Infrared curing process for touch panel manufacturing

• US 8,609,201 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• 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: Getz, Catherine A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meeks, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Michael P
• Application Number:
  US12/663,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20100183823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 427/557
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3644 the metal being silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3655 the multilayer coating containing at least one conducting layer
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3671 specially adapted for use as electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/948 Layers comprising indium tin oxide [ITO]
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/322 Oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/001 by infrared light

Abstract

An infrared energy oxidizing and/or curing process includes an infrared oxidation zone having an infrared energy source operable to emit infrared energy that oxidizes a conductive thin film deposited or established on a glass substrate to establish a light transmissive or transparent conductive thin film for manufacturing of a touch panel. Optionally, the infrared energy curing process provides an in-line infrared energy curing process that oxidizes the conductive thin film on the glass substrate as the glass substrate is moved past the infrared energy source. Optionally, the infrared energy curing process bonds a thick film silver frit electrode pattern to the conductively coated glass substrate. Optionally, the infrared energy curing process reduces the transparent conductive thin film.

Claims

1. A method of processing a substrate for a touch panel utilizing infrared energy, said method comprising:

providing an infrared energy source operable to emit infrared energy;

providing a glass substrate with a conductive thin film disposed on a surface of said glass substrate;

oxidizing said conductive thin film via operation of said infrared energy source to establish a transmissivity property of said conductive thin film for manufacturing of a touch panel;

bonding a thick film silver frit electrode pattern to said conductive thin film on said glass substrate via operation of said infrared energy source at the same time as oxidizing said conductive thin film is carried out; and

reducing said conductive thin film via operation of said infrared energy source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said infrared energy source is incorporated in an in-line infrared energy curing process that oxidizes said conductive thin film on said glass substrate as said glass substrate is moved past said infrared energy source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein oxidizing said conductive thin film comprises oxidizing said conductive thin film to establish a transparent property of said conductive thin film.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein oxidizing said conductive thin film comprises oxidizing said conductive thin film to establish a selected conductivity property of said conductive thin film.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said conductive thin film comprises indium tin oxide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said infrared energy source is operable to emit infrared energy at a preselected wavelength in bonding a thick film silver frit electrode pattern to said conductive thin film coated glass substrate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said infrared energy source is operable to emit infrared energy at a preselected wavelength in reducing said transparent conductive thin film.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said infrared energy is operable to emit infrared energy at a preselected wavelength in reducing said transparent conductive thin film.

9. A method of processing a substrate for a touch panel utilizing infrared energy, said method comprising:

providing an infrared energy source operable to emit infrared energy;

providing a glass substrate coated with a conductive thin film on a surface of said glass substrate; and

wherein said infrared energy source is in a continuous flow of first (a) oxidizing said conductive thin film as said glass substrate is moved past said infrared energy source to establish a transparent conductive thin film for manufacturing of a touch panel and bonding a thick film silver frit electrode pattern to said conductively coated glass substrate as said glass substrate is moved past said infrared energy source; and

second (b) reducing said transparent conductive thin film as said glass substrate is moved past said infrared energy source.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said conductive thin film comprises indium tin oxide.