Dark film lamination for a touch sensor

• US 9,448,666 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Jason D., Green, Mark, Emery, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karki, Paras D
• Application Number:
  US13/913,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20140362050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,200 Days
• Field of Search: 174/250, 438/34, 427/97.4, 427/96.1, 428544-568
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/00 Layered products comprising a layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/04 comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/42 Alternating layers, e.g. ABAB(C), AABBAABB(C)
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/00 Metals, their alloys or their compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2315/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/00 Electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/02 characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/144 using layers with different mechanical or chemical conditions or properties, e.g. layers with different thermal shrinkage, layers under tension during bonding constructional features for tensioning B32B38/1825
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/14 Printing or colouring
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/142 Variation across the area of the layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/05 the layers not being connected over the whole surface, e.g. discontinuous connection or patterned connection using interposed adhesives or bonding materials applied in spaced arrangements B32B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• 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 3/04164 : Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 : by opto-electronic means
• 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: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Different lamination methods may be used to create a touch sensor with a darkened side of metalized film facing the user. One lamination method includes laminating a metalized film to an optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer such that an edge of the metalized film including the termination pads remain un-adhered to the OCA layer. Flex-tails may be bonded to the termination pads at a later time by bending up the un-adhered edge. Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) may be placed on the termination pads prior to laminating the metalized films. Flex-tails may be placed onto an OCA layer in a location where the termination pads on the metalized film will be located when laminated to the OCA layer. A strip of ACF may be placed on the flex-tail pads. The flex-tails may be bonded to the termination pads of the metalized film prior to the metalized film being laminated.

Claims

1. A touch sensor, comprising:

a touch surface;

a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface, wherein the first OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction;

a row film including row termination pads on a row end that are bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the row film faces the touch surface, wherein the row film end extends outward in the one direction from the first OCA layer and overhangs the touch surface to define a gap between the row end of the row film and the touch surface for receiving the row termination pads bonded to the flex-tails and an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) in the gap, wherein the ACF covers the row film termination pads prior to lamination, wherein the row end of the row film including the row termination pads and the flex-tails are non-adhered to the first OCA layer such that the row termination pads are exposed in the gap after the row film is laminated to the first OCA layer, and wherein the darkened surface is applied to a side of the row film where the row termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails;

a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the row film, wherein the second OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in an another direction, the one direction and the another direction being different; and

a column film including column termination pads on a column end bonded to column flex-tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer, wherein the column end extends outward in the another direction.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch surface is glass and the darkened surface is applied to a side of the column film where column termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails.

3. The touch sensor of claim 2, wherein a portion of the column end of the column film including the column termination pads extends outward in the another direction from the second OCA layer and is non-adhered to the second OCA layer such that the column termination pads are exposed in another gap after the column film is laminated to the second OCA layer.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) covers the column film termination pads prior to lamination.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the flex-tails are bonded to the row film termination pads and to the column film termination pads after the row film is laminated and the column film is laminated.

6. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the flex-tails are attached to the row film before the row film is laminated to the first OCA layer.

7. A method for laminating layers of a touch sensor, comprising:

providing a touch surface;

applying a darkened surface to a metalized film of the touch sensor facing the touch surface;

covering termination pads with Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) prior to lamination;

laminating a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer to the touch surface, wherein the first OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction;

bonding flex-tails to termination pads of the metalized film used in the touch sensor prior to laminating the metalized film to the OCA layer such that a portion of the metalized film extends outward in the one direction from the first OCA layer;

defining a gap between the outwardly extending portion of the metalized film and the touch surface when laminating the metalized film to the OCA layer for receiving the row termination pads and the ACF in the gap; and

exposing the termination pads in the gap after the metalized film is laminated as a result of the outwardly extending portion of the metalized film including the termination pads and the flex-tails not adhering to the first OCA layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein bonding the flex-tails to termination pads of metalized film used in the touch sensor prior to laminating the metalized film comprises bonding the flex-tails to row termination pads of a row metalized film and bonding the flex-tails to column termination pads of a column metalized film.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising testing the metalized film including the flex-tails before laminating the metalized film to the touch surface.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a glass touch surface;

a first Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the touch surface, wherein the first OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in one direction;

a first metalized film including termination pads on a first end that are bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the first OCA layer such that a darkened surface of the first metalized film faces the touch surface, wherein the first end extends outward in the one direction from the first OCA layer and overhangs the glass touch surface to define a gap between the first end of the first metalized film and the glass touch surface for receiving the termination pads bonded to the flex-tails and an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) in the gap, wherein the ACF covers the termination pads prior to lamination, wherein the first end of the first metalized film including the termination pads and the flex-tails are non-adhered to the first OCA layer such that the termination pads are exposed in the gap after the first metalized film is laminated to the first OCA layer, and wherein the darkened surface is applied to a side of the first metalized film where the termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails;

a second Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) layer laminated to the first metalized film, wherein the second OCA layer is shorter than the touch surface in another direction, the one direction and the another direction being different; and

a second metalized film including termination pads on a second end bonded to flex-tails that is laminated to the second OCA layer, wherein the second end extends outward in the another direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the darkened surface is applied to a side of the second metalized film where termination pads are bonded to the flex-tails.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a display that is coupled to the touch sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a processor that is configured to process touch input received from the touch sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first metalized film is a row film and the second metalized film is a column film.