TWI594171B - Touch panel and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

Touch panel and method of manufacturing same

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly to a five-wire resistive touch panel.

The touch panel has the advantages of diversified and user-friendly operation interface, and is currently widely used in various electronic products or devices, such as personal computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, smart phones, handwriting input devices, home appliances, automatic teller machines, Or store the sales of ATMs, etc. In general, touch panels can be classified into different types such as a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, an optical touch panel, an electromagnetic touch panel, and an acoustic wave touch panel according to the sensing principle. Among them, the resistive touch panel has the cost advantage, and is one of the most used types in the industry, and can be divided into four-wire, five-wire, six-wire, seven-wire and eight-wire structures according to different electrodes and wiring modes.

A cross-sectional view of the basic structure of the resistive touch panel includes a first substrate 11, a second substrate 12, a first conductive layer 21, a second conductive layer 22, and a plurality of spacers 3, as shown in the first figure. . The material of the second substrate 12 may be, for example, PET (Poly Ethylene Terephthalate; polyethylene terephthalate), and the second conductive layer 22 is composed of a conductive material disposed on one surface of the second substrate 12, for example, A layer of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide; indium tin oxide) was applied. Further, the material of the first substrate 11 may be, for example, PET or glass, and the first conductive layer 21 is also composed of a conductive material disposed on one surface of the first substrate 11, for example, a layer of ITO. In addition, a plurality of spacers 3 are disposed between the first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer 22, The two conductive layers are not turned on when the touch is accepted. The first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer are disposed when the resistive touch panel is touched by arranging an electrode (not shown) electrically connected to the first conductive layer 21 and the second conductive layer 22 respectively. When layer 22 is turned on, the signal can be output and the position of the touch can be distinguished by a different signal.

Based on the basic structure of the resistive touch panel described above, the second figure is a schematic diagram of a main component of a conventional five-wire resistive touch panel, including a first conductive layer 21, a second conductive layer 22, and a first conductive layer. The electrode frame 4 is completely in contact with and electrically connected to the layer 21. The electrode frame 4 can be considered to be composed of a pair of divided voltage electrodes in a first direction and a pair of voltage dividing electrodes in a parallel second direction, such as the x direction and the y direction perpendicular to each other in the drawing. The five-wire resistive touch panel has five main wires (not shown) connected to the four corners 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D of the electrode frame 4 and the second conductive layer 22, respectively. In order to distinguish the position touched by the user, the electrode frame 4 must be staggered to form a voltage drop in the x direction and the y direction, that is, a voltage of 5 V is applied to 4A and 4D, and a voltage of 0 V is applied to 4B and 4C, followed by 4C, 4D. A voltage of 5 V is applied while 4A, 4B apply a voltage of 0 V, and a second conductive layer 22 applies a voltage of 0 V. When the user touches a certain point of the second conductive layer 22 to make the point conductive with the first conductive layer 21, the point can be identified by detecting and outputting the voltage values of the x direction and the y direction of the point. The coordinate position in the x and y directions.

In many touch panel applications, especially full-surface touch panels, independent touch icons are required in addition to the conventional touch action areas to provide users with more diverse control interfaces. Or control method. However, the prior art described above does not satisfy such a need. In view of this, the present invention proposes a touch panel having a separate icon.

In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention is in the electrode frame of a conventional touch panel. A partial pressure electrode is arranged outside, which is used for setting icons, and can be combined with the partition design of another conductive layer, so that the icons can be completely independently controlled. In addition, the present invention also proposes a method for adjusting the resistance of the wire in the touch panel to compensate for the influence of the additional voltage dividing electrode on the linear distribution of the voltage in the electrode frame.

An embodiment of the present invention is a touch panel comprising: a first conductive layer having a first conductive region and a second conductive region, the first conductive region and the second conductive region not overlapping and insulated from each other An electrode frame disposed in the first conductive region, comprising a first divided electrode and a second divided electrode substantially parallel in a first direction, and a third divided electrode substantially parallel in a second direction a fourth voltage dividing electrode; and an icon voltage dividing electrode disposed outside the first conductive region of the first conductive layer and electrically connected to the second conductive region. The touch panel may further include a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer; wherein the second conductive layer includes a third conductive region and a fourth conductive region, the third conductive region and the The fourth conductive regions do not overlap and are insulated from each other. The region of the third conductive region projected on the first conductive layer corresponds to the electrode frame, and the region of the fourth conductive region projected on the first conductive layer corresponds to the second conductive region. Area. In addition, in the above touch panel, the icon voltage dividing electrode is connected in parallel with the first voltage dividing electrode. Therefore, the touch panel may further include: a first wire electrically connected to a corner of the second voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode; and a second wire electrically connected to the first wire a corner of the voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode and one end of the icon voltage dividing electrode; a third wire having one end electrically connected to a corner of the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode The other end of the icon voltage dividing electrode; and a fourth wire having one end electrically connected to a corner where the second voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode meet. Due to the setting of the icon divider electrode, the voltage distribution in the electrode frame will be affected. Therefore, the resistance of the first voltage dividing electrode, the second voltage dividing electrode, the third voltage dividing electrode, and the fourth voltage dividing electrode after the icon voltage dividing electrode is connected in parallel with the first voltage dividing electrode, and the first and second Third, first The resistance of the four wires must meet a specific relationship to maintain the linear voltage distribution of the active region of the electrode frame. Based on the same principle, the above touch panel can also be provided with a plurality of iconic voltage dividing electrodes.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of fabricating a touch panel, comprising: forming a first conductive layer; defining a first conductive region and a second conductive region in the first conductive layer so as not to overlap each other and insulated from each other Providing an electrode frame in the first conductive region, the electrode frame comprising a first partial pressure electrode and a second partial pressure electrode substantially parallel in a first direction, and a third partial pressure electrode substantially parallel in a second direction a fourth voltage dividing electrode; and an icon voltage dividing electrode disposed outside the first conductive region of the first conductive layer and electrically connected to the second conductive region. The first conductive region and the second conductive region may be defined in the first conductive layer by etching the conductive layer. Furthermore, the touch panel manufacturing method may further include: forming a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, wherein one end of the first wire is electrically connected to the second partial pressure a corner of the electrode intersecting the third voltage dividing electrode, one end of the second wire is electrically connected to a corner of the first voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode, and one end of the icon voltage dividing electrode, and one end of the third wire Electrically connected to a corner where the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode are connected and another end of the icon voltage dividing electrode, and one end of the fourth wire is electrically connected to the second voltage dividing electrode and the fourth partial pressure The corner where the electrode is handed over. In addition, the first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes may be disposed on the icon voltage dividing electrode and the first electrode by adjusting the resistance of the first, second, third, and/or fourth wires. The resistance of a divided voltage electrode in parallel satisfies a specific relationship, thereby maintaining the voltage distribution of the action region in the electrode frame linear. Adjusting the resistance of the first, second, third, and/or fourth conductors can be accomplished, for example, by varying the wire width, material, or length. The method for manufacturing the touch panel further includes: disposing a second conductive layer parallel to the first conductive layer, and distinguishing between a third conductive region and a fourth conductive region, the two do not overlap and are insulated from each other, wherein The third conductive region is The projection of the first conductive layer corresponds to the electrode frame, and the projection of the fourth conductive region on the first conductive layer corresponds to the second conductive region.

According to the touch panel structure and the manufacturing method of the present invention, an icon for independent operation can be disposed outside the action area of the conventional touch panel, so that the operation interface and the operation mode of the touch panel have more changes and design flexibility. The embodiments of the present invention will be described later in detail.

11‧‧‧First substrate

12‧‧‧second substrate

21‧‧‧First conductive layer

22‧‧‧Second conductive layer

3‧‧‧ spacers

4‧‧‧electrode frame

211‧‧‧First conductive area

212‧‧‧Second conductive area

41‧‧‧First voltage dividing electrode

42‧‧‧Second voltage dividing electrode

43‧‧‧ Third voltage dividing electrode

44‧‧‧fourth voltage dividing electrode

5‧‧‧ icon pressure-dividing electrode

61‧‧‧First wire

62‧‧‧second wire

63‧‧‧ Third wire

64‧‧‧fourth wire

7‧‧‧Action area

The first figure is the basic structure diagram of the resistive touch panel; the second figure is the main composition diagram of the five-wire resistive touch panel; the third figure is the perspective projection of the structure of one embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an equivalent resistance of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the spirit and intent of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. The content disclosed in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily represent the complete composition and size ratio of the actual product. The manner in which the touch panel is described later will only reveal the main steps based on the spirit of the present invention. Those skilled in the art of touch panel technology can understand and implement the present invention in light of the following description.

One embodiment of the present invention is a touch panel having a separate icon, and a perspective projection of the main constituent elements is shown in the third figure. The first conductive layer is divided into a first conductive region 211 for driving and at least one second conductive region 212 for setting icons (7 in the figure, which can be designed according to the same invention according to the actual needs of the icons) A second conductive region 212 of a different number and location is provided. The boundary of the above conductive area is drawn by a dotted line in the figure, and can be used in actual production. The etching method defines the range of each conductive region, and the dotted line in the figure corresponds to the etching line, but the manner is not limited to etching the conductive layer. The projection of the rectangular electrode frame is located in the first conductive region 211, and the first partial pressure electrode 41 and the second partial pressure electrode 42 are substantially parallel to the first direction (the x direction in the drawing), and the substantially parallel second direction The third divided electrode 43 and the fourth divided electrode 44 (in the y direction in the drawing) are constituted. Since the above-mentioned voltage dividing electrodes are not actually in a straight line form, but may have various structural changes (for example, the structure shown in the drawing), the voltage dividing electrodes on the opposite sides of the electrode frame are described as "substantially parallel". It. In order to make the operation interface of the touch panel have a separate icon for touch operation, an icon voltage dividing electrode 5 is disposed on the first conductive layer, and the projection is located outside the first conductive region 211 and connected to each The second conductive region 212. The two ends of the icon-dividing electrode 5 are connected to the adjacent two corners of the electrode frame, that is, in parallel with one of the voltage-dividing electrodes of the electrode frame; as shown in the figure, the icon-dividing electrode 5 is separated from the first point. The pressure electrodes 41 are connected in parallel. In the embodiment, a plurality of wires for connecting the corners of the electrode frame and the controller (not shown) include a first wire 61, a second wire 62, a third wire 63, and a fourth wire 64. One of the ways in which the icon voltage dividing electrode 5 and the first voltage dividing electrode 41 are connected in parallel is that the second wire 62 and the third wire 63 are also respectively connected to both ends of the icon dividing electrode 5.

In the architecture of the third figure of the drawing, when the first conductive region 211 is controlled to form a voltage drop in the x direction, the voltage supplied by the first wire 61 and the second wire 62 is V _XL and the third wire 63 and the fourth wire The voltage supplied by the wire 64 is V _XH , and the second conductive region 212 connected to different positions on the voltage dividing electrode 5 of the icon also has different voltage values due to different voltage drops. Then, when the first conductive region 211 is controlled to form a voltage drop in the y direction, the voltage supplied from the first wire 61 and the fourth wire 64 is V _YH and the voltage supplied from the second wire 62 and the third wire 63 is V _YL , and the connection icon The second conductive regions 212 at different positions on the voltage dividing electrode 5 maintain the same voltage value V _YL . Therefore, the voltage signals corresponding to the M second conductive regions 212 connected to the icon voltage dividing electrode 5 are (V _Xm , V _YL ), where m is 1, 2, . . . M, and the value of V _Xm is Between V _XL and V _XH . Since the voltage signal value in the action area 7 is necessarily greater than V _YL in the actual application, the voltage signal generated by touching each icon does not overlap with the voltage signal range in the touch action area 7, and may be passed through the controller. Make a distinction.

Another embodiment of the present invention further enables the icons in the above embodiments to be independently and independently controlled. Referring to the published patent application No. 201007540 of the Republic of China, the second conductive layer can be used (the third figure is not shown, please refer to The second figure of the figure) uses a design of a plurality of conductive regions, each of which is insulated from each other and corresponding to the first conductive region 211 and the plurality of second conductive regions 212 of the first conductive layer, respectively, and has independent signal wires. In this way, the icon and the action area can be independently controlled, and the icon and the action area can be simultaneously touched, and each icon can be further controlled independently.

Based on the same principle as described above, another embodiment of the present invention is a touch panel having a dual icon voltage dividing electrode. According to the basic structure of the third figure of the figure, two icon voltage dividing electrodes are disposed, and the two voltage dividing electrodes of the electrode frame are respectively connected, for example, the first icon voltage dividing electrode is connected in parallel with the first voltage dividing electrode 41 and connected to the M second conductive regions. 212, and the second icon voltage dividing electrode is connected in parallel with the fourth voltage dividing electrode 44 and connected to the N second conductive regions 212. Referring to the foregoing, the voltage signals of the M touchable icons on the first icon voltage dividing electrode are (V _Xm , V _YL ), and the voltage signals of the N touchable icons on the second icon voltage dividing electrode are (V). _Yn , V _XH ). The voltage signals of the icons are not within the voltage range of the action area 7, and the voltage signals of the individual icons can be distinguished; if the icons are to be independently controlled, the first conductive layer of the plurality of conductive areas can also be used. For example, in the case of the rectangular electric shock frame disclosed in the third figure of the drawings, up to four icon voltage dividing electrodes can be set and all icons can be independently controlled.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a manufacturer of a touch panel having an independent icon Method, its steps include:

(1) forming a first conductive layer on a first substrate, the material of the first substrate may be, for example, PET or glass, and the material of the first conductive layer may be, for example, ITO, such that the first substrate and the first substrate A conductive layer is permeable to light.

(2) The first conductive layer is distinguished from the first conductive region and the at least one second conductive region, and the range of the two is defined by etching, for example, on a complete conductive material. Referring to the symbol 211, 212 of the third figure of the figure, the dotted line around it represents the etched line; although the icons in the figure correspond to the individual second conductive area 212, in fact, it may be in the second A plurality of icons are set on the conductive area.

(3) providing an electrode frame on the first conductive region, wherein the electrode frame is composed of a first partial voltage electrode and a second voltage dividing electrode which are substantially parallel, and a third voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel to the second direction For the configuration of the fourth voltage dividing electrode, for example, the structure of the component symbols 41, 42, 43, and 44 in the third drawing of the drawing can be referred to.

(4) an icon voltage dividing electrode is disposed outside the first conductive region of the first conductive layer, and the icon voltage dividing electrode is electrically connected to each of the foregoing second conductive regions. For example, reference may be made to the components in the third figure of the drawing. Symbol 5.

(5) providing the first wire, the second wire, the third wire, and the fourth wire electrically connected to the four corners of the electrode frame, respectively, refer to the component symbols 61, 62, 63 and 64 of the third figure of the drawing; The icon voltage dividing electrode is connected in parallel with one of the voltage dividing electrodes of the electrode frame. For example, in the third figure of the drawing, the second wire 62 and the third wire 63 are connected to the two ends of the first voltage dividing electrode 41, and the icon is connected. Both ends of the electrode 5 are divided so as to be in parallel with the first divided electrode 41.

(6) Referring to the fourth figure of the drawing, the equal-resistance of the first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes and the first, second, third, and fourth wires in the third figure of the drawing is disclosed. In the case where the icon voltage dividing electrode 5 is connected in parallel with the first voltage dividing electrode 41, R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _Y2 indicate the resistances of the first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes, respectively. Adjusting the resistance R ₁ of the first lead, the second lead of the resistor R _2, the third lead of the resistor R _3, and / or fourth lead of the resistor R _4, so as to satisfy the above-described relationship of the resistance:

Among them, the method of adjusting the resistance of each wire can change, for example, the length, the width, the design of the material, and the like.

(7) forming a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first substrate and the first conductive layer, the material of which may be, for example, ITO, such that the second conductive layer is permeable to light. The second conductive layer is divided into a third conductive region and a fourth conductive region, and the third conductive region is insulated from the fourth conductive region. The area of the third conductive region projected by the first conductive layer corresponds to the first conductive region, and the region of the fourth conductive region projected by the first conductive layer corresponds to the second conductive region.

It should be noted that the order of execution of the above steps is not necessarily in accordance with the order listed in the drawings, and those skilled in the art may have different changes depending on actual needs and process arrangements.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the embodiments of the present invention and are not exhaustive of all possible variations. The scope of the claims of the applicant is set forth in the scope of the patent application, and the scope of the claims and the scope of the claims are covered by the scope of the patent, and the contents of the foregoing inventions or drawings are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. .

211‧‧‧First conductive area

212‧‧‧Second conductive area

41‧‧‧First voltage dividing electrode

42‧‧‧Second voltage dividing electrode

43‧‧‧ Third voltage dividing electrode

44‧‧‧fourth voltage dividing electrode

5‧‧‧ icon pressure-dividing electrode

61‧‧‧First wire

62‧‧‧second wire

63‧‧‧ Third wire

64‧‧‧fourth wire

7‧‧‧Action area

Claims (8)

A touch panel includes: a first conductive layer, comprising a first conductive region and a second conductive region, the first conductive region and the second conductive region do not overlap and are insulated from each other; a second conductive layer, and The first conductive layer is substantially parallel, and includes a third conductive region and a fourth conductive region, the third conductive region and the fourth conductive region do not overlap and are insulated from each other; an electrode frame is disposed on the first conductive region a first voltage dividing electrode and a second voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in a first direction, and a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in a second direction, wherein the third conductive region The area projected on the first conductive layer corresponds to the first conductive area, the area of the fourth conductive area projected on the first conductive layer corresponds to the second conductive area; and an icon voltage dividing electrode is disposed on the first conductive area An electrically conductive layer is outside the first conductive region and is electrically connected to the second conductive region. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the icon voltage dividing electrode is connected in parallel with the first voltage dividing electrode. The touch panel of claim 2, further comprising: a first wire electrically connected to a corner of the second voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode; and a second wire One end is electrically connected to a corner of the first voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode, and one end of the icon voltage dividing electrode; a third wire, one end of which is electrically connected to the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth point a corner of the pressure electrode junction and the other end of the icon voltage dividing electrode; and a fourth wire having one end electrically connected to a corner where the second voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode meet. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein the first voltage dividing electrode, the second voltage dividing electrode, the third voltage dividing electrode, and the fourth voltage dividing electrode are at the icon voltage dividing electrode and the first point The resistances of the pressure electrodes in parallel are R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _Y2 , and the resistances of the first, second, third, and fourth wires are respectively R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R ₄ , and satisfy : A method for manufacturing a touch panel, comprising: forming a first conductive layer; defining a first conductive region and a second conductive region in the first conductive layer so as not to overlap each other and insulated from each other; a second conductive layer parallel to the conductive layer, which is divided into a third conductive region and a fourth conductive region, which do not overlap and are insulated from each other; an electrode frame is disposed in the first conductive region, and the electrode frame includes a first voltage dividing electrode and a second voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel to each other, and a third voltage dividing electrode and a fourth voltage dividing electrode substantially parallel in the second direction, wherein the third conductive region is in the first conductive layer The projection corresponds to the first conductive region, and the projection of the fourth conductive region on the first conductive layer corresponds to the second conductive region; and an icon partial pressure is disposed outside the first conductive region of the first conductive layer Electrode and make it electrically connected The second conductive region. The method of manufacturing a touch panel according to claim 5, wherein the first conductive region and the second conductive region are defined by the first conductive layer by etching. The method of manufacturing the touch panel of claim 5, further comprising: forming a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, wherein one end of the first wire is electrically connected a corner of the second voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode, wherein one end of the second wire is electrically connected to a corner of the first voltage dividing electrode and the third voltage dividing electrode, and the icon voltage dividing electrode One end of the third wire is electrically connected to a corner of the first voltage dividing electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode and the other end of the icon voltage dividing electrode, and one end of the fourth wire is electrically connected to the second branch a corner where the pressure electrode and the fourth voltage dividing electrode meet. The manufacturing method of the touch panel of the scope of patent application No. 7, wherein the first lead of resistor R _1, the second lead of the resistor R _2, the resistance R ₃ of the third wire, and the fourth wire The resistor R _{4 is} satisfied with the resistors R _X1 , R _X2 , R _Y1 , and R _{Y2 of} the first, second, third, and fourth voltage dividing electrodes in parallel with the icon voltage dividing electrode and the first voltage dividing electrode. :