TOUCH DISPLAY APPARATUS

A touch display apparatus comprises an electrophoretic structure, a protective layer, and at least one touch sensing layer. The protective layer is disposed on the electrophoretic structure and comprises an organic material layer and an inorganic material layer. The inorganic material layer is located between the electrophoretic structure and the organic material layer. The material of the inorganic material layer comprises silicon dioxide (SiO2). The thickness of the inorganic material layer is from 20 nm to 400 nm. The touch sensing layer is disposed on one side of the protective layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The instant application claims priority to China Patent Application 202311132100.5, filed on Sep. 4, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus, especially a touch display apparatus.

Description of Related Art

With the rapid development of display technology, various novel display apparatuses have been developed; electrophoretic display apparatuses have advantageous features such as low power consumption and flexibility, thereby having great development potential. Conventional electrophoretic display apparatuses are typically controlled by a physical button on a housing. The physical button occupies the surface area of the display apparatus, which hinders the electrophoretic display apparatus from reducing its size.

Therefore, touch electrophoretic display apparatuses, which can be controlled by touching the screen of the electrophoretic display apparatus, have been developed by some manufacturers. In general, a touch electrophoretic display apparatus comprises an electrophoretic structure, a protective layer, and a touch sensing module. The protective layer covers the electrophoretic structure; the touch sensing module is adhered onto the protective layer. For example, a variety of stacked layer structures of touch sensing modules and protective layers are disclosed by Taiwan, R.O.C. Patent Publication No. I554918.

Nevertheless, electrophoretic display apparatuses currently available do not have any effective waterproof feature to prevent the electrophoretic structure from the impact of moisture. As a result, the product lifetime of electrophoretic display apparatus becomes shorter.

Therefore, how to introduce a solution that can solve the aforementioned problems of touch display apparatuses is what the industry invests its research and development resources in and intends to achieve.

SUMMARY

In view of the aforementioned problems, the objective of the present disclosure is to provide solutions for touch display apparatuses of related art.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to achieve the aforementioned objective, a touch display apparatus comprises an electrophoretic structure, a protective layer, and at least one touch sensing layer. The protective layer is disposed on the electrophoretic structure and comprises an organic material layer and an inorganic material layer. The inorganic material layer is located between the electrophoretic structure and the organic material layer. A material of the inorganic material layer comprises silicon dioxide (SiO2). A thickness of the inorganic material layer is from 20 nm to 400 nm. The at least one touch sensing layer is disposed on one side of the protective layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a material of the organic material layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polycaprolactone (PCL).

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a thickness of the organic material layer is from 700 nm to 10 μm.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one touch sensing layer comprises a first touch sensing layer and a second touch sensing layer. The first touch sensing layer and the second touch sensing layer are respectively located on two opposite sides of the protective layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touch sensing layer is in contact with one surface of the organic material layer away from the inorganic material layer. The second touch sensing layer is in contact with one surface of the inorganic material layer away from the organic material layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touch sensing layer comprises a thin film substrate and a sensing electrode layer. The thin film substrate is disposed on one side of the organic material layer, away from the inorganic material layer. The sensing electrode layer is disposed on the thin film substrate and located between the thin film substrate and the organic material layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch display apparatus further comprises a cover plate and a light guide plate. The cover plate is disposed on one side of the protective layer, away from the electrophoretic structure. The light guide plate is disposed between the cover plate and the protective layer.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to achieve the aforementioned objective, a touch display apparatus comprises an electrophoretic structure, a protective layer, and at least one touch sensing layer. The protective layer is disposed on the electrophoretic structure and comprises an organic material layer and an inorganic material layer. The inorganic material layer is located between the electrophoretic structure and the organic material layer. The touch sensing layer is disposed on one side of the protective layer. A combination of the protective layer and the at least one touch sensing layer has a light transmittance higher than 85% and a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) less than 0.01 g/m2·day at 50 degrees Celsius (° C.).

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a material of the organic material layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polycaprolactone (PCL).

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a material of the inorganic material layer comprises aluminum oxide (AlOx), silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxynitride, silicon oxynitride or amorphous carbon.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a material of the organic material layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate, and a material of the inorganic material layer comprises silicon dioxide.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a thickness of the organic material layer is from 700 nm to 10 μm.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one touch sensing layer comprises a first touch sensing layer and a second touch sensing layer. The first touch sensing layer and the second touch sensing layer are respectively located on two opposite sides of the protective layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touch sensing layer is in contact with one surface of the organic material layer, away from the inorganic material layer. The second touch sensing layer is in contact with one surface of the inorganic material layer, away from the organic material layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touch sensing layer comprises a thin film substrate and a sensing electrode layer. The thin film substrate is disposed on one side of the organic material layer, away from the inorganic material layer. The sensing electrode layer is disposed on the thin film substrate and located between the thin film substrate and the organic material layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch display apparatus further comprises a cover plate and a light guide plate. The cover plate is disposed on one side of the protective layer, away from the electrophoretic structure. The light guide plate is disposed between the cover plate and the protective layer.

In summary, the protective layer, disposed on the electrophoretic structure of the touch display apparatus of the present disclosure is a composite material that comprises an organic material layer and an inorganic material layer, in which the inorganic material layer is closer to the electrophoretic structure than the organic material layer is. Therefore, the protective layer of the present disclosure has at least the following advantages: (1) high resistance to penetration, blocking external moisture effectively; (2) low water content rate, preventing the electrophoretic structure from the impact of water vapor within the material; and (3) low reactivity, not prone to oxidation and reduction (redox) reaction during electrode conversion.

The aforementioned statements are used to explain problems that can be solved by the present disclosure, the technical ways for solving problems, related effects, and so on. The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed descriptions given herein below, by means of embodiments with reference to the attached drawings for illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure will be disclosed below with reference to the drawings. For purpose of clear illustration, many details in practice will be provided together with the following descriptions. However, these detailed descriptions in practice are for illustration only, which should not be interpreted to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. That is, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, these details in practice are not necessary. Furthermore, for purpose of simplifying the drawings, some structures and components of the prior art shown in the drawings will be illustrated schematically.

FIG.1is a schematic diagram of the touch display apparatus100of an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, in one embodiment, the touch display apparatus100comprises a substrate110, a thin film transistor array module (TFT array module)120, an electrophoretic structure130, a protective layer140, a first touch sensing layer151, a second touch sensing layer152, and a cover plate160. The TFT array module120is disposed on the substrate110. The electrophoretic structure130is disposed on the TFT array module120. The TFT array module120is configured to create a specific electric field to drive the electrophoretic structure130. The protective layer140is disposed on the electrophoretic structure130; the protective layer140and the TFT array module120are respectively located on two opposite sides of the electrophoretic structure130. The protective layer140performs the function of protecting the electrophoretic structure130. More specifically, the first touch sensing layer151is located on one side of the protective layer140, away from the electrophoretic structure130; the second touch sensing layer152is located between the protective layer140and the electrophoretic structure130. The cover plate160is disposed on one side of the protective layer140, away from the electrophoretic structure130. The cover plate160performs the function of protecting the elements stacked thereunder, to facilitate the user performing touch operations by finger. The first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152can detect the touch operations by finger on the cover plate160, to generate corresponding outputs of touch signals.

In some embodiments, the electrophoretic structure130comprises a plurality of microcapsules (not shown in figures). Each microcapsule has a plurality of light-colored charged particles and a plurality of dark-colored charge particles. The light-colored charged particles and the dark-colored charged particles are the charges of different types. For example, the light-colored charged particles can be negatively charged, and the dark-colored charged particles can be positively charged. When the electrophoretic structure130is located in an electric field, the light-colored charged particles and the dark-colored charged particles will move over, due to the influence of the electric field, so as to display a required image.

As shown inFIG.1, in some embodiments, the protective layer140is a composite layer that comprises an organic material layer141and an inorganic material layer142. The inorganic material layer142is located between the electrophoretic structure130and the organic material layer141. In other words, the inorganic material layer142is closer to the electrophoretic structure130than the organic material layer141is. The structural configuration of setting the inorganic material layer142closer to the electrophoretic structure130has at least the following advantages: (1) high resistance to penetration, blocking external moisture effectively; (2) low water content rate, preventing the electrophoretic structure130from the impact of water vapor within the material; and (3) low reactivity, not prone to oxidation and reduction (redox) reaction during electrode conversion. For example, the protective layer140comprises the organic material layer141and the inorganic material layer142through this embodiment; the combination of the protective layer140and the touch sensing layers in this embodiment can achieve a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) less than 0.01 g/m2·day at around 50 degrees Celsius (° C.).

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the material of the organic material layer141comprises (but not limited to) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polycaprolactone (PCL).

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the material of the inorganic material layer142comprises, but not limited to, aluminum oxide (AlOx), silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxynitride, silicon oxynitride, or amorphous carbon.

Table 1 shows the actual test data of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of different material or composite.

According to the test results listed in Table 1, in a preferred embodiment of the protective layer140of the present disclosure, the material of the organic material layer141comprises PET; the material of the inorganic material layer142comprises silicon dioxide.

Table 2 shows the actual test data of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of different products using an organic material of PET.

According to Table 2, if the protective layer140only comprises an organic material layer141without the inorganic material layer142, the protective layer140is unable to meet the requirement of a WVTR less than 0.01 g/m2·day. As a result, the protective layer140is unable to have the aforementioned advantages of high resistance to penetration, low water content rate, and low reactivity.

On the contrary, if the protective layer140only comprises an inorganic material layer142without the organic material layer141, the protective layer140has less covering capability and flexibility.

In some embodiments, for instance, the inorganic material layer142having the material that comprises silicon dioxide may have a thickness ranging from 10 nm to 800 nm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the organic material layer141may range from 500 nm to 50 μm.

Table 3 shows the test results of resistance to water vapor penetration and visibility of composites of a touch sensing layer used together with a protective layer140of different thickness, in which the material of the inorganic material layer142comprises silicon dioxide.

In Table 3, Fail A indicates that the composite cannot meet the required WVTR, which is less than 0.01 g/m2·day; Fail B means that the composite cannot meet the required light transmittance, which is larger than 85% in visibility. According to Table 3, taking an inorganic material layer142comprising material of silicon dioxide as an example, the preferred thickness thereof is from 20 nm to 400 nm in order to maintain a better water vapor transmission rate and roughness. More specifically, when the thickness is larger than 400 nm, the roughness of the inorganic material layer142will increase, thereby resulting in the light transmittance decreasing. Therefore, by adjusting the thickness of the inorganic material layer142, the surface roughness of the organic material layer141can be effectively improved while the light transmittance can be enhanced further. According to Table 3, the preferred thickness of the organic material layer141is from 700 nm to 10 μm.

In some embodiments, the composite of the protective layer140and the touch sensing layer has a light transmittance of less than 3% for wavelength at 380 nm. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the composite of the protective layer140and the touch sensing layer has a haze which is less than 2.5%. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the composite of the protective layer140and the touch sensing layer has a clarity of larger than 95%. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the embodiment, as shown inFIG.1, the first touch sensing layer151is in contact with one surface of the organic material layer141away from the inorganic material layer142. The second touch sensing layer152is in contact with one surface of the inorganic material layer142away from the organic material layer141. The first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152both comprise light-transmissive conductive material (for instance, indium tin oxide (ITO)), or electrode layers via the deposition of silver nano wires (SNW; a.k.a. AgNW). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the light-transmissive conductive material or SNW can be disposed on the protective layer140through a printing process. Next, the aforementioned light-transmissive conductive material or SNW is formed into patterns as electrodes on the protective layer140through a photolithography process or laser lithography, so as to fabricate the first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152. In other words, the protective layer140can be regarded as a film layer for disposing the first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152(that is, a film layer shared by the first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152).

In some embodiments, the first touch sensing layer151comprises a plurality of first axial electrodes separated from one another (not shown in the drawings); the second touch sensing layer152comprises a plurality of second axial electrodes separated from one another (not shown in the drawings). The aforementioned “first axis” and “second axis” can be, for example, two axes that are perpendicular to each other (for instance, X-axis and Y-axis). In other words, the first axial electrodes are conductive wires extending along the first axis and spaced apart from each other; the second axial electrodes are conductive wires extending along the second axis and spaced apart from each other.

In some embodiments, the first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152are configured on the same side of the protective layer140and are both disposed on the surface of the protective layer140away from the electrophoretic structure or disposed on the surface of the protective layer140closer to the electrophoretic structure130. For example, the second axial electrodes of the second touch sensing layer152are extended across the first touch sensing layer151along the second axis through insulated bridge structures.

In some embodiments, the first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152are made of a metal mesh layer. For example, metal material is disposed on the protective layer140through a printing process. Next, the aforementioned metal material is formed into patterns as electrodes through a photolithography process or laser lithography, so as to fabricate the first touch sensing layer151and the second touch sensing layer152.

In the embodiment, as shown inFIG.1, the touch display apparatus100further comprises a light guide plate170. The light guide plate170is disposed between the cover plate160and the protective layer140. The light guide plate170is configured to guide the light from the front light source (not shown in the drawings) uniformly toward the electrophoretic structure130in order to increase the contrast, readability, and comfort of the touch display apparatus100. In some other embodiments, the light guide plate170can be omitted.

In the embodiment, as shown inFIG.1, the touch display apparatus100further comprises a color filter180. The color filter180is disposed on a side of the electrophoretic structure130facing the protective layer140. The color filter180is configured to convert the black and white colors, displayed by the dark-colored and light-colored charged particles, into various colors. The color filter180comprises three layers of red, green, and blue colors separately. When the electric current passes through the electrophoretic structure130, the color filter180will block unnecessary colors and only allow necessary colors to pass through. In this process, the objective of having the touch display apparatus100display colorful images and texts can be achieved. In some other embodiments, the color filter180can be omitted.

Please refer toFIG.2.FIG.2is a schematic diagram of the touch display apparatus200of another embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment; as shown inFIG.2, the touch display apparatus200comprises a substrate110, a thin film transistor array module (TFT array module)120, an electrophoretic structure130, a protective layer140, a first touch sensing layer251, a second touch sensing layer252, a cover plate160, a light guide plate170, and a color filter180, in which the substrate110, the TFT array module120, the electrophoretic structure130, the protective layer140, the cover plate160, the light guide plate170, and the color filter180are identical or similar to those of the embodiment demonstrated inFIG.1. Therefore, relevant explanations of such structures, functions, and connections of these elements can be referenced above and will not be repeated again. In comparison with the embodiment ofFIG.1, the embodiment ofFIG.2contains modifications of the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer252.

In the embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer252are respectively located on two opposite sides of the protective layer140. More specifically, the first touch sensing layer251is located on one side of the protective layer140away from the electrophoretic structure130, and located between the light guide plate170and the cover plate160. The second touch sensing layer252is located between the protective layer140and the electrophoretic structure130. The first touch sensing layer251comprises a thin film substrate251aand a sensing electrode layer251b. The thin film substrate251ais located on one side of the organic material layer141away from the inorganic material layer142. The sensing electrode layer251bis disposed on the thin film substrate251aand located between the thin film substrate251aand the organic material layer141. The second touch sensing layer252is in contact with the surface of the inorganic material layer142away from the organic material layer141. The sensing electrode layer251bof the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer252can comprise light-transmissive conductive material (for instance, ITO) or electrode layers via deposition of silver nano wires (SNW). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the light-transmissive conductive material or SNW can be disposed on the surface of the thin film substrate251afacing the protective layer140and the surface of the inorganic material layer142away from the organic material layer141through the printing process. Next, the aforementioned light-transmissive conductive material or SNW is formed into patterns as electrodes through a photolithography process or laser lithography, so as to fabricate the sensing electrode layer251bof the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer252. The thin film substrate251acan be regarded as a film layer for disposing the sensing electrode layer251b; the protective layer140is regarded as a film layer for disposing the second touch sensing layer252.

In some embodiments, the sensing electrode layer251bof the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer252are configured on the same side of the protective layer140and are both disposed on the surface of the thin film substrate251afacing the protective layer140(that is, the thin film substrate251ashared by the sensing electrode layer251bof the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer152).

In some embodiments, the sensing electrode layer251bof the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer152are made of a metal mesh layer. For example, metal material is disposed on the surface of the thin film substrate251afacing the protective layer140, and the surface of the inorganic material layer142away from the organic material layer141through the printing process. Next, the aforementioned metal material is formed into patterns as electrodes through a photolithography process or laser lithography, so as to fabricate the sensing electrode layer251bof the first touch sensing layer251and the second touch sensing layer252.

In some other embodiments, at least one of the light guide plate10or the color filter180can be omitted.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above, it is obvious that the protective layer140, disposed on the electrophoretic structure130of the touch display apparatus100,200of the present disclosure, is a composite material that comprises an organic material layer141and an inorganic material layer142, in which the inorganic material layer142is closer to the electrophoretic structure130than the organic material layer141is. Thus, the protective layer140of the present disclosure has at least the following advantages: (1) high resistance to penetration, blocking external moisture effectively; (2) low water content rate, preventing the electrophoretic structure130from the impact of water vapor within the material; and (3) low reactivity, not prone to oxidation and reduction (redox) reaction during electrode conversion.

Though the present disclosure has been disclosed by means of the aforementioned embodiments, it should not be interpreted to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Those skilled at the art may use any alternative embodiments that are modified or changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and should be included in the appended claims.

COMPONENT SYMBOL