KR102446354B1 - Stretchable touch sensor with surface of nonzero gaussian curvature - Google Patents

Abstract

A stretchable touch sensor disclosed in an embodiment of the invention includes: a substrate; a plurality of sensor units disposed on the substrate and configured to sense and output a touch input signal; and a connection part disposed on the substrate and connected between two adjacent sensor parts among a plurality of sensor parts, wherein the connection part includes a first electrode layer disposed on the substrate and a second electrode layer disposed on top and side surfaces of the first electrode layer. An electrode layer may be included, and the second electrode layer may have a higher elongation than that of the first electrode layer.

Description

Stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface

An embodiment of the invention relates to a stretchable touch sensor.

A flexible electronic device that has been recently developed has, for example, a portion that has elasticity and is deformable in a form that is foldable, bendable, rollable, or stretchable in at least one direction. can A flexible electronic device may generally include a plurality of electrode patterns. In order not to cause defects even after deformation of the flexible electronic device, the plurality of electrode patterns may also have flexibility.

Electronic devices such as display devices, portable transmission devices, and other information processing devices perform functions using various input devices. Recently, a technology has been developed that allows a user's finger or pen to contact an electronic device to function as an input device without a separate means such as a keyboard. An electronic device having such a touch sensing function detects changes in pressure, electric charge, light, etc. when a user approaches or touches a finger or a touch pen on the electronic device to write a character or draw a picture, thereby causing an object to appear on the screen. It is possible to find out contact information such as approaching or contacting, and the location of the contact. For example, a display device having a touch sensing function may receive an image signal based on contact information and display an image.

Conventionally, the electrode pattern having flexibility is provided as a single layer, the electrode pattern of the single layer can be folded (foldable, bendable), or rolled (rollable) the flexible display device, as shown in (A) (B) of Figure 11. , can be mounted to the part by stretching it in at least one direction. In this case, as shown in (A) (B) of FIG. 12 , cracks are generated in the electrode pattern disposed in the flexible electric vehicle device in a direction orthogonal to the direction of expansion and contraction, and such a crack opens between adjacent sensor units. This may cause deterioration of the reliability of the electronic device.

Therefore, conventionally, a flexible electronic device is used with a short curved surface, and in this case, there is a problem in that the degree of design freedom is low and the external shock is weak.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide a stretchable touch sensor having elasticity in multiple directions.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide a stretchable touch sensor having a multi-layered electrode pattern that is stretchable in multiple directions.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide a stretchable touch sensor having a multi-layered electrode pattern so as to be in close contact with a double curved surface or a three-dimensional curved structure.

A stretchable touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate; a plurality of sensor units disposed on the substrate and configured to sense and output a touch input signal; and a connection part disposed on the substrate and connected between two adjacent sensor parts among a plurality of sensor parts, wherein the connection part includes a first electrode layer disposed on the substrate and a second electrode layer disposed on top and side surfaces of the first electrode layer. An electrode layer may be included, and the second electrode layer may have a higher elongation than that of the first electrode layer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of sensor units includes a first sensor unit arranged in a row direction and a second sensor unit arranged in a column direction, and the connection unit is a first sensor unit for connecting the first sensor units arranged in a row direction. It may include one connection part and a second connection part connecting the second sensor parts arranged in a column direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of sensor units are disposed on the periphery of the first and second sensor units and include a third sensor unit connected to the first or second connection unit, and the connection unit may be connected to the third sensor unit and the third sensor unit. and a pad connection part connecting the pad parts, and the pad connection part may have the same stacked structure as the electrode stacked structure of the first and second connection parts.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the substrate and the plurality of sensor units may have a double curved surface or a three-dimensional curved surface shape.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second electrode layer may be wider than the width of the first electrode layer in the width direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the volume resistance of the second electrode layer may be equal to or greater than that of the first electrode layer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the weight of the resin in the second electrode layer may be greater than the weight of the resin in the first electrode layer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the material of the stacked structure of the first electrode layer/second electrode layer is at least one of a stacked structure of a metal electrode/transparent electrode, a stacked structure of a metal electrode/graphene, or a stacked structure of a graphene/metal electrode. may include.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer may include at least one of a transparent electrode, a metal oxide, a conductive polymer, a metal-resin bonding material, a metal nanowire, and a carbon nanotube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by stacking the electrode pattern of the stretchable touch sensor in multiple layers, it is possible to prevent a crack pattern or an open defect in the electrode pattern.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the stress transferred to the multi-layered electrode pattern, thereby improving the reliability of the electrode pattern.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improve the electrical reliability of the stretchable touch sensor having a multi-layered electrode pattern.

1(A)(B) is a view showing an example of a stretchable device.
2A is a diagram illustrating an example in which the stretchable touch sensor is mounted on a car gear, and (B) is a diagram illustrating an example in which the stretchable touch sensor is stretched and contracted in an outward direction.
3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a connection example of a sensor unit and a connection unit in a stretchable touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating another connection example of a sensor unit and a connection unit in the stretchable touch sensor of FIG. 3 .
5 is a plan view of the stretchable touch sensor of FIG. 3 and is a view showing a state in which stretching is possible in different directions.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the stretchable touch sensor of FIG. 3 showing a bent state.
7 is an example of a plan view of a stretchable touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of area A10 of FIG. 7 .
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view on the VV side of FIG. 8 .
FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of area A11 of FIG. 7 .
11(A)(B) is an example of a flexible display device of a comparative example.
12A and 12B are views illustrating an example in which cracks are generated in electrodes after stretching of the flexible display device of FIG. 11 .

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully inform the possessor of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The shapes, sizes, proportions, angles, numbers, etc. disclosed in the drawings for explaining the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated matters. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. When 'including', 'having', 'consisting', etc. mentioned in this specification are used, other parts may be added unless 'only' is used. When a component is expressed in the singular, the case in which the plural is included is included unless specifically stated otherwise. In interpreting the components, it is interpreted as including an error range even if there is no separate explicit description. In the case of a description of the positional relationship, for example, when the positional relationship of two parts is described as 'on', 'on', 'on', 'beside', etc., 'right' Alternatively, one or more other parts may be positioned between two parts unless 'directly' is used.

In the case of a description of a temporal relationship, for example, 'immediately' or 'directly' when a temporal relationship is described as 'after', 'following', 'after', 'before', etc. It may include cases that are not continuous unless this is used. Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Accordingly, the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the spirit of the present invention.

Each feature of the various embodiments of the present invention may be partially or wholly combined or combined with each other, technically various interlocking and driving are possible, and each of the embodiments may be implemented independently of each other or may be implemented together in a related relationship. may be

A stretchable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, a stretchable device, should operate without losing the characteristics of the device even when the substrate is stretched or severely bent. In addition, the stretchable device is an electronic device capable of maintaining the characteristics of the device even when an external force is removed. For example, the stretchable device may be used as a core component material for implementing a wearable electronic device, an electronic skin, an electronic device for a vehicle, or an intelligent robot. 1 (A) shows an example of applying an external force to the stretchable device ST1, for example, an external force in the form of a double or cubic curve to the wearable electronic device, and (B) shows the stretchable device ST2 in a curved shape. The component 10 is, for example, an example of using a vehicle component (gear, handle, cradle, etc.), an electronic component, or a robot component in close contact with a double curved or three-dimensional curved component.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide the electrode pattern or the connection pattern in the stretchable touch sensor as a multi-layer, not a single layer. The multi-layered electrode pattern may include two or more or three or more electrode layers. The multi-layered electrode pattern may be stacked with two or more electrode layers having different elongations. The multi-layered electrode pattern may be stacked with two or more electrode layers having different line widths.

As shown in (A) of FIG. 2 , the stretchable touch sensor ST3 may be mounted in close contact with the surface of the vehicle gear 20 , and accordingly, the user uses the touch sensor ST3 on the vehicle gear 20 . Thus, various kinds of control or operation can be performed. Since the surface of the vehicle gear 20 is provided in the form of a double curved surface or a three-dimensional curved surface, when contraction and expansion are repeated or thermal deformation occurs, a single-layer electrode pattern with elasticity in the areas A1 and A2 where bending is severe Even if this is provided, cracks or open defects may occur in the electrode pattern. The present invention provides a flexible multi-layered electrode pattern, thereby reducing the occurrence of cracks in the electrode pattern and suppressing open defects.

As shown in FIG. 2B , when the stretchable touch sensor is deformed from the first state R1 to the second state R2, that is, stretched or bent in at least two directions in the first state R1. Otherwise, cracks or open defects may occur in the electrode pattern in the sensor due to extension to the second state R2 to which an external force is applied, or deformation over a long period of time or repeatedly. The present invention provides a flexible electrode pattern in multiple layers, thereby reducing the occurrence of cracks in the multilayer electrode pattern and suppressing open defects. In addition, it can increase the design freedom of the stretchable touch sensor and can be used as a sensor resistant to external impact.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a connection example of a sensor unit and a connection part in a stretchable touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a different sensor part and a connection part in the stretchable touch sensor of FIG. It is a side cross-sectional view showing a connection example, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the stretchable touch sensor of FIG. 3, showing a state that can be stretched in different directions, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the stretchable touch sensor of FIG. It is a diagram showing a bent state.

3 and 4 , the stretchable touch sensor 100 recognizes a touch, and two adjacent sensor units 31 and 33 and a first connection unit 50 connecting the sensor units 31 and 33 are connected to each other. may include. The sensor units 31 and 33 may be arranged in a row direction and/or a column direction. The sensor units 31 and 33 may form a mutual sensing capacitor functioning as a touch sensor, receive a sensing input signal through any one of the sensor units 31 and 33 and detect a change in the amount of charge due to contact with an external object. The detection output signal may be output through the first connection unit 50 or another sensor unit. The first and second sensor units 31 and 33 and the first connection unit 50 may be disposed in a sensing area of the touch sensor 100 .

The stretchable touch sensor 100 has a pad connection part 50B in which the signals sensed by the two sensor parts 31 and 33 are connected to the pad part (not shown) through the third sensor part 35 as shown in FIG. 4 . can be transmitted through The pad unit may be connected to the driving unit.

The sensor units 31 , 33 , and 35 and the connection units 50 and 50B may be disposed on the substrate 41 . The substrate 41 may include plastic or glass. The substrate 41 may be formed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyurethane (PU), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene. , may be selected from the group consisting of polyimide, cyclo olefin copolymer (COC), parylene, and combinations thereof. The substrate is a flexible and stretchable material, and may be formed of a stretchable material such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyurethane (PU).

The substrate 41 may be a transparent flexible substrate that is foldable, bendable, rollable, stretchable in at least two directions, or has flexibility such as elasticity. The substrate 41 may be a porous elastomer substrate, and may be formed of, for example, a flexible material such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyurethane (PU).

3 to 6 , the first sensor unit 31 and the second sensor unit 33 are spaced apart from each other and may be a touch electrode or a semiconductor layer. A plurality of the first sensor units 31 may be arranged in a column direction and a row direction, respectively, and a plurality of the second sensor units 33 may be arranged in a column direction and a row direction, respectively. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the first and second sensor units 31 and 33 may be arranged in a matrix form or a net form.

The first to third sensor units 31 , 33 , and 35 are portions that directly recognize a touch, and may be entirely transparent. The first to third sensor units 31 , 33 , and 35 are of a resistive type, a capacitive type, an electromagnetic resonance type (EMR), and an optical type. ) may be classified according to various touch sensing methods, for example, it may be made in a capacitive method.

The capacitive touch sensor includes a sensing capacitor composed of a sensing electrode capable of transmitting a sensing signal, and detects a change in capacitance of the sensing capacitor that occurs when a conductor such as a finger approaches the sensor to determine whether a contact is made and contact locations can be found. In the capacitive method, the touch can be sensed only when the user always touches the touch sensor, and contact by a conductive object is required.

The sensor units 31 , 33 , and 35 having a touch sensing function may be embedded in the device (in-cell type) or formed on the outer surface of the device (on-cell type), or a separate touch sensor is attached (addon cell type). type) can be used. In this case, in the case of a stretchable touch sensor, the sensor unit included therein may include a flexible electrode pattern having flexibility, and the electrode pattern may be transparent.

As the sensor units 31 , 33 , and 35 , the semiconductor layer may be an organic semiconductor or an inorganic semiconductor. The inorganic semiconductor, for example, may be selected from the group consisting of Si, carbon nanotubes, graphene, compound semiconductors, oxide semiconductors, and combinations thereof, but is not limited thereto. The oxide semiconductor is, for example, InGaZnO, ZnO, ZrInZnO, InZnO, ZnO, InGaZnO4, ZnInO, ZnSnO, In2O3, Ga2O3, HfInZnO, GaInZnO, HfO2, SnO2, WO3, TiO3, Ta2O5, In2O3, Ta2O5, In2O3 It may be selected from the group consisting of ZnSnO4, CdZnO, CuAlO2, CuGaO2, Nb2O5, TiSrO3, and combinations thereof, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the organic semiconductor is, for example, pentacene (pentacene), alpha-6T (alpha-sexithiophene), FCuPc (hexadecafluorcopper phthalocyanine), P3HT [poly(3-hexylthiophene)], and combinations thereof It may include one selected from the group, but is not limited thereto.

The connection parts 50 and 50B function as wiring parts, and may include a first electrode layer 51 on the substrate 41 and a second electrode layer 53 on the first electrode layer 51 . The first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may connect two adjacent sensor units 31 and 33 in an electrode pattern. The first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be transparent. As another example, the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be translucent or opaque. The first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 are coated on the substrate 41 by bar coating, roll coating, spray coating, spin coating, or screen printing coating. , may be formed by an inkjet printing method, a sputtering method, or the like.

The first electrode layer 51 is a metal such as silver (Ag) or an alloy thereof, titanium (Ti) or an alloy thereof, copper (Cu) or an alloy thereof, a metal-resin bonding material, a metal oxide, graphene, a conductive polymer, It may be formed of carbon nanotubes. The first electrode layer 51 may be formed in the form of a layer, a pattern, or a wire. The second electrode layer 53 may be formed of a metal-resin bonding material, metal oxide, gold (Au), silver (Ag), graphene, a conductive polymer, carbon nanotubes, or the like. The metal oxide is, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), IZO nitride (IZON), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), indium aluminum zinc oxide (IAZO), or indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO). , indium gallium tin oxide (IGTO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), gallium zinc oxide (GZO), IrOx, and at least one selected from RuOx.

The first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be stacked in a metal electrode/transparent electrode structure. For example, the metal electrode may be a metal-resin bonding material, a silver (Ag)-based material, or a metal nanowire, such as a silver nanowire or a metal grid. The first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be made of a material having an elongation, and the elongation is the highest in the substrate, the first electrode layer 51 is the lowest, and the second electrode layer 53 is formed between the substrate 41 and the substrate 41 . It may have an elongation between the first electrode layers 51 . The silver series may include a paste having silver or an alloy thereof.

The first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be stacked in a metal electrode/graphene structure or in a metal electrode/conductive polymer structure. As another example, the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be stacked in a transparent electrode/graphene structure or in a transparent electrode/conductive polymer structure. As another example, the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be stacked in a carbon nanotube/transparent electrode structure and a conductive polymer/transparent electrode structure. The metal electrode may selectively include a resin-metal bonding material, a silver-based material, or a nanowire, and the graphene may include a carbon nanotube.

The thickness of the first electrode layer 51 may be less than 100 μm, for example, in the range of 30 μm to 50 μm. The thickness of the second electrode layer 53 may be the same as the thickness of the first electrode layer 51 or may have a difference of ±10 μm or less compared to the thickness of the first electrode layer 51 .

The first connection part 50 may be defined in a longitudinal direction extending from the first sensor part 31 to the second sensor part 33 and in a width direction orthogonal thereto, and the length of the first connection part 50 . may be greater than the width. The length of the second electrode layer 53 may be equal to or greater than the length of the first electrode layer 51 . A width of the second electrode layer 53 may be greater than a width of the first electrode layer 51 . An area of the substrate 41 may have an area covering the second electrode layer 53 and the sensor units 31 and 33 . The elongation of the first electrode layer 51 may be smaller than the elongation of the second electrode layer 53 . The substrate 41 may have a higher elongation than the second electrode layer 53 . Accordingly, since the second electrode layer 53 covers the first electrode layer 51 and is disposed with a higher elongation than the first electrode layer 51 , even if it is stretched in various directions together with the substrate 41 , the first electrode layer In addition to (51), crack generation in the second electrode layer 53 can be suppressed.

When the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 are formed of a metal-resin bonding material, the metal-resin material may be cured after adding a metal powder to the resin and then applying heat. Such a metal-resin bonding material may be provided as an electrode pattern having a high elongation. In the metal-resin bonding, the metal material may be silver, titanium, or gold, and the resin may be silicone or epoxy-based. The electrode layer made of the metal-resin bonding material may provide 50% or less by weight of the resin, for example, in the range of 30% to 50%. At this time, if the weight of the resin is high, since the metal powder is added relatively low, the elongation of the electrode layer may be increased, the electrical conductivity may be low, and the thermal expansion coefficient may be high.

Accordingly, since the second electrode layer 53 has a higher elongation than the first electrode layer 51 , the resin content in the second electrode layer 53 may be higher than the resin content in the first electrode layer 51 . Alternatively, the metal content relative to the resin in the second electrode layer 53 may be equal to or lower than the metal content compared to the resin in the first electrode layer 51 .

The second electrode layer 53 may further improve reliability when an electrode material having a high mixing ratio of a material such as a resin that increases stretching performance in order to improve stretching performance compared to the first electrode layer 51 . The resistance of the first electrode layer 51 may be equal to or higher than that of the second electrode layer 53 . This is because when the stretchable touch sensor repeats contraction and expansion or adheres to parts in an expanded state by thermal deformation, the resistance may increase due to cracks in the single electrode pattern that may occur due to excessive expansion or bending. However, since the second electrode layer 53 covers the first electrode layer 51 , the connection between the sensor units 31 and 33 can be maintained and deterioration of sensor performance can be prevented.

The second electrode layer 53 may cover the entire surface of the first electrode layer 51 . The second electrode layer 53 may cover an upper surface and both sides of the first electrode layer 51 . The second electrode layer 53 is disposed on the first electrode layer 51 and may be in contact with the substrate 41 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , a pad connection part 50B connecting the pad part and the third sensor part 35 disposed along the outer periphery of two adjacent sensor parts is included. The pad connection part 50B may have the same stacked structure as the first connection part 50 illustrated in FIG. 3 . The pad connection part 50B may have the same electrode structure as the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 of the first connection part 50 illustrated in FIG. 3 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , in the touch sensor 100 , when the first connection part 50 is disposed between the sensor parts 31 and 33 on the substrate and extends in all directions F1, F2, F3, and F4, the It may extend together with the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 of the first connector 50 . In this case, the elongation strength of the first and second electrode layers 51 and 53 may be higher than the elongation strength of a single layer, and a higher elongation rate than that of a single layer may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the first connection part 50 that is stretched or extended in several directions ( F1 , F2 , F3 , F4 ) together with the two sensor parts 31 and 33 is provided, or as shown in FIG. 6 , the two sensor parts A first connecting portion 50A bent in a curved shape between the 31 and 33 may be provided. When the first connection parts 50 and 50A are stretched or bent, even if the first electrode layer 51 is opened due to cracks or a connection failure occurs, the second electrode layer 53 has a high elongation rate of the sensor unit ( 31,33) can be connected.

In addition, the volume resistance of the second electrode layer 53 in the first connection portions 50 and 50A may be equal to or higher than the volume resistance of the first electrode layer 51 . The line width of the second electrode layer 53 may be equal to or wider than the line width of the first electrode layer 51 . The first connecting portions 50 and 50A are stably connected between the two adjacent sensor units 31 and 33 even in a stretchable deformation state, and deterioration of electrical characteristics can be prevented.

7 is an example of a plan view of a stretchable touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the area A10 of FIG. 7 , FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view on the V-V side of FIG. 8 , and FIG. It is a side cross-sectional view of area A11 of 7.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the touch sensor 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of first sensor units 410 and a plurality of second sensor units 420 positioned on a substrate 404 . . The first sensor unit 410 and the second sensor unit 420 may be transparent electrode patterns. The substrate 404 may be a flexible substrate having flexibility and transparency.

The first sensor unit 410 and the second sensor unit 420 may be disposed to be dispersed in a row direction and a column direction in the touch sensing area TA of the touch sensor 400 . The first sensor unit 410 and the second sensor unit 420 may be located on the same surface or layer, on different surfaces or layers, or have the same or different structures, the same thickness or different thicknesses. may be provided, but is not limited thereto.

Each of the first sensor unit 410 and the second sensor unit 420 may have a rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes, such as having a protrusion to improve the sensitivity of the touch sensor. The plurality of first sensor units 410 may be connected to or separated from each other inside or outside the sensing area TA. At least a portion of the plurality of second sensor units 420 may be connected to or separated from each other inside or outside the sensing area TA. For example, when a plurality of first sensor units 410 arranged in the same row are connected to each other in the sensing area TA, the plurality of second sensor units 420 arranged in the same column are connected to each other in the sensing area TA. They may be interconnected internally. For example, the plurality of first sensor units 410 located in each row are connected to each other through a first connection unit 412 , and the plurality of second sensor units 420 located in each column are connected to the second connection unit 422 . may be connected to each other through

In addition, the third sensor unit 440 arranged along the outer area A12 of the sensing area TA is selectively connected to any one of the first and second sensor units 410 and 420 , and the first and second pad connecting units 411 and 412 . ) may be connected to the pad part 450 .

The first sensor unit 410 connected to each other in each row may be connected to a driving unit (not shown) connected to the pad unit 450 through the first pad connection unit 411 via the third sensor unit 440, The second sensor units 420 connected to each other in each row may be connected to the driving unit connected to the pad unit 450 through the second pad connection unit 421 via the third sensor unit 440 . The first pad connection part 411 and the second pad connection part 421 may be located in the non-sensing area DA, which is an outer area of the sensing area TA, or may be located in the sensing area TA.

Each end of the first pad connection part 411 and the second pad connection part 421 may be connected to the pad part 450 in the non-sensing area DA of the sensor part 400 .

The first pad connection unit 411 may input a sensing input signal to the first sensor unit 410 or output a sensing output signal to the driver through the pad unit 450 . The second pad connection unit 421 may input a sensing input signal to the second sensor unit 420 or output a sensing output signal to the touch driver through the pad unit 450 .

The adjacent first sensor unit 410 and the second sensor unit 420 may form a mutual sensing capacitor functioning as a touch sensor. The mutual sensing capacitor receives a sensing input signal through one of the first sensor unit 410 and the second sensor unit 420 and outputs a change in the amount of charge due to contact with an external object as a sensing output signal through the remaining touch electrodes. have.

8 and 9 , the first connection part 412 connecting the adjacent first sensor parts 410 is located on the same layer as the first sensor part 410 and is stacked differently from the first sensor part 410 . structure can be formed. The second connection unit 422 connecting the adjacent second sensor units 420 may be located on a different layer from the second sensor unit 420 . The second sensor unit 420 and the first connection unit 412 may be separated from each other, and may be separately patterned. The second sensor unit 420 and the second connection unit 422 may be connected to each other through direct contact.

An insulating film 430 is positioned between the first connection part 412 and the second connection part 422 to insulate the first connection part 412 and the second connection part 422 from each other. The insulating layer 430 may be a plurality of independent island-shaped insulators disposed at each intersection area of the first connection part 412 and the second connection part 422 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , but is not limited thereto. . The insulating layer 430 may expose at least a portion of the second sensor unit 420 so that the second connection unit 422 can be connected to the second sensor unit 420 .

9 , the first and second connectors 412 and 422 are a first electrode layer 71 disposed on the substrate 404 in the sensing area TA and a second electrode layer disposed on the first electrode layer 71 ( 73) may be included. The second electrode layer 73 may cover the upper surface and both sides of the first electrode layer 71 , and may connect two adjacent sensor units 410 and 420 .

Also, as shown in FIG. 10 , the first and second pad connection parts 411 and 421 connected to the outer third sensor part 440 are disposed on the first electrode layer 81 and the first electrode layer 81 disposed on the substrate 404 . A second electrode layer 83 may be included. The second electrode layer 83 of the first and second pad connection parts 411 and 421 may cover the upper surface and both sides of the first electrode layer 81 , and connect any one sensor part 440 and the pad part 450 , respectively. can do it The first and second connecting portions 412 and 422 may have the same electrode stacking structure as the pad connecting portions 411 and 421 .

In this case, each of the sensor units 410 , 420 , 440 functions as a touch sensor, and can be charged with a predetermined amount of charge by receiving a detection input signal. Other sensing output signals can be output. At this time, the connecting portions 411, 412, 421, 422 to which one or both sides of each of the sensor units 410, 420, 440 are connected are formed of multi-layered electrode layers 51 and 53, so that the touch sensor 400 is bent to a three-dimensional curved surface or to be stretched in different directions. When the electrode layers 61, 71, 81, 63, 73, and 83 are stretched, the occurrence of cracks can be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an open defect or a decrease in electrical characteristics due to the electrode layers 61 , 71 , 81 , 63 , 73 and 83 , thereby preventing a decrease in reliability of the stretchable touch sensor.

As described above, although described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. You will understand that it can be done.

In addition, the reference numbers described in the claims of the present invention are only described for clarity and convenience of description, and are not limited thereto, and in the process of describing the embodiment, the thickness of the lines shown in the drawings or the size of components, etc. may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation, and the above-mentioned terms are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator, so the interpretation of these terms should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

31,33, 410,420,440: sensor unit
41,404: substrate
50,50A,50B,411,412,421,422: connection
51: first electrode layer
53: second electrode layer

Claims (7)

Board;
a plurality of sensor units disposed on the substrate and configured to sense and output a touch input signal; and
It is disposed on the substrate and includes a first connection part connected between two adjacent sensor parts among the plurality of sensor parts,
The first connection part includes a first electrode layer in contact with the upper surface of the substrate, and a second electrode layer in contact with the upper surface and both sides of the first electrode layer,
Both sides of the second electrode layer are bent to both sides from the top surface of the first electrode layer,
Both sides of the second electrode layer are in contact with both sides of the first electrode layer, and both lower surfaces are in contact with the upper surface of the substrate,
The second electrode layer has a higher elongation than that of the first electrode layer,
The second electrode layer has a width wider than the width of the first electrode layer in the width direction, a stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface According to claim 1,
The plurality of sensor units includes a first sensor unit arranged in a row direction and a second sensor unit arranged in a column direction,
The first connection unit connects the first sensor units arranged in the row direction,
A stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface, including a second connection part connecting the second sensor parts arranged in the column direction. 3. The method of claim 2,
The plurality of sensor units includes a third sensor unit disposed on the periphery of the first and second sensor units and connected to the first or second connection unit,
and a pad connection part connecting the third sensor part and the pad part,
The pad connection portion has the same stacked structure as the electrode stacked structure of the first connection portion, the stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The substrate and the plurality of sensor units have a double curved surface or a three-dimensional curved shape and are in close contact with a vehicle component, a stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface. 3. The method of claim 2,
An insulating film is included between the first connection part and the second connection part,
The second electrode layer of the second connection part is in contact with the upper surface and both sides of the first electrode layer of the second connection part and is connected to the second sensor part arranged in the column direction,
Both lower surfaces of the second electrode layer of the second connection part are in contact with the upper surface of the second sensor part, and a stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface. 5. The method of claim 4,
The second electrode layer has a volume resistance equal to or greater than that of the first electrode layer,
The weight of the resin in the second electrode layer is greater than the weight of the resin in the first electrode layer, the stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface. 5. The method of claim 4,
The material of the stacked structure of the first and second electrode layers includes at least one of a metal electrode/transparent electrode stacked structure, a metal electrode/graphene stacked structure, or a graphene/metal electrode stacked structure,
At least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer includes at least one of a transparent electrode, a metal oxide, a conductive polymer, a metal-resin bonding material, a metal nanowire, and a carbon nanotube, a stretchable touch sensor having a double curved surface .

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