Capacitive touch panel

• US 9,569,040 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• 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: Liu, Chen-Yu, Ho, Kwan-Sin
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Afroza
• Application Number:
  US13/663,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0443 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

Abstract

An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel is disclosed including: a singular lens substrate, a mask layer, and a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said singular lens substrate. Said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, and said sensing circuit are integrally formed.

Claims

1. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising:

a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface;

a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; and

a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate, wherein;

said sensing circuit and said mask layer are integrally formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

a first part of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer,

a second part of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and

said sensing circuit comprises;

a first sensing circuit;

an insulation layer; and

a second sensing circuit, wherein;

said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,

said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,

there is no other substrate laminated or bonded to said singular lens substrate of said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel,

said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace,

said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and

said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensing region.

2. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein said sensing circuit is coupled with said mask layer.

3. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein said mask layer is formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate.

4. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 3, wherein said mask layer is made of black resist.

5. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a shielding layer formed on said periphery of said singular lens substrate, wherein said shielding layer is positioned between said singular lens substrate and said mask layer.

6. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 5, wherein a width of said shielding layer is substantially equal to a width of said mask layer.

7. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein said mask layer covers a first area in which said first metal trace is located and a second area in which said second metal trace is located.

8. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 7, wherein said first metal trace and said second metal trace are formed on a surface of said mask layer.

9. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first conductive electrode or said second conductive electrode outputs a capacitive sensing signal corresponding to a touched position for a capacitive effect produced by said physical tactile input on said top surface of said singular lens substrate.

10. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 9, wherein said capacitive sensing signal is transmitted along at least one of said first metal trace or second metal trace to a processor for detecting/calculating coordinates of said touched position.

11. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, further comprising:

an overcoat integrally formed on a surface of said sensing circuit.

12. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel is capable of being disposed on a display panel.

13. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a shielding layer formed on said periphery of said singular lens substrate, wherein said shielding layer is positioned between said singular lens substrate and said mask layer, and wherein said mask layer is formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate through said shielding layer.

14. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising:

a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface;

a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; and

a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

said sensing circuit is integrally formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

a first part of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer;

a second part of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and

said sensing circuit comprises;

a first sensing circuit;

an insulation layer; and

a second sensing circuit, wherein;

said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,

said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,

there is no other substrate laminated or bonded to said singular lens substrate of said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel,

said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace,

said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and

said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensing region.

15. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising:

a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface;

a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate;

a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate; and

a smooth layer disposed between said singular lens substrate and said sensing circuit, wherein;

said sensing circuit, said mask layer and said smooth layer are integrally formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

a first part of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer,

a second part of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and

said sensing circuit comprises;

a first sensing circuit;

an insulation layer; and

a second sensing circuit, wherein;

said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,

said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,

there is no other substrate laminated or bonded to said singular lens substrate of said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel,

said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace,

said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and

said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensing region.

16. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein said sensing circuit is coupled with said mask layer.

17. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein said mask layer is formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate in said periphery of said singular lens substrate.

18. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein said smooth layer is made of transparent organic or inorganic material.

19. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, further comprising:

a shielding layer formed on said periphery of said singular lens substrate, wherein said shielding layer is positioned between said singular lens substrate and said mask layer.

20. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 19, wherein a width of said shielding layer is substantially equal to a width of said mask layer.

21. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein said mask layer covers a first area in which said first metal trace is located and a second area in which said second metal trace is located.

22. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 21, wherein said first metal trace and said second metal trace are formed on a surface of said mask layer.

23. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein at least one of said first conductive electrode or said second conductive electrode outputs a capacitive sensing signal corresponding to a touched position for a capacitive effect produced by said physical tactile input on said top surface of said singular lens substrate.

24. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 23, wherein said capacitive sensing signal is transmitted along at least one of said first metal trace or second metal trace to a processor for detecting/calculating coordinates of said touched position.

25. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, further comprising:

an overcoat integrally formed on a surface of said sensing circuit.

26. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, wherein said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel is capable of being disposed on a display panel.

27. The integrally-formed capacitive touch panel of claim 15, further comprising:

a shielding layer formed on said periphery of said singular lens substrate, wherein said shielding layer is positioned between said singular lens substrate and said mask layer; and

wherein said mask layer is formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate through said shielding layer.

28. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising:

a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface;

a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate;

a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate; and

a smooth layer disposed between said singular lens substrate and said sensing circuit wherein;

said sensing circuit and said smooth layer are integrally formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

a first part of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer;

a second part of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and

said sensing circuit comprises;

a first sensing circuit;

an insulation layer; and

a second sensing circuit, wherein;

said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,

said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,

there is no other substrate laminated or bonded to said singular lens substrate of said integrally-formed capacitive touch panel,

said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace,

said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and

said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensing region.

29. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising:

a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface;

a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; and

a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate, wherein;

said sensing circuit and said mask layer are integrally formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

a first part of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer,

a second part of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and

said sensing circuit comprises;

a first sensing circuit;

an insulation layer; and

a second sensing circuit, wherein;

said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,

said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,

said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace,

said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and

said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensing region.

30. An integrally-formed capacitive touch panel, comprising:

a singular lens substrate made of glass, said singular lens substrate having a top surface for receiving physical tactile input and a bottom surface;

a mask layer formed on a periphery of said singular lens substrate; and

a sensing circuit integrally coupled with said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate, wherein;

said sensing circuit is integrally formed on said bottom surface of said singular lens substrate,

a first part of said sensing circuit is covered by said mask layer;

a second part of said sensing circuit that is not covered by said mask layer forms a sensing region, and

said sensing circuit comprises;

a first sensing circuit;

an insulation layer; and

a second sensing circuit, wherein;

said singular lens substrate, said mask layer, said first sensing circuit, said insulation layer, and said second sensing circuit are integrally formed,

said insulation layer is only present in one or more areas where said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit overlap to prevent contact of said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit,

said first sensing circuit comprises a first conductive electrode and a first metal trace,

said second sensing circuit comprises a second conductive electrode and a second metal trace, and

said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are made of transparent material and located in said sensing region.