Touch panel

• US 9,626,052 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wintek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wintek Corporation
• Inventors: Lu, Chun-Cheng, Lu, Chia-Ching, Liu, Chin-Chang, Chang, Ting-Yu, Wang, Wen-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US14/488,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20150075959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 200 5 R, 200600, 200181, 345173, 349 12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• 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 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• 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: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

A touch panel including a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area is provided. The touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, a plurality of third electrodes, a plurality of pads and a plurality of wirings. The first electrodes, the second electrodes and the third electrodes are located in the touch area and electrically insulated to each other, wherein the third electrodes expose at least a part of the first electrodes and at least a part of the second electrodes. The pads are located in the peripheral area. The first electrodes, the second electrodes and the third electrodes are electrically connected to the pads through the wirings respectively.

Claims

1. A touch panel, having a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area, the touch panel comprising:

a plurality of touch elements, located in the touch area;

a plurality of hovering touch elements, electrically isolated from the touch elements, and located in the touch area, wherein the touch elements comprise a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the hovering touch elements comprise a plurality of third electrodes, each of the first electrodes comprises a plurality of first electrode pads and a plurality of first connection lines, the first connection lines connect two adjacent first electrode pads in series along a first direction, each of the second electrodes comprises a plurality of second electrode pads and a plurality of second connection lines, the second connection lines cross over corresponding first connection lines to connect two adjacent second electrode pads in series along a second direction, wherein the first electrode pads and the second electrode pads have a plurality of gaps there between, each of the third electrodes comprises a plurality of third connection lines, the third connection lines are located in the gaps and not overlapped with the first electrode pads or the second electrode pads, and each of the third connection lines crosses over at least one of a corresponding first connection line or a corresponding second connection line, such that at least a part of the third connection lines of each of the third electrodes are electrically connected;

a plurality of pads, located in the peripheral area; and

a plurality of wirings, wherein the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the third electrodes are electrically connected to at least one corresponding pad of the plurality of pads through respective wirings of the plurality of wirings.

2. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third electrodes are distributed in the touch area in an array.

3. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the first electrodes and the second electrodes are disposed at two opposites sides of the first substrate, and the third electrodes are disposed on the first substrate at a same side as that of the second electrodes or the first electrodes.

4. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, wherein the touch elements and the hovering touch elements are disposed on the first substrate, and are located between the second substrate and the first substrate, and the second substrate is disposed at a side near a user.

5. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate and a cover plate, wherein the cover plate and the first substrate are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the second substrate, wherein the touch elements are disposed on the first substrate, the hovering touch elements are disposed on the second substrate, and the second substrate is located between the touch elements and the hovering touch elements, and the hovering touch elements are located between the second substrate and the cover plate.

6. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the third electrodes are located at a same side of the substrate.

7. The touch panel as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a first insulation layer, wherein the first insulation layer is at least disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and between the third electrodes and the first electrodes or the second electrodes.

8. The touch panel as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer, wherein the first insulation layer is disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and the second insulation layer is disposed between the second electrodes and the third electrodes.

9. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, wherein the touch elements are disposed on the first substrate, and the hovering touch elements are disposed on the second substrate, and the second substrate is disposed at a side near a user.

10. The touch panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first electrodes and the second electrodes are disposed at a same side of the first substrate.

11. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the touch elements and the hovering touch elements are disposed at a same side of the substrate.

12. The touch panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first substrate is a substrate of a display.

13. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, wherein the touch elements are disposed on the first substrate, the hovering touch elements are disposed on the second substrate, and the second substrate is disposed at a side near a user.

14. The touch panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first substrate is a substrate of a display.

15. The touch panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are respectively a plastic substrate and a glass substrate.

16. The touch panel as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a cover plate, and the cover plate is disposed at a side of the second substrate opposite to the first substrate.

17. The touch panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second substrate is a cover plate, the cover plate is a strengthened glass substrate, a plastic substrate or a rigid substrate, and the hovering touch elements are located at a side of the cover plate facing the first substrate.

18. The touch panel as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a decoration layer disposed at the peripheral area.

19. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first shielding layer located at a side of the wirings near a user.

20. The touch panel as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first shielding layer covers the peripheral area, and exposes the touch area.

21. The touch panel as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a second shielding layer, wherein the wirings are disposed between the second shielding layer and the first shielding layer.

22. The touch panel as claimed in claim 21, wherein the second shielding layer covers the touch area and the peripheral area.

23. A touch panel, having a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area, the touch panel comprising:

a plurality of touch elements, located in the touch area, the plurality of touch elements including a plurality of first electrode pads, a plurality of first connection lines, the first connection lines connecting adjacent first electrode pads, a plurality of second electrode pads, and a plurality of second connection lines, the second connection lines connecting adjacent second electrode pads, the second connection lines cross over adjacent first connection lines;

a plurality of hovering touch elements, electrically insulated from the touch elements, and located in the touch area, wherein the touch elements have a plurality of gaps there between, the hovering touch elements are located in the gaps, and the hovering touch elements and the touch elements are not overlapped with each other, the plurality of hovering touch elements comprising a plurality of third electrode pads, a plurality of third connection lines, the third connection lines connecting adjacent third electrode pads, the third connection lines are located in the gaps and not overlapped with the first electrode pads or the second electrode pads, and each of the third connection lines crosses over at least one of a corresponding first connection line or second connection line; and

a plurality of wirings, wherein the touch elements and the hovering touch elements are electrically connected to at least one corresponding pad of a plurality of pads through respective wirings of the plurality of wirings.

24. The touch panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch elements and the hovering touch elements are located in different levels and are electrically insulated from each other.

25. The touch panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch elements comprise a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the first electrodes and the second electrodes are located in a same level, and the third electrodes are located at a level different from that of the first electrodes or the second electrode.

26. The touch panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch elements comprise a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the first electrodes and the second electrodes are located in different levels, and the third electrodes are located at a level the same as that of the first electrodes or the second electrode.

27. The touch panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch elements and the hovering touch elements are located in a same level.

28. The touch panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch elements and the hovering touch elements sequentially receive scan signals.

29. The touch panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch elements comprise a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, and the first electrodes and the second electrodes are not overlapped with each other.

30. A touch panel, having a touch area and a peripheral area adjacent to the touch area, the touch panel comprising:

a plurality of first electrodes, located in the touch area;

a plurality of second electrodes, electrically insulated from the first electrodes, and located in the touch area, wherein the second electrodes cross over the first electrodes;

a plurality of hovering touch electrodes, electrically insulated from the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and located in the touch area, wherein the hovering touch electrodes cross over the first electrodes, each of the hovering touch electrodes is located between two adjacent second electrodes, and the hovering touch electrodes and the second electrodes are not overlapped with each other;

a plurality of pads, located in the peripheral area; and

a plurality of wirings, wherein the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the hovering touch electrodes are electrically connected to at least one corresponding pad of the plurality of pads through respective wirings of the plurality of wirings.

31. The touch panel as claimed in claim 30, wherein each of the first electrodes is a first bar-shape electrode extending along a first direction, each of the second electrodes is a second bar-shape electrode extending along a second direction, and each of the hovering touch electrodes is a third bar-shape electrode extending along the second direction.