Input device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 9,207,815 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang-Hurst, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, DOUGLAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/401,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 touch panel includes a transparent panel, a transparent electrode which is formed in a transparent input region on a first surface of the transparent panel, a decorative layer which is formed in a decorative region on the first surface, a wiring layer which is formed on a surface of the decorative layer, and a transparent conductive connection layer which electrically connects the wiring layer and the transparent electrode.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a transparent panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface being an operating surface;

a transparent electrode which is formed on the first surface in a transparent input region of the transparent panel;

a decorative layer formed on the first surface in a decorative region surrounding the transparent input region such that a gap is formed between the transparent electrode and the decorative layer in a direction parallel to the first surface and that the transparent electrode does not overlap the decorative layer, the decorative layer having a thickness greater than a thickness of the transparent electrode;

a wiring layer formed on a surface of the decorative layer; and

a transparent conductive connection layer which electrically connects the wiring layer and the transparent electrode, the transparent conductive connection layer being formed by coating or printing transparent conductive ink independently from the transparent electrode, the transparent conductive connection layer extending from an end portion of the transparent electrode onto the decorative layer so as to fill the gap and cover a part of the wiring layer formed on the decorative layer such that the decorative layer, the wiring layer, and the transparent conductive connection layer form a three-layer lamination structure in which the transparent conductive connection layer is formed on top of the wiring layer on the decorative layer formed on the first surface, the transparent conductive connection layer having a thickness greater than the thickness of the decorative layer,

wherein the decorative layer is not light-transmissive and formed between the transparent panel and the wiring layer.

2. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the transparent conductive ink is PEDOT-containing ink.

3. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the transparent electrode includes a plurality electrodes which have a single-layer structure.

7. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the transparent conductive connection layer is formed of transparent conductive ink coated or printed over an edge portion of the transparent electrode and a part of the wiring layer.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative layer is provided such that the wiring layer is not visible from the operating surface of the input device.

9. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the transparent conductive connection layer is greater than a total thickness of the decorative layer and the wiring layer.

4. A method of manufacturing an input device, the method comprising:

forming a transparent electrode on a first surface of a transparent panel in a transparent input region thereof, the transparent panel having a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface being an operating surface;

forming a decorative layer on the first surface in a decorative region of the transparent panel surrounding the transparent input region, such that a gap is formed between the transparent electrode and the decorative layer in a direction parallel to the first surface and that the transparent electrode does not overlap the decorative layer, the decorative layer having a thickness greater than a thickness of the transparent electrode and not being light-transmissive;

forming a wiring layer on a surface of the decorative layer, the decorative layer being disposed between the transparent panel and the wiring layer; and

coating or printing transparent conductive ink between the wiring layer and the transparent electrode to form a transparent conductive connection layer that electrically connects the wiring layer and the transparent electrode, the transparent conductive connection layer extending from an end portion of the transparent electrode onto the decorative layer so as to fill the gap and cover a part of the wiring layer formed on the decorative layer, such that the decorative layer, the wiring layer, and the transparent conductive connection layer form a three-layer lamination structure in which the transparent conductive connection layer is formed on top of the wiring layer on the decorative layer formed on the first surface, the transparent conductive connection layer having a thickness greater than the thickness of the decorative layer,

wherein the coating or printing the transparent conductive ink is performed after forming the transparent electrode, the decorative layer, and the wiring layer.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the transparent conductive ink is PEDOT-containing ink.

6. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the forming the transparent electrode includes forming a plurality of electrodes on the first surface with a single-layer structure.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the decorative layer is provided such that the wiring layer is not visible from the operating surface of the input device.

11. The method according to claim 4, wherein the thickness of the transparent conductive connection layer is greater than a total thickness of the decorative layer and the wiring layer.