in the form of a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure.

22. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the bonding layer comprises an optically clear adhesive.

23. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a filler interposed between the touch-sensing electrode structure and the organic light-emitting diode; and

a sealant surrounding the filler.

24. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the touch-sensing electrode structure comprises a plurality of first sensing series and second sensing series, wherein the first sensing series serve as a cathode layer of the organic light-emitting diode.