Touch panel

• US 9,971,450 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated, Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Teramoto, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, TONY O
• Application Number:
  US15/704,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20180004346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 345170-176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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: H01H 1/58 Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals for high tension switches H01H33/025; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/14; for circuit breakers H01H71/08

Abstract

A touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of wirings. Each of the plurality of first electrodes has a first portion formed on a layer different from that on which the second electrodes are formed and intersecting the second electrodes, and a second portion formed on the same layer as that on which the second electrodes are formed, but separated from the second electrode. The second electrode and the second portion of the first electrode are formed on a layer different than the layer where the wiring is formed. The first portion of the first electrode is connected to the second portion through a contact portion formed in an insulating film made of a negative resist between the first portion and the second electrode.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes on the substrate, extending in a first direction, each of the plurality of first electrodes having first portions on a first layer, each of the plurality of first electrodes having second portions on a second layer different from the first layer;

a plurality of second electrodes on the second layer extending in a second direction so as to three-dimensionally intersect the respective plurality of first electrodes;

a plurality of wirings electrically connected to respective electrodes among the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes in a peripheral area of the substrate; and

a protective film above the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, wherein

the first portions three-dimensionally intersect the respective plurality of second electrodes, and the second portions are separated from the plurality of second electrodes,

each of the first portions electrically connects adjacent two portions among the second portions at an intersection,

each of the first portions is separated from the second electrodes through an insulating film at the intersection,

the plurality of wirings overlap with the first electrodes and the second electrodes in the peripheral area and separated from the first electrodes and the second electrodes through the insulating film,

each of the plurality of wirings is electrically connected to corresponding one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes by a connection portion formed on the insulating film in the peripheral area,

the plurality of wirings and the connection portion are covered with the protective film, and

each of the first portions and the plurality of wirings are made of a same metal material.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein

the metal material is made of a same layer.

3. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of second electrodes and the second portions are formed of electrically conductive transparent materials.

4. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of second electrodes has a portion, located between adjacent two electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes, wider than another portion thereof which three dimensionally intersects corresponding one of the first portions, and

the second portions are formed wider between adjacent two electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes than the first portions.

5. The touch panel according to claim 1, the protective film is a resist.

6. A touch panel, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes on the substrate, extending in a first direction, each of the plurality of first electrodes having first portions on a first layer, each of the plurality of first electrodes having second portions on a second layer different from the first layer;

a plurality of second electrodes on the second layer extending in a second direction so as to three-dimensionally intersect the respective plurality of first electrodes;

a plurality of wirings electrically connected to respective electrodes among the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes in a peripheral area of the substrate; and

a protective film above the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, wherein

the first portions three-dimensionally intersect the respective plurality of second electrodes, and the second portions are separated from the plurality of second electrodes,

each of the first portions electrically connects adjacent two portions among the second portions at an intersection,

each of the first portions is separated from the second electrodes through an insulating film at the intersection,

each of the plurality of wirings is electrically connected to corresponding one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes through a connection portion which is provided on the insulating film in the peripheral area,

the plurality of wirings and the connection portion are covered with the protective film,

the plurality of wirings and the first portions are made of a same metal material, and

a width of the connection portion is greater than that of the first portions.

7. The touch panel according to claim 6, wherein

the metal material is made of a same layer.

8. The touch panel according to claim 6, wherein

the plurality of second electrodes and the second portions are formed of electrically conductive transparent materials.

9. The touch panel according to claim 6, wherein

each of the plurality of second electrodes has a portion, located between adjacent two electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes, wider than another portion thereof which three dimensionally intersects corresponding one of the first portions, and

the second portions are formed wider between adjacent two electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes than the first portions.

10. The touch panel according to claim 6, the protective film is a resist.