Conductive film and display apparatus provided with same

The present invention discloses a conductive film and a display apparatus provided with the conductive film. A conductive film is disposed on a display panel of a display apparatus, and has a base body, and a conductive section formed on one of the main surfaces of the base body. The conductive section has a mesh pattern composed of fine metal lines, and the fine metal lines have a tilt of 30-44° with respect to the alignment direction of pixels of the display apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a conductive film and a display device (apparatus) using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Conductive films, to be disposed on a display panel of a display device, include conductive electromagnetic-shielding films (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2008-282924 and 2009-094467), conductive touch panel films (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-108877), and the like.

In such conductive films, a lattice pattern is formed on a transparent substrate. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-282924, a moire preventing part is arranged adjacent to an intersection of a lattice pattern. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-094467, a moire preventing film having a moire preventing part is attached to an electromagnetic-shielding film having a lattice pattern to prevent moire generation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive film, which can have a simple structure different from the structures of the above patent documents, can be attached to a display panel of a common display device while preventing moire generation, and can be produced with high yield, and to provide a display device having the conductive film.

[1] A conductive film according to a first aspect of the present invention, comprising a substrate and a conductive part disposed on one main surface thereof, wherein the conductive part contains two or more conductive patterns composed of a thin metal wire, the conductive patterns extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the conductive patterns each contain a combination of two or more lattices, the lattices each have a rhombic shape, and at least one side of each lattice is at an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to the first direction.

[2] In the first aspect, it is preferred that at least one side of each lattice is at an angle of 30° to 44° with respect to the first direction.

[3] In the first aspect, it is preferred that at least one side of each lattice is at an angle of 32° to 39° with respect to the first direction.

[4] In the first aspect, it is preferred that at least one side of each lattice is at an angle of 46° to 60° with respect to the first direction.

[5] In the first aspect, it is preferred that at least one side of each lattice is at an angle of 51° to 58° with respect to the first direction.

[6] In the first aspect, the conductive patterns may each contain two or more sensing portions connected in series in the first direction, and the sensing portions may each contain a combination of two or more lattices.

[7] A conductive film according to a second aspect of the present invention, comprising a substrate, a first conductive part disposed on one main surface of the substrate, and a second conductive part disposed on the other main surface of the substrate, wherein the first conductive part contains two or more first conductive patterns, the first conductive patterns extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second conductive part contains two or more second conductive patterns, the second conductive patterns extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction, the first and second conductive patterns each contain a combination of two or more lattices, the lattices each have a rhombic shape, and at least one side of each lattice is at an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to the first direction.

[8] In the second aspect, the first conductive patterns may each contain two or more first sensing portions connected in series in the first direction, the second conductive patterns may each contain two or more second sensing portions connected in series in the second direction, and the first and second sensing portions may each contain a combination of two or more lattices.

[9] A conductive film according to a third aspect of the present invention, comprising a substrate and a conductive part disposed on one main surface of the substrate, wherein the conductive part contains a mesh pattern having an opening, and the opening has a rhombic shape having angles of 60° to 120°.

[10] A conductive film according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, comprising a substrate and a conductive part disposed on one main surface of the substrate, wherein the conductive part contains two or more conductive patterns composed of a thin metal wire, the conductive patterns extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the conductive patterns each contain two or more sensing portions connected in the first direction, and each of the sensing portions has a second direction length Lv and a first direction length Lh, and satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lv/Lh<1.74.

[11] In the fourth aspect, it is preferred that each sensing portion satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lv/Lh<1.00.

[12] A conductive film according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, comprising a substrate, a first conductive part disposed on one main surface of the substrate, and a second conductive part disposed on the other main surface of the substrate, wherein the first conductive part contains two or more first conductive patterns, the first conductive patterns extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second conductive part contains two or more second conductive patterns, the second conductive patterns extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction, the first conductive patterns each contain two or more first sensing portions connected in the first direction, the second conductive patterns each contain two or more second sensing portions connected in the second direction, each of the first sensing portions has a second direction length Lva and a first direction length Lha, and satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.74, and each of the second sensing portions has a second direction length Lvb and a first direction length Lhb, and satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvb/Lhb<1.74.

[13] In the fifth aspect, it is preferred that each first sensing portion satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.00, and each second sensing portion satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvb/Lhb<1.00.

[14] In the fourth or fifth aspect, it is preferred that the sensing portions each contain a plurality of lattices, and each lattice has a second direction length Lvs and a first direction length Lhs and satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvs/Lhs<1.74.

[15] A conductive film according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, comprising a substrate and a conductive part disposed on one main surface of the substrate, wherein the conductive part contains a mesh pattern having an opening, the opening has a rhombic shape, and the rhombic shape has one diagonal line length Lvp and the other diagonal line length Lhp and satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvp/Lhp<1.74.

[16] A display device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, comprising a display panel and thereon a conductive film, wherein the conductive film contains a conductive part having a mesh pattern composed of a thin metal wire, and the thin metal wire is at an angle of 30° to 44° with respect to an arrangement direction of pixels in the display device.

[17] In the seventh aspect, it is preferred that the thin metal wire is at an angle of 32° to 39° with respect to the arrangement direction of the pixels in the display device.

In general, a conductive film is required to obtain a display device with an electromagnetic-shielding function, a touch panel function, or the like. Conventional conductive films having a mesh pattern or the like may cause moire on the display device. In contrast, the conductive film of the present invention can be used on the display panel while preventing the moire generation. Furthermore, the conductive film of the present invention can be produced with high yield.

In addition, the display device of the present invention can be used as a low-resistance, electromagnetic-shielding or touch-panel device. The display device can be used as a touch-panel display without moire generation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Several embodiments of the conductive film and the display device containing the conductive film of the present invention will be described below with reference toFIGS. 1 to 21. It should be noted that, in this description, a numeric range of “A to B” includes both the numeric values A and B as the lower limit and upper limit values.

A first embodiment will be described below with reference toFIGS. 1 to 16.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a conductive film10according to the first embodiment has a transparent substrate12(seeFIG. 2) and a conductive part14formed on one main surface of the transparent substrate12. The conductive part14has a mesh pattern20containing thin wires of a metal (hereinafter referred to as the thin metal wires16) and openings18. For example, the thin metal wires16contain gold (Au), silver (Ag), or copper (Cu).

Specifically, in the conductive part14, a plurality of first thin metal wires16aand a plurality of second thin metal wires16bare crossed to form the mesh pattern20, the first thin metal wires16aextend in a first oblique direction (an x direction shown inFIG. 1) and are arranged in a second oblique direction (a y direction shown inFIG. 1) at a pitch Ps, and the second thin metal wires16bextend in the second oblique direction and are arranged in the first oblique direction at the pitch Ps. In this case, the first oblique direction is at an angle of +30° to +60° with respect to a reference direction (e.g. a horizontal direction), and the second oblique direction is at an angle of −30° to −60° with respect to the reference direction. Consequently, in the mesh pattern20, each of mesh shapes22, which is a combination of one opening18and four thin metal wires16surrounding the one opening18, is a rhombic shape having vertex angles of 60° to 120°.

The conductive film10can be used as an electromagnetic-shielding film of a display device30shown inFIG. 3, a conductive film of a touch panel, or the like. Examples of such display devices30include liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, organic EL displays, and inorganic EL displays.

The pitch Ps (hereinafter referred to also as the thin wire pitch Ps) may be selected within a range of 100 to 400 μm. The line width of the thin metal wire16may be 30 μm or less. In a case where the conductive film10is used as the electromagnetic-shielding film, the line width of the thin metal wire16is preferably 1 to 20 μm, more preferably 1 to 9 μm, further preferably 2 to 7 μm. In a case where the conductive film10is used as the conductive touch panel film, the line width of the thin metal wire16is preferably 0.1 to 15 μm, more preferably 1 to 9 μm, further preferably 2 to 7 μm.

The rhombic mesh shape22has two narrow angles of the four vertex angles, and half of each narrow angle is 30° to 44°. Thus, in a case where an imaginary line24extends in the opening18in the horizontal direction and connects a plurality of intersection points in the mesh pattern20, an angle θ (an oblique angle θ) between the imaginary line24and the first thin metal wire16ais 30° to 44°.

As shown with partial omission inFIG. 3, a plurality of pixels32are arranged in a matrix in the display device30. One pixel32contains three subpixels (a red subpixel32r, a green subpixel32g, and a blue subpixel32b), which are arranged in the horizontal direction. Each subpixel has a rectangular shape extending in the vertical direction. The arrangement pitch of the pixels32in the horizontal direction (the horizontal pixel pitch Ph) and the arrangement pitch of the pixels32in the vertical direction (the vertical pixel pitch Pv) are approximately equal to each other. Thus, a combination of one pixel32and a black matrix surrounding the pixel32(a shaded region34) forms a square shape. Each pixel32does not have an aspect ratio of 1, and has a horizontal (lateral) length larger than the vertical (longitudinal) length.

The size of the rhombus of the mesh shape22will be described below with reference toFIG. 4. In the rhombus, when one diagonal line extending in the vertical direction has a length Lvp and the other diagonal line extending in the horizontal direction has a length Lhp, the size, i.e. the aspect ratio (Lvp/Lhp), of the rhombus satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvp/Lhp<1.74.

In a case where the pixels32are arranged in the horizontal direction in the display device30(seeFIG. 3), to which a touch panel50is attached, the aspect ratio (Lvp/Lhp) of the rhombus satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvp/Lhp<1.00 or 1.00<Lvp/Lhp<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lvp/Lhp<0.81 or 1.23<Lvp/Lhp<1.61.

As shown inFIG. 5, in a case where the conductive film10is disposed on a display panel of the display device30having such a pixel array, the thin metal wire16forms a certain oblique angle θ with the horizontal arrangement direction (the m direction) of the pixels32in the display device30. As shown inFIG. 1, the imaginary line24extends in the opening18in the horizontal direction and connects a plurality of the intersection points in the mesh pattern20, and the angle θ between the imaginary line24and the first thin metal wire16ais 30° to 60°, preferably 30° to 44°. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 4, the thin metal wire16is angled at 30° to 60°, preferably 30° to 44°, with respect to the horizontal arrangement direction (the m direction) of the pixels32in the display device30. The thin wire pitch Ps of the conductive film10is approximately equal or close to the diagonal length La1of one pixel32(or the diagonal length La2of two adjacent pixels32arranged in the vertical direction) in the display device30. Furthermore, the arrangement direction of the thin metal wires16in the conductive film10is approximately equal or close to the direction of the diagonal line of one pixel32(or the diagonal line of two adjacent pixels32arranged in the vertical direction) in the display device30. Consequently, the arrangement period difference between the pixels32and the thin metal wires16can be reduced to prevent moire generation.

For example, in a case where the conductive film10is used as the electromagnetic-shielding film, the conductive film10is disposed on the display panel of the display device30. In this case, as described above, the arrangement period difference between the pixels32and the thin metal wires16can be reduced to prevent the moire generation. In addition, since the thin metal wires16in the mesh pattern20has a pitch Ps of 100 to 400 μm and a line width of 30 μm or less, the electromagnetic-shielding film can exhibit both of a high electromagnetic-shielding property and a high light transmittance.

A display device having a touch panel such as a projected capacitive touch panel will be described below with reference toFIGS. 6 to 16.

A touch panel50has a sensor body52and a control circuit such as an integrated circuit (not shown). As shown inFIGS. 6, 7, and 8A, the sensor body52contains a conductive film stack54prepared by laminating a first conductive film10A and a second conductive film10B to be hereinafter described, and further contains thereon a protective layer56(not shown inFIG. 8A). The conductive film stack54and the protective layer56can be disposed on a display panel58of a display device30such as a liquid crystal display. As viewed from above, the sensor body52has a sensing region60corresponding to a display screen58aof the display panel58and a terminal wiring region62(a so-called frame) corresponding to the periphery of the display panel58.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 9, in the touch panel50, the first conductive film10A has a first conductive part14A formed on one main surface of a first transparent substrate12A (seeFIG. 8A). The first conductive part14A contains two or more first conductive patterns64A (mesh patterns) and first auxiliary patterns66A. The first conductive patterns64A extend in the horizontal direction (the m direction), are arranged in the vertical direction (the n direction) perpendicular to the horizontal or m direction, each contain a large number of lattices, and are composed of the thin metal wires16. The first auxiliary patterns66A are arranged around the first conductive patterns64A and are composed of the thin metal wires16.

The first conductive pattern64A has two or more small lattices70. In the example ofFIGS. 7 and 9, the first conductive pattern64A contains two or more first large lattices68A (first sensing portions). The first large lattices68A are connected in series in the horizontal direction, and each contain a combination of two or more small lattices70. The above first auxiliary pattern66A is formed around a side of the first large lattice68A and is not connected to the first large lattice68A. For example, the m direction corresponds to the horizontal or vertical direction of the projected capacitive touch panel50or the display panel58equipped therewith to be hereinafter described (seeFIG. 6).

The first conductive pattern64A is not limited to the example using the first large lattices68A. For example, the first conductive pattern64A may be such that a large number of the small lattices70are arranged to form a strip-shaped mesh pattern, and a plurality of the strip-shaped mesh patterns are arranged in parallel and are isolated from each other by insulations. For example, two or more of strip-shaped first conductive patterns64A may each extend from a terminal in the m direction and may be arranged in the n direction.

In this example, the small lattice70is shown as the smallest rhombus in the drawings, and has a shape equal or similar to the above mesh shape22(seeFIGS. 1 and 4). As shown inFIG. 10, in the small lattice70, the angle θ between at least one side (of first to fourth sides70ato70d) and the first direction (the m direction) is 30° to 60°. In a case where the m direction is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 5) having the touch panel50, the angle θ is 30° to 44° or 46° to 60°, more preferably 32° to 39° or 51° to 58°.

The size of the first large lattice68A will be described below with reference toFIG. 11. Among four sides (first to fourth sides69ato69d) of the first large lattice68A, the first side69aand the second side69bare arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction (the m direction), and the intersection of the first side69aand the second side69bcorresponds to a first corner71a. Similarly, the third side69c(facing the first side69a) and the fourth side69d(facing the second side69b) are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction, and the intersection of the third side69cand the fourth side69dcorresponds to a second corner71b.

Furthermore, among the four sides (the first to fourth sides69ato69d) of the first large lattice68A, the first side69aand the fourth side69dare arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction (the n direction), and the intersection of an extended line of the first side69aand the fourth side69dcorresponds to a third corner71c. Similarly, the second side69band the third side69care arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, and the intersection of the second side69band an extended line of the third side69ccorresponds to a fourth corner71d.

The second direction length of the first large lattice68A corresponds to a distance Lva between the first corner71aand the second corner71bin the vertical direction, and the first direction length of the first large lattice68A corresponds to a distance Lha between the third corner71cand the fourth corner71din the horizontal direction.

In this case, the size, i.e. the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha), of the first large lattice68A satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.74.

In a case where the horizontal direction (the m direction) is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 6) having the touch panel50, the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of the first large lattice68A satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.00 or 1.00<Lva/Lha<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lva/Lha<0.81 or 1.23<Lva/Lha<1.61.

Also the small lattice70satisfies a similar condition. As shown inFIG. 12, when one diagonal line70vextending in the vertical direction has a length Lvs and the other diagonal line70hextending in the horizontal direction has a length Lhs, the size, i.e. the aspect ratio (Lvs/Lhs), of the small lattice70satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvs/Lhs<1.74.

In a case where the horizontal direction is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 6) having the touch panel50, also the aspect ratio (Lvs/Lhs) of the small lattice70satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvs/Lhs<1.00 or 1.00<Lvs/Lhs<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lvs/Lhs<0.81 or 1.23<Lvs/Lhs<1.61.

As described above, the line width of the small lattice70(i.e. the thin metal wire16) may be 30 μm or less. The side length of the small lattice70may be selected within a range of 100 to 400 μm. Incidentally, in the first large lattice68A, the first oblique direction (the x direction) is parallel to the first side69a(and the third side69c), and the second oblique direction (the y direction) is parallel to the second side69b(and the fourth side69d).

In the case of using the first large lattices68A in the first conductive patterns64A, for example, as shown inFIG. 9, first connections72A composed of the thin metal wires16are formed between the first large lattices68A, and each adjacent two of the first large lattices68A are electrically connected by the first connection72A. The first connection72A contains a medium lattice74, and the size of the medium lattice74corresponds to the total size of n small lattices70(in which n is a real number larger than 1) arranged in the second oblique direction (the y direction). A first absent portion76A (a portion provided by removing one side from the small lattice70) is formed between the medium lattice74and a side of the first large lattice68A extending along the first oblique direction. In the example ofFIG. 9, the size of the medium lattice74corresponds to the total size of three small lattices70arranged in the second oblique direction.

An electrically isolated first insulation78A is disposed between the adjacent first conductive patterns64A.

The first auxiliary pattern66A contains a plurality of first auxiliary wires80A having an axis direction parallel to the second oblique direction (arranged along the side of the first large lattice68A parallel to the first oblique direction), a plurality of first auxiliary wires80A having an axis direction parallel to the first oblique direction (arranged along the side of the first large lattice68A parallel to the second oblique direction), and two first L-shaped patterns82A arranged facing each other. Each of the first L-shaped patterns82A is formed by combining two first auxiliary wires80A into an L shape in the first insulation78A.

The side length of the first large lattice68A is preferably 3 to 10 mm, more preferably 4 to 6 mm. When the side length is less than the lower limit, for example, in the case of using the first conductive film10A in a touch panel, the first large lattices68A exhibit a lowered electrostatic capacitance in the detection process, and the touch panel is likely to cause a detection trouble. On the other hand, when the side length is more than the upper limit, the position detection accuracy may be deteriorated. For the same reasons, the side length of each small lattice70in the first large lattices68A is preferably 100 to 400 μm as described above, further preferably 150 to 300 μm, most preferably 210 to 250 μm. When the side length of the small lattice70is within this range, the first conductive film10A has high transparency and thereby can be suitably used at the front of a display device with excellent visibility.

As shown inFIG. 7, in the first conductive film10A having the above structure, in one end of each first conductive pattern64A, the first connection72A is not formed on the open end of the first large lattice68A. In the other end of the first conductive pattern64A, the end of the first large lattice68A is electrically connected to a first terminal wiring pattern86acomposed of the thin metal wire16by a first wire connection84a.

Thus, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, in the first conductive film10A used in the touch panel50, a large number of the above first conductive patterns64A are arranged in the sensing region60, and a plurality of the first terminal wiring patterns86aextend from the first wire connections84ain the terminal wiring region62.

In the example ofFIG. 6, the first conductive film10A and the sensing region60each have a rectangular shape as viewed from above. In the terminal wiring region62, a plurality of first terminals88aare arranged in the longitudinal center in the length direction of the periphery on one long side of the first conductive film10A. The first wire connections84aare arranged in a straight line in the n direction along one long side of the sensing region60(a long side closest to the one long side of the first conductive film10A). The first terminal wiring pattern86aextends from each first wire connection84ato the center of the one long side of the first conductive film10A, and is electrically connected to the corresponding first terminal88a.

On the other hand, as shown inFIGS. 7, 8A, and 13, the second conductive film10B has a second conductive part14B formed on one main surface of a second transparent substrate12B (seeFIG. 8A). The second conductive part14B contains two or more second conductive patterns64B (mesh patterns) and second auxiliary patterns66B. The second conductive patterns64B extend in the vertical direction (the n direction), are arranged in the horizontal direction (the m direction), each contain a large number of lattices, and are composed of the thin metal wires16. The second auxiliary patterns66B are arranged around the second conductive patterns64B and are composed of the thin metal wires16.

The second conductive pattern64B has two or more small lattices70. In the example ofFIGS. 7 and 13, the second conductive pattern64B contains two or more second large lattices68B (second sensing portions). The second large lattices68B are connected in series in the vertical direction (the n direction), and each contain a combination of two or more small lattices70. The above second auxiliary pattern66B is formed around a side of the second large lattice68B and is not connected to the second large lattice68B.

Also the second conductive pattern64B is not limited to the example using the second large lattices68B. For example, the second conductive pattern64B may be such that a large number of the small lattices70are arranged to form a strip-shaped mesh pattern, and a plurality of the strip-shaped mesh patterns are arranged in parallel and are isolated from each other by insulations. For example, two or more of strip-shaped second conductive patterns64B may each extend from a terminal in the n direction and may be arranged in the m direction.

The size of the second large lattice68B will be described below with reference toFIG. 14. Among four sides (fifth to eighth sides69eto69h) of the second large lattice68B, the fifth side69eand the sixth side69fare arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction, and the intersection of the fifth side69eand an extended line of the sixth side69fcorresponds to a fifth corner71e. Similarly, the seventh side69g(facing the fifth side69e) and the eighth side69h(facing the sixth side69f) are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction, and the intersection of the seventh side69gand an extended line of the eighth side69hcorresponds to a sixth corner71f.

Furthermore, among the four sides (the fifth to eighth sides69eto69h) of the second large lattice68B, the fifth side69eand the eighth side69hare arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, and the intersection of the fifth side69eand the eighth side69hcorresponds to a seventh corner71g. Similarly, the sixth side69fand the seventh side69gare arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, and the intersection of the sixth side69fand the seventh side69gcorresponds to an eighth corner71h.

The second direction length of the second large lattice68B corresponds to a distance Lvb between the fifth corner71eand the sixth corner71fin the vertical direction (the n direction), and the first direction length of the second large lattice68B corresponds to a distance Lhb between the seventh corner71gand the eighth corner71hin the horizontal direction (the m direction).

In this case, the size, i.e. the aspect ratio (Lvb/Lhb), of the second large lattice68B satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvb/Lhb<1.74.

In a case where the horizontal direction (the m direction) is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 6) having the touch panel50, the aspect ratio (Lvb/Lhb) of the second large lattice68B satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvb/Lhb<1.00 or 1.00<Lvb/Lhb<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lvb/Lhb<0.81 or 1.23<Lvb/Lhb<1.61.

Incidentally, in the second large lattice68B, the first oblique direction (the x direction) is parallel to the fifth side69e(and the seventh side69g), and the second oblique direction (the y direction) is parallel to the sixth side69f(and the eighth side69h).

In the case of using the second large lattices68B in the second conductive patterns64B, for example, as shown inFIG. 13, second connections72B composed of the thin metal wires16are formed between the second large lattices68B, and each adjacent two of the second large lattices68B are electrically connected by the second connection72B. The second connection72B contains a medium lattice74, and the size of the medium lattice74corresponds to the total size of n small lattices70(in which n is a real number larger than 1) arranged in the first oblique direction (the x direction). A second absent portion76B (a portion provided by removing one side from the small lattice70) is formed between the medium lattice74and a side of the second large lattice68B extending along the second oblique direction.

An electrically isolated second insulation78B is disposed between the adjacent second conductive patterns64B.

The second auxiliary pattern66B contains a plurality of second auxiliary wires80B having an axis direction parallel to the second oblique direction (arranged along the side of the second large lattice68B parallel to the first oblique direction), a plurality of second auxiliary wires80B having an axis direction parallel to the first oblique direction (arranged along the side of the second large lattice68B parallel to the second oblique direction), and two second L-shaped patterns82B arranged facing each other. Each of the second L-shaped patterns82B is formed by combining two second auxiliary wires80B into an L shape in the second insulation78B.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, in the second conductive film10B having the above structure, for example, in each of one end of each alternate (odd-numbered) second conductive pattern64B and the other end of each even-numbered second conductive pattern64B, the second connection72B is not formed on the open end of the second large lattice68B. In each of the other end of each odd-numbered second conductive pattern64B and one end of each even-numbered second conductive pattern64B, the end of the second large lattice68B is electrically connected to a second terminal wiring pattern86bcomposed of the thin metal wires16by a second wire connection84b.

Thus, as shown inFIG. 7, in the second conductive film10B used in the touch panel50, a large number of the above second conductive patterns64B are arranged in the sensing region60, and a plurality of the second terminal wiring patterns86bextend from the second wire connections84bin the terminal wiring region62.

As shown inFIG. 6, in the terminal wiring region62, a plurality of second terminals88bare arranged in the longitudinal center in the length direction of the periphery on one long side of the second conductive film10B. For example, the odd-numbered second wire connections84bare arranged in a straight line in the m direction along one short side of the sensing region60(a short side closest to one short side of the second conductive film10B), and the even-numbered second wire connections84bare arranged in a straight line in the m direction along the other short side of the sensing region60(a short side closest to the other short side of the second conductive film10B).

For example, each odd-numbered second conductive pattern64B is connected to the corresponding odd-numbered second wire connection84b, and each even-numbered second conductive pattern64B is connected to the corresponding even-numbered second wire connection84b. The second terminal wiring patterns86bare drawn from the odd-numbered and even-numbered second wire connections84bto the center of one long side of the second conductive film10B, and are each electrically connected to the corresponding second terminals88b.

The first terminal wiring patterns86amay be arranged in the same manner as the above second terminal wiring patterns86b, and the second terminal wiring patterns86bmay be arranged in the same manner as the above first terminal wiring patterns86a.

The side length of the second large lattice68B is preferably 3 to 10 mm, more preferably 4 to 6 mm, as with the first large lattice68A. When the side length is less than the lower limit, the second large lattices68B are likely to exhibit a lowered electrostatic capacitance to cause a detection trouble in the detection process. On the other hand, when the side length is more than the upper limit, the position detection accuracy may be deteriorated. For the same reasons, the side length of each small lattice70in the second large lattices68B is preferably 100 to 400 μm, further preferably 150 to 300 μm, most preferably 210 to 250 μm. When the side length of the small lattice70is within this range, the second conductive film10B has high transparency and thereby can be suitably used with excellent visibility on the display panel58of the display device30.

The line width of each of the first auxiliary patterns66A (the first auxiliary wires80A) and the second auxiliary patterns66B (the second auxiliary wires80B) is 30 μm or less, and may be equal to or different from those of the first conductive patterns64A and the second conductive patterns64B. It is preferred that the first conductive patterns64A, the second conductive patterns64B, the first auxiliary patterns66A, and the second auxiliary patterns66B have the same line width.

For example, as shown inFIG. 15, when the first conductive film10A is stacked on the second conductive film10B to form the conductive film stack54, the first conductive patterns64A and the second conductive patterns64B are crossed. Specifically, the first connections72A of the first conductive patterns64A and the second connections72B of the second conductive patterns64B are arranged facing each other with the first transparent substrate12A (seeFIG. 8A) interposed therebetween, and also the first insulations78A of the first conductive part14A and the second insulations78B of the second conductive part14B are arranged facing each other with the first transparent substrate12A interposed therebetween.

As shown inFIG. 15, when the conductive film stack54is observed from above, the spaces between the first large lattices68A of the first conductive film10A are filled with the second large lattices68B of the second conductive film10B. In this case, the first auxiliary patterns66A and the second auxiliary patterns66B overlap with each other to form combined patterns90between the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B. As shown inFIG. 16, in the combined pattern90, a first axis92A of the first auxiliary wire80A corresponds to a second axis92B of the second auxiliary wire80B, the first auxiliary wire80A does not overlap with the second auxiliary wire80B, and an end of the first auxiliary wire80A corresponds to an end of the second auxiliary wire80B, whereby one side of the small lattice70(the mesh shape) is formed. Therefore, the combined pattern90contains a combination of two or more small lattices70(mesh shapes). Consequently, as shown inFIG. 15, when the conductive film stack54is observed from above, the entire surface is covered with a large number of the small lattices70(the mesh shapes).

When the conductive film stack54is disposed on the display panel58of the display device30, for example, as shown inFIG. 5, a plurality of the thin metal wires16, which extend in the first oblique direction (the x direction) and are arranged at the thin wire pitch Ps in the second oblique direction (the y direction), and a plurality of the thin metal wires16, which extend in the second oblique direction and are arranged at the thin wire pitch Ps in the first oblique direction, are crossed to form the mesh pattern20. Each thin metal wire16forms a certain oblique angle θ with the horizontal arrangement direction (the m direction) of the pixels32in the display device30. Each thin metal wire16in a large number of the small lattices70is at an angle of 30° to 60°, preferably 30° to 44°, with respect to the horizontal arrangement direction (the m direction) of the pixels32in the display device30. The thin wire pitch Ps of the conductive film stack54is approximately equal or close to the diagonal length La1of one pixel32(or the diagonal length La2of two adjacent pixels32arranged in the vertical direction) in the display device30, and the arrangement direction of the thin metal wires16in the conductive film stack54is approximately equal or close to the direction of the diagonal line of one pixel32(or the diagonal line of two adjacent pixels32arranged in the vertical direction) in the display device30. Consequently, the arrangement period difference between the pixels32and the thin metal wires16can be reduced to prevent the moire generation. Furthermore, even in a case where the aspect ratio of the first large lattice68A is greatly different from the aspect ratio of the second large lattice68B in the conductive film stack54, the moire generation can be effectively prevented. Thus, the conductive film stack54can be obtained with an improved yield.

When the conductive film stack54is used in the touch panel, the protective layer56is formed on the first conductive film10A, and the first terminal wiring patterns86aextending from the first conductive patterns64A in the first conductive film10A and the second terminal wiring patterns86bextending from the second conductive patterns64B in the second conductive film10B are connected to a scan control circuit or the like.

A self or mutual capacitance technology can be preferably used for detecting a touch position. In the self capacitance technology, a voltage signal for the touch position detection is sequentially supplied to the first conductive patterns64A, and further a voltage signal for the touch position detection is sequentially supplied to the second conductive patterns64B. When a finger comes into contact with or close to the upper surface of the protective layer56, the capacitance between the first conductive pattern64A and the second conductive pattern64B in the touch position and the GND (ground) is increased, whereby signals from this first conductive pattern64A and this second conductive pattern64B have waveforms different from those of signals from the other conductive patterns. Thus, the touch position is calculated by a control circuit based on the signals transmitted from the first conductive pattern64A and the second conductive pattern64B. On the other hand, in the mutual capacitance technology, for example, a voltage signal for the touch position detection is sequentially supplied to the first conductive patterns64A, and the second conductive patterns64B are sequentially subjected to sensing (transmitted signal detection). When a finger comes into contact with or close to the upper surface of the protective layer56, the parallel stray capacitance of the finger is added to the parasitic capacitance between the first conductive pattern64A and the second conductive pattern64B in the touch position, whereby a signal from this second conductive pattern64B has a waveform different from those of signals from the other second conductive patterns64B. Thus, the touch position is calculated by a control circuit based on the order of the first conductive pattern64A supplied with the voltage signal and the signal transmitted from the second conductive pattern64B. Even when two fingers come into contact with or close to the upper surface of the protective layer56simultaneously, the touch positions can be detected by using the self or mutual capacitance technology. Conventional related detection circuits used in projected capacitive technologies are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,582,955, 4,686,332, 4,733,222, 5,374,787, 5,543,588, and 7,030,860, US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0155871, etc.

A second embodiment will be described below with reference toFIGS. 17 to 21. As shown inFIG. 17, a conductive film stack104according to the second embodiment is prepared by laminating a first conductive film110A and a second conductive film110B in the same manner as the conductive film stack54according to the first embodiment. The conductive film stack104can be used e.g. in the sensor body52of the touch panel50on the display device30shown inFIG. 6. The conductive films110(the first conductive film110A and the second conductive film110B) can be used as the electromagnetic-shielding film of the display device30shown inFIG. 3, the conductive touch panel film, or the like.

As shown inFIGS. 17, 18A, and 19, the first conductive film110A has a first transparent substrate112A (seeFIG. 18A) and a first conductive part114A formed on one main surface of the first transparent substrate112A. The first conductive part114A contains two or more first conductive patterns116A (mesh patterns) and first auxiliary patterns120A. The first conductive patterns116A extend in the horizontal direction (the m direction), are arranged in the vertical direction (the n direction) perpendicular to the horizontal direction, each contain a large number of lattices, and are composed of the thin metal wires16. The first auxiliary patterns120A are arranged around the first conductive patterns116A and are composed of the thin metal wires16. For example, the horizontal direction (the m direction) corresponds to the horizontal or vertical direction of the projected capacitive touch panel50or the display panel58equipped therewith. Also in this example, the small lattice70is shown as the smallest rhombus in the drawings, and has a shape equal or similar to the above mesh shape22of the first embodiment (seeFIGS. 1 and 4).

In the second embodiment, as well as in the first embodiment, as shown inFIG. 12, the aspect ratio (Lvs/Lhs) of the small lattice70satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvs/Lhs<1.74. In a case where the horizontal direction is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 6) having the touch panel50, the aspect ratio (Lvs/Lhs) of the small lattice70satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lvs/Lhs<1.00 or 1.00<Lvs/Lhs<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lvs/Lhs<0.81 or 1.23<Lvs/Lhs<1.61. As described above, the line width of the small lattice70(i.e. the thin metal wire16) may be 30 μm or less. The side length of the small lattice70may be selected within a range of 100 to 400 μm.

The first conductive pattern116A contains two or more first large lattices118A (first sensing portions). The first large lattices118A are connected in series in the horizontal direction (the m direction), and each contain a combination of two or more small lattices70. The above first auxiliary pattern120A is formed around a side of the first large lattice118A and is not connected to the first large lattice118A.

The first large lattice118A has a substantially rhombic shape, which has first staircase patterns124A containing one or more steps122on the oblique sides. The height of the step122is equal to the integral multiple of the height of the small lattice70. In the example ofFIG. 19, on the oblique side of the first large lattice118A, two steps122are formed on the third and seventh small lattices70in the direction from a vertically extending corner toward a horizontally extending corner, and the heights of the steps122are equal to the height of one small lattice70. The first staircase pattern124A is such that the columns of the small lattices70are reduced at the steps122in the direction from a vertically extending corner to a horizontally extending corner in the first large lattice118A.

As described above, the first large lattice118A has the substantially rhombic shape. More specifically, the first large lattice118A has an abacus bead shape, which is provided by removing several small lattices70in the horizontally extending corners. Thus, r small lattices70(in which r is an integer of more than 1) are arranged in the vertical direction to form a first upper base126A on each of the two horizontally extending corners, and one small lattice70is positioned to form the vertex angle on each of the vertically extending corners. InFIG. 19, four small lattices70are arranged in the vertical direction to form the first upper base126A on each of the two horizontally extending corners of the first large lattice118A.

In this case, when the aspect ratio of the largest rhombus enclosable in the first large lattice118A (i.e. the largest rhombus formed between the two first upper bases126A on the horizontally extending corners) is considered as the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of the first large lattice118A for convenience, the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.74.

In a case where the horizontal direction (the m direction) is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 6) having the touch panel50, the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of the first large lattice118A satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.00 or 1.00<Lva/Lha<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lva/Lha<0.81 or 1.23<Lva/Lha<1.61.

A first absent portion128A (a portion provided by removing one side from the small lattice70) is formed between the first upper base126A on the horizontally extending corner and the oblique side of the first large lattice118A extending along the first oblique direction (the x direction).

As shown inFIG. 19, first connections132A composed of the thin metal wires16are formed between the first large lattices118A, and each adjacent two of the first large lattices118A are electrically connected by the first connection132A. The first connection132A contains first medium lattices134A and136A. The size of the first medium lattice134A corresponds to the total size of n small lattices70(in which n is an integer larger than 1) arranged in the second oblique direction (the y direction). The size of the first medium lattice136A corresponds to the total size of p×q small lattices70(in which p and q are each an integer larger than 1). Thus, the first medium lattice136A is such that p small lattices70are arranged in the second oblique direction and q small lattices70are arranged in the first oblique direction. In the example ofFIG. 19, n is 7, whereby the size of the first medium lattice134A corresponds to the total size of seven small lattices70arranged in the second oblique direction. In the example ofFIG. 19, p (the number in the second oblique direction) is 3, and q (the number in the first oblique direction) is 5, whereby the size of the first medium lattice136A corresponds to the total size of fifteen small lattices70.

The first absent portion128A (the portion provided by removing one side from the small lattice70) is formed between the first medium lattice136A and the first large lattice118A.

First disconnection portions138A are disposed between the adjacent first conductive patterns116A arranged in the vertical direction, and each adjacent two of the first large lattices118A are isolated from each other by the first disconnection portion138A.

The above first auxiliary pattern120A is formed around the side of the first large lattice118A in the first conductive part114A, and is not connected to the first large lattice118A. The first auxiliary pattern120A contains a plurality of first auxiliary wires130A (having an axis direction parallel to the second oblique direction) arranged along the first staircase pattern124A on the oblique side of the first large lattice118A parallel to the first oblique direction, a plurality of first auxiliary wires130A (having an axis direction parallel to the first oblique direction) arranged along the first staircase pattern124A on the oblique side of the first large lattice118A parallel to the second oblique direction, and a first L-shaped pattern131A formed by combining two first auxiliary wires130A into an L shape.

The axis-direction length of each first auxiliary wire130A is ½ of the inside side length of the small lattice70. The first auxiliary wire130A is positioned at a predetermined distance from the first large lattice118A. The predetermined distance is equal to ½ of the inside side length of the small lattice70in this example.

The first L-shaped pattern131A is formed in the vicinity of the step122of the first staircase pattern124A by combining the first auxiliary wire130A having the axis direction parallel to the first oblique direction and the first auxiliary wire130A having the axis direction parallel to the second oblique direction. The first L-shaped pattern131A faces a corner of the step122or positioned in the first disconnection portion138A between the first large lattices118A. As shown inFIG. 19, in the first disconnection portion138A, two first auxiliary wires130A are disposed in the vicinity of a vertically extending corner of one first large lattice118A, and two first auxiliary wires130A are disposed in the vicinity of a vertically extending corner of the adjacent first large lattice118A, whereby two first L-shaped patterns131A are arranged facing each other in the horizontal direction.

The side length of each small lattice70in the first large lattices118A is preferably 50 μm or more, more preferably 100 to 400 μm, further preferably 150 to 300 μm, most preferably 210 to 250 μm. When the side length of the small lattice70is within this range, the first conductive film110A has high transparency and thereby can be suitably used at the front of a display device with excellent visibility.

As shown inFIG. 17, in the first conductive film110A having the above structure, in one end of each first conductive pattern116A, the first connection132A is not formed on the open end of the first large lattice118A. In the other end of the first conductive pattern116A, the end of the first large lattice118A is connected to the first terminal wiring pattern86acomposed of the thin metal wire16by the first wire connection84a.

On the other hand, as shown inFIGS. 17, 18A, and 20, the second conductive film110B has a second conductive part114B formed on one main surface of a second transparent substrate112B (seeFIG. 18A). The second conductive part114B contains two or more second conductive patterns116B (mesh patterns) and second auxiliary patterns120B. The second conductive patterns116B extend in the vertical direction (the n direction), are arranged in the horizontal direction (the m direction), each contain a large number of lattices, and are composed of the thin metal wires16. The second auxiliary patterns120B are arranged around the second conductive patterns116B and are composed of the thin metal wires16.

The second conductive pattern116B contains two or more second large lattices118B (second sensing portions). The second large lattices118B are connected in series in the vertical direction (the n direction), and each contain a combination of two or more small lattices70. The above second auxiliary pattern120B is formed around a side of the second large lattice118B and is not connected to the second large lattice118B.

The second large lattice118B has a substantially rhombic shape, which has second staircase patterns124B containing one or more steps122on the oblique sides. The height of the step122is equal to the integral multiple of the height of the small lattice70. In the example ofFIG. 20, on the oblique side of the second large lattice118B, two steps122are formed at a distance of four small lattices70, and the heights of the steps122are equal to the height of one small lattice70. The second staircase pattern124B is such that the columns of the small lattices70are increased at the steps122in the direction from a horizontally extending corner to a vertically extending corner in the second large lattice118B.

As described above, the second large lattice118B has the substantially rhombic shape. More specifically, the second large lattice118B has an abacus bead shape, which is provided by removing several small lattices70in the vertically extending corners. Thus, r small lattices70(in which r is an integer of more than 1) are arranged in the horizontal direction to form a second upper base126B on each of the two vertically extending corners, and one small lattice70is positioned to form the vertex angle on each of the horizontally extending corners. InFIG. 20, four small lattices70are arranged in the horizontal direction to form the second upper base126B on each of the two vertically extending corners of the second large lattice118B.

In this case, when the aspect ratio of the largest rhombus enclosable in the second large lattice118B (i.e. the largest rhombus formed between the two horizontally extending corners) is considered as the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of the second large lattice118B for convenience, the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.74.

In a case where the horizontal direction (the m direction) is equal to the pixel arrangement direction of the display device30(seeFIG. 6) having the touch panel50, the aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of the second large lattice118B satisfies the condition of 0.57<Lva/Lha<1.00 or 1.00<Lva/Lha<1.74, and more preferably satisfies the condition of 0.62<Lva/Lha<0.81 or 1.23<Lva/Lha<1.61.

A second absent portion128B (a portion provided by removing one side from the small lattice70) is formed between the second upper base126B on the vertically extending corner and the oblique side of the second large lattice118B extending along the second oblique direction.

As shown inFIG. 20, second connections132B composed of the thin metal wires16are formed between the second large lattices118B, and each adjacent two of the second large lattices118B arranged in the vertical direction are connected by the second connection132B. The second connection132B contains second medium lattices134B and136B. The size of the second medium lattice134B corresponds to the total size of n small lattices70(in which n is an integer larger than 1) arranged in the first oblique direction. The size of the second medium lattice136B corresponds to the total size of p×q small lattices70(in which p and q are each an integer larger than 1). Thus, the second medium lattice136B is formed such that p small lattices70are arranged in the first oblique direction and q small lattices70are arranged in the second oblique direction. In the example ofFIG. 20, n is 7, whereby the size of the second medium lattice134B corresponds to the total size of seven small lattices70arranged in the first oblique direction. In the example ofFIG. 20, p (the number in the first oblique direction) is 3, and q (the number in the second oblique direction) is 5, whereby the size of the second medium lattice136B corresponds to the total size of fifteen small lattices70.

The second absent portion128B (the portion provided by removing one side from the small lattice70) is formed between the second medium lattice136B and the second large lattice118B.

Second disconnection portions138B are disposed between the adjacent second conductive patterns116B arranged in the horizontal direction, and each adjacent two of the second large lattices118B are isolated from each other by the second disconnection portion138B.

The above-mentioned second auxiliary pattern120B is formed around the side of the second large lattice118B in the second conductive part114B, and is not connected to the second large lattice118B. The second auxiliary pattern120B contains a plurality of second auxiliary wires130B (having an axis direction parallel to the first oblique direction) arranged along the second staircase pattern124B on the oblique side of the second large lattice118B parallel to the second oblique direction, a plurality of second auxiliary wires130B (having an axis direction parallel to the second oblique direction) arranged along the second staircase pattern124B on the oblique side of the second large lattice118B parallel to the first oblique direction, and a second L-shaped pattern131B formed by combining two second auxiliary wires130B into an L shape.

The axis-direction length of each second auxiliary wire130B is ½ of the inside side length of the small lattice70, in the same manner as the first auxiliary wire130A. The second auxiliary wire130B is positioned at a predetermined distance from the second large lattice118B. Also the predetermined distance is equal to ½ of the inside side length of the small lattice70in the same manner as the first auxiliary wire130A described above.

The second L-shaped pattern131B is formed in the vicinity of the step122of the second staircase pattern124B by combining the second auxiliary wire130B having the axis direction parallel to the first oblique direction and the second auxiliary wire130B having the axis direction parallel to the second oblique direction. The second L-shaped pattern131B faces a corner of the step122or positioned in the second disconnection portion138B between the second large lattices118B. As shown inFIG. 20, in the second disconnection portion138B, two second auxiliary wires130B are disposed in the vicinity of a horizontally extending corner of one second large lattice118B, and two second auxiliary wires130B are disposed in the vicinity of a horizontally extending corner of the adjacent second large lattice118B, whereby two second L-shaped patterns131B are arranged facing each other in the vertical direction.

The side length of each small lattice70in the second large lattices118B is preferably 50 μm or more, more preferably 100 to 400 μm, further preferably 150 to 300 μm, most preferably 210 to 250 μm. When the side length of the small lattice70is within this range, the second conductive film110B has high transparency and thereby can be suitably used at the front of a display device with excellent visibility.

As shown inFIG. 17, in the second conductive film110B having the above structure, for example, in one end of each alternate odd-numbered second conductive pattern116B and in the other end of each even-numbered second conductive pattern116B, the second connection132B is not formed on the open end of the second large lattice118B. In the other end of each odd-numbered second conductive pattern116B and in one end of each even-numbered second conductive pattern116B, the end of the second large lattice118B is connected to the second terminal wiring pattern86bcomposed of the thin metal wires16by the second wire connection84b. Consequently, the second conductive film110B is used in the touch panel50in the same manner as the first embodiment.

The lower limit of the line width of each of the first conductive patterns116A (the first large lattices118A and the first connections132A) and the second conductive patterns116B (the second large lattices118B and the second connections132B) is preferably 1 μm or more, 3 μm or more, 4 μm or more, or 5 μm or more, and the upper limit is preferably 15 μm or less, 10 μm or less, 9 μm or less, or 8 μm or less. When the line width is less than the lower limit, the conductive film has an insufficient conductivity, whereby a touch panel using the film has an insufficient detection sensitivity. On the other hand, when the line width is more than the upper limit, moire is significantly generated due to the thin metal wire16, and a touch panel using the film has a poor visibility. When the line width is within the above range, the moire of the conductive patterns composed of the thin metal wires16is improved, and the visibility is remarkably improved. It is preferred that at least the first transparent substrate112A has a thickness of 75 to 350 μm. The thickness is further preferably 80 to 250 μm, particularly preferably 100 to 200 μm.

The lower limit of the line width of each of the first auxiliary patterns120A (the first auxiliary wires130A) and the second auxiliary patterns120B (the second auxiliary wires130B) is preferably 1 μm or more, 3 μm or more, 4 μm or more, or 5 μm or more, and the upper limit is preferably 15 μm or less, 10 μm or less, 9 μm or less, or 8 μm or less. This line width may be equal to or different from that of the first conductive pattern116A or the second conductive pattern116B. Incidentally, it is preferred that the first conductive pattern116A, the second conductive pattern116B, the first auxiliary pattern120A, and the second auxiliary pattern120B have the same line width.

For example, as shown inFIG. 21, when the first conductive film110A is stacked on the second conductive film110B to form the conductive film stack104, the first conductive patterns116A and the second conductive patterns116B are crossed. Specifically, the first connections132A of the first conductive patterns116A and the second connections132B of the second conductive patterns116B are arranged facing each other with the first transparent substrate112A (seeFIG. 18A) interposed therebetween, and also the first disconnection portions138A of the first conductive part114A and the second disconnection portions138B of the second conductive part114B are arranged facing each other with the first transparent substrate112A interposed therebetween.

As shown inFIG. 21, when the conductive film stack104is observed from above, the spaces between the first large lattices118A of the first conductive film110A are filled with the second large lattices118B of the second conductive film110B.

In this case, the first connections132A and the second connections132B overlap with each other. Thus, the first medium lattices134A and the second medium lattices134B overlap with each other, and the first medium lattices136A and the second medium lattices136B overlap with each other, to form combined patterns140having a substantially rectangular shape. In the combined pattern140, the first medium lattice134A and the second medium lattice134B are located on a diagonal line. In the combined pattern140formed by the first connection132A and the second connection132B shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, seven small lattices70are arranged on a diagonal line, and four small lattices70are arranged on each of the four sides. Thus, the combined pattern140contains total 25 small lattices70. On a corner of the combined pattern140, the removed one side in the second absent portion128B of the second large lattice118B is compensated by one side of the small lattice70in the first medium lattice134A, and the removed one side in the first absent portion128A of the first large lattice118A is compensated by one side of the small lattice70in the second medium lattice134B.

Furthermore, the first auxiliary patterns120A and the second auxiliary patterns120B overlap with each other to form combined patterns142between the first large lattices118A and the second large lattices118B. In the same manner as the example of the first embodiment shown inFIG. 16, in the combined pattern142, a first axis of the first auxiliary wire130A corresponds to a second axis of the second auxiliary wire130B, the first auxiliary wire130A does not overlap with the second auxiliary wire130B, and an end of the first auxiliary wire130A corresponds to an end of the second auxiliary wire130B, whereby one side of the small lattice70(the mesh shape) is formed.

Therefore, the combined patterns140and142each contain a combination of two or more small lattices70(mesh shapes). Consequently, as shown inFIG. 21, when the conductive film stack104is observed from above, the entire surface is covered with a large number of the small lattices70(the mesh shapes). A reference position of the second embodiment is such a position that one side of the small lattice70is formed by the first auxiliary wire130A and the second auxiliary wire130B.

In this embodiment, the first and second staircase patterns124A and124B having the steps122are arranged in the above manner, whereby the boundaries between the first large lattices118A and the second large lattices118B are made further less visible to improve the visibility.

When the conductive film stack104is used in the touch panel, the protective layer56is formed on the first conductive film110A, and the first terminal wiring patterns86aextending from the first conductive patterns116A in the first conductive film110A and the second terminal wiring patterns86bextending from the second conductive patterns116B in the second conductive film110B are connected to a scan control circuit or the like.

The above conductive film stacks54and104of the first and second embodiments have the structures shown inFIGS. 7, 8A, 17, and 18A. For example, in the first embodiment, the first conductive part14A is formed on the one main surface of the first transparent substrate12A, and the second conductive part14B is formed on the one main surface of the second transparent substrate12B. Alternatively, as shown inFIGS. 8B and 18B, for example in the first embodiment, the first conductive part14A may be formed on the one main surface of the first transparent substrate12A, and the second conductive part14B may be formed on the other main surface of the first transparent substrate12A. In this case, the second transparent substrate12B is not used, the first transparent substrate12A is stacked on the second conductive part14B, and the first conductive part14A is stacked on the first transparent substrate12A. In addition, another layer may be disposed between the first conductive film10A and the second conductive film10B. The first conductive patterns64A and the second conductive patterns64B may be arranged facing each other as long as they are insulated.

As shown inFIG. 6, first alignment marks94aand second alignment marks94bare preferably formed, for example, on the corners of the first conductive film10A and the second conductive film10B. The first alignment marks94aand the second alignment marks94bare used for positioning the first conductive film10A and the second conductive film10B in the process of bonding the films. When the first conductive film10A and the second conductive film10B are bonded to obtain the conductive film stack54, the first alignment marks94aand the second alignment marks94bform composite alignment marks. The composite alignment marks may be used for positioning the conductive film stack54in the process of attaching it to the display panel58.

Though the first conductive films10A and110A and the second conductive films10B and110B are used in the projected capacitive touch panel50in the above embodiments, they can be used in a surface capacitive touch panel or a resistive touch panel.

Though the conductive films10and110are used as the electromagnetic-shielding film or the conductive touch panel film in the above embodiments, they can be used also as another optical film for the display panel58of the display device30. In this case, the whole surface of the display panel58may be covered with the mesh pattern of the conductive film. The whole surface of the display panel58may be covered with the mesh pattern20of the conductive film10or110, and only a part (such as a corner or a center portion) of the display screen58amay be covered with the mesh pattern20of the conductive film10or110.

A method for producing the conductive film10or110according to the first embodiment will be described below. It is to be understood that this method can be used also in the second embodiment.

The conductive film10may be produced as follows. For example, a photosensitive material having the transparent substrate12and thereon a photosensitive silver halide-containing emulsion layer may be exposed and developed, whereby metallic silver portions and light-transmitting portions may be formed in the exposed areas and the unexposed areas respectively to obtain the mesh pattern20. The metallic silver portions may be subjected to a physical development treatment and/or a plating treatment to deposit a conductive metal thereon.

Alternatively, a photosensitive plating base layer of a pre-plating treatment material may be formed on the first transparent substrate12A and the second transparent substrate12B. The resultant may be exposed and developed, and may be subjected to a plating treatment, whereby metal portions and light-transmitting portions may be formed in the exposed areas and the unexposed areas respectively to form the first conductive patterns64A and the second conductive patterns64B. The metal portions may be further subjected to a physical development treatment and/or a plating treatment to deposit a conductive metal thereon.

The following two processes can be preferably used in the method using the pre-plating treatment material. The processes are disclosed more specifically in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2003-213437, 2006-064923, 2006-058797, and 2006-135271, etc.

(a) A process comprising applying, to a transparent substrate, a plating base layer having a functional group interactable with a plating catalyst or a precursor thereof, exposing and developing the layer, and subjecting the developed layer to a plating treatment to form a metal portion on the plating base material.

(b) A process comprising applying, to a transparent substrate, an underlayer containing a polymer and a metal oxide and a plating base layer having a functional group interactable with a plating catalyst or a precursor thereof in this order, exposing and developing the layers, and subjecting the developed layers to a plating treatment to form a metal portion on the plating base material.

Alternatively, a photoresist film on a copper foil disposed on the transparent substrate12may be exposed and developed to form a resist pattern, and the copper foil exposed from the resist pattern may be etched to form the mesh pattern20.

A paste containing fine metal particles may be printed on the transparent substrate12, and the printed paste may be plated with a metal to form the mesh pattern20.

The mesh pattern20may be printed on the transparent substrate12by using a screen or gravure printing plate.

The mesh pattern20may be formed on the transparent substrate12by using an inkjet method.

A particularly preferred method, which contains using a photographic photosensitive silver halide material for producing the conductive film10according to this embodiment, will be mainly described below.

The method for producing the conductive film10of this embodiment includes the following three processes different in the photosensitive materials and development treatments.

(1) A process comprising subjecting a photosensitive black-and-white silver halide material free of physical development nuclei to a chemical or thermal development to form the metallic silver portions on the photosensitive material.

(2) A process comprising subjecting a photosensitive black-and-white silver halide material having a silver halide emulsion layer containing physical development nuclei to a solution physical development to form the metallic silver portions on the photosensitive material.

(3) A process comprising subjecting a stack of a photosensitive black-and-white silver halide material free of physical development nuclei and an image-receiving sheet having a non-photosensitive layer containing physical development nuclei to a diffusion transfer development to form the metallic silver portions on the non-photosensitive image-receiving sheet.

In the process of (1), an integral black-and-white development procedure is used to form a transmittable conductive film such as a light-transmitting conductive film on the photosensitive material. The resulting silver is a chemically or thermally developed silver containing a filament having a high-specific surface area, and thereby shows a high activity in the following plating or physical development treatment.

In the process of (2), the silver halide particles are melted around and deposited on the physical development nuclei in the exposed areas to form a transmittable conductive film such as a light-transmitting conductive film on the photosensitive material. Also in this process, an integral black-and-white development procedure is used. Though high activity can be achieved since the silver halide is deposited on the physical development nuclei in the development, the developed silver has a spherical shape with small specific surface.

In the process of (3), the silver halide particles are melted in the unexposed areas, and are diffused and deposited on the development nuclei of the image-receiving sheet, to form a transmittable conductive film such as a light-transmitting conductive film on the sheet. In this process, a so-called separate-type procedure is used, the image-receiving sheet being peeled off from the photosensitive material.

A negative or reversal development treatment can be used in the processes. In the diffusion transfer development, the negative development treatment can be carried out using an auto-positive photosensitive material.

The chemical development, thermal development, solution physical development, and diffusion transfer development have the meanings generally known in the art, and are explained in common photographic chemistry texts such as Shin-ichi Kikuchi, “Shashin Kagaku(Photographic Chemistry)”, Kyoritsu Shuppan Co., Ltd., 1955 and C. E. K. Mees, “The Theory of Photographic Processes,4th ed.”, Mcmillan, 1977. A liquid treatment is generally used in the present invention, and also a thermal development treatment can be utilized. For example, techniques described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2004-184693, 2004-334077, and 2005-010752 and Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2004-244080 and 2004-085655 can be used in the present invention.

The structure of each layer in the conductive film10of this embodiment will be described in detail below.

The transparent substrate12may be a plastic film, a plastic plate, a glass plate, etc.

Examples of materials for the plastic film and the plastic plate include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalates (PET) and polyethylene naphthalates (PEN), and triacetyl celluloses (TAC).

The transparent substrate12is preferably a film or plate of a plastic having a melting point of about 290° C. or lower. The PET is particularly preferred from the viewpoints of light transmittance, workability, etc.

The silver salt emulsion layer to be converted to the thin metal wire16of the conductive film10contains a silver salt and a binder, and may further contain a solvent and an additive such as a dye.

The silver salt used in this embodiment may be an inorganic silver salt such as a silver halide or an organic silver salt such as silver acetate. In this embodiment, the silver halide is preferred because of its excellent light sensing property.

The applied silver amount (the amount of the applied silver salt in the silver density) of the silver salt emulsion layer is preferably 1 to 30 g/m2, more preferably 1 to 25 g/m2, further preferably 5 to 20 g/m2. When the applied silver amount is within this range, the resultant conductive film10can exhibit a desired surface resistance.

Examples of the binders used in this embodiment include gelatins, polyvinyl alcohols (PVA), polyvinyl pyrolidones (PVP), polysaccharides such as starches, celluloses and derivatives thereof, polyethylene oxides, polyvinylamines, chitosans, polylysines, polyacrylic acids, polyalginic acids, polyhyaluronic acids, and carboxycelluloses. The binders show a neutral, anionic, or cationic property depending on the ionicity of a functional group.

In this embodiment, the amount of the binder in the silver salt emulsion layer is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected to obtain sufficient dispersion and adhesion properties. The volume ratio of silver/binder in the silver salt emulsion layer is preferably 1/4 or more, more preferably 1/2 or more. The silver/binder volume ratio is preferably 100/1 or less, more preferably 50/1 or less. Particularly, the silver/binder volume ratio is further preferably 1/1 to 4/1, most preferably 1/1 to 3/1. When the silver/binder volume ratio of the silver salt emulsion layer is within the range, the resistance variation can be reduced even under various applied silver amount, whereby the conductive film10can be produced with a uniform surface resistance. The silver/binder volume ratio can be obtained by converting the silver halide/binder weight ratio of the material to the silver/binder weight ratio, and by further converting the silver/binder weight ratio to the silver/binder volume ratio.

The solvent used for forming the silver salt emulsion layer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include water, organic solvents (e.g. alcohols such as methanol, ketones such as acetone, amides such as formamide, sulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide, esters such as ethyl acetate, ethers), ionic liquids, and mixtures thereof.

The additives used in this embodiment are not particularly limited, and may be preferably selected from known additives.

A protective layer (not shown) may be formed on the silver salt emulsion layer. In addition, an undercoat layer or the like may be formed below the silver salt emulsion layer.

The steps for producing the conductive film10will be described below.

In this embodiment, the conductive part14may be formed in a printing process, and may be formed by exposure and development treatments, etc. in another process. Thus, a photosensitive material having the transparent substrate12and thereon the silver salt-containing layer or a photosensitive material coated with a photopolymer for photolithography is subjected to the exposure treatment. An electromagnetic wave may be used in the exposure. For example, the electromagnetic wave may be a light such as a visible light or an ultraviolet light, or a radiation such as an X-ray. The exposure may be carried out using a light source having a wavelength distribution or a specific wavelength.

In this embodiment, the emulsion layer is subjected to the development treatment after the exposure. Common development treatment technologies for photographic silver salt films, photographic papers, print engraving films, emulsion masks for photomasking, and the like may be used in the present invention.

In the present invention, the development process may include a fixation treatment for removing the silver salt in the unexposed areas to stabilize the material. Fixation treatment technologies for photographic silver salt films, photographic papers, print engraving films, emulsion masks for photomasking, and the like may be used in the present invention.

The developed and fixed photosensitive material is preferably subjected to a water washing treatment or a stabilization treatment.

The ratio of the metallic silver contained in the exposed areas after the development to the silver contained in the areas before the exposure is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 80% or more, by mass. When the ratio is 50% or more by mass, a high conductivity can be achieved.

The conductive film10is obtained by the above steps. The surface resistance of the resultant conductive film10is preferably within the range of 0.1 to 300 ohm/sq. Preferred surface resistance ranges of the conductive film10depend on the use of the conductive film10. In the case of using the conductive film10in the electromagnetic-shielding film, the surface resistance is preferably 10 ohm/sq or less, more preferably 0.1 to 3 ohm/sq. In the case of using the conductive film10in the touch panel, the surface resistance is preferably 1 to 70 ohm/sq, more preferably 5 to 50 ohm/sq, further preferably 5 to 30 ohm/sq. The conductive film10may be subjected to a calender treatment after the development treatment to obtain a desired surface resistance.

[Physical Development Treatment and Plating Treatment]

In this embodiment, to increase the conductivity of the metallic silver portion formed by the above exposure and development treatments, conductive metal particles may be deposited on the metallic silver portion by a physical development treatment and/or a plating treatment. In the present invention, the conductive metal particles may be deposited on the metallic silver portion by only one of the physical development and plating treatments or by the combination of the treatments. The metallic silver portion, subjected to the physical development treatment and/or the plating treatment in this manner, is also referred to as the conductive metal portion.

In this embodiment, the physical development is such a process that metal ions such as silver ions are reduced by a reducing agent, whereby metal particles are deposited on a metal or metal compound core. Such physical development has been used in the fields of instant B & W film, instant slide film, printing plate production, etc., and the technologies can be used in the present invention. The physical development may be carried out at the same time as the above development treatment after the exposure, and may be carried out after the development treatment separately.

In this embodiment, the plating treatment may contain electroless plating (such as chemical reduction plating or displacement plating), electrolytic plating, or a combination thereof. Known electroless plating technologies for printed circuit boards, etc. may be used in this embodiment. The electroless plating is preferably electroless copper plating.

In this embodiment, the metallic silver portion formed by the development treatment or the conductive metal portion formed by the physical development treatment and/or the plating treatment is preferably subjected to an oxidation treatment. For example, by the oxidation treatment, a small amount of a metal deposited on the light-transmitting portion can be removed, so that the transmittance of the light-transmitting portion can be increased to approximately 100%.

In this embodiment, the line width of the conductive metal portion (the thin metal wire16) may be 30 μm or less. The lower limit of the line width is preferably 0.1 μm or more, 1 μm or more, 3 μm or more, 4 μm or more, or 5 μm or more, and the upper limit thereof is preferably 30 μm or less, 15 μm or less, 10 μm or less, 9 μm or less, or 8 μm or less. When the line width is less than the lower limit, the conductive metal portion has an insufficient conductivity, whereby the touch panel50using the conductive metal portion has an insufficient detection sensitivity. On the other hand, when the line width is more than the upper limit, moire is significantly generated due to the conductive metal portion, and the touch panel50using the conductive metal portion has a poor visibility. When the line width is within the above range, the moire of the conductive metal portion is improved, and the visibility is remarkably improved. The side length of the small lattice70is preferably 100 to 400 μm, further preferably 150 to 300 μm, most preferably 210 to 250 μm. The conductive metal portion may have a part with a line width of more than 200 μm for the purpose of ground connection, etc.

In this embodiment, the opening ratio of the conductive metal portion is preferably 85% or more, more preferably 90% or more, most preferably 95% or more, in view of the visible light transmittance. The opening ratio is the ratio of the light-transmitting portions other than the thin metal wires16to the entire conductive part. For example, a rhombic shape having a line width of 6 μm and a side length of 240 μm has an opening ratio of 95%.

In this embodiment, the light-transmitting portion is a portion having light transmittance, other than the conductive metal portions in the conductive film10. The transmittance of the light-transmitting portion, which is herein a minimum transmittance value in a wavelength region of 380 to 780 nm obtained neglecting the light absorption and reflection of the transparent substrate12, is 90% or more, preferably 95% or more, more preferably 97% or more, further preferably 98% or more, most preferably 99% or more.

The exposure is preferably carried out using a glass mask method or a laser lithography pattern exposure method.

In the conductive film10of this embodiment, the thickness of the transparent substrate12is preferably 5 to 350 μm, more preferably 30 to 150 μm. When the thickness is 5 to 350 μm, a desired visible light transmittance can be obtained, and the transparent substrate12can be easily handled.

The thickness of the metallic silver portion formed on the transparent substrate12may be appropriately selected by controlling the thickness of the coating liquid for the silver salt-containing layer applied to the transparent substrate12. The thickness of the metallic silver portion may be selected within a range of 0.001 to 0.2 mm, and is preferably 30 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm or less, further preferably 0.01 to 9 μm, most preferably 0.05 to 5 μm. The metallic silver portion is preferably formed in a patterned shape. The metallic silver portion may have a monolayer structure or a multilayer structure containing two or more layers. When the metallic silver portion has a patterned multilayer structure containing two or more layers, the layers may have different wavelength color sensitivities. In this case, different patterns can be formed in the layers by using exposure lights with different wavelengths.

In the case of using the conductive metal portion in the touch panel50, the conductive metal portion preferably has a smaller thickness. As the thickness is reduced, the viewing angle and visibility of the display panel58are improved. Thus, the thickness of the layer of the conductive metal on the conductive metal portion is preferably less than 9 μm, more preferably 0.1 μm or more but less than 5 μm, further preferably 0.1 μm or more but less than 3 μm.

In this embodiment, the thickness of the metallic silver portion can be controlled by changing the coating thickness of the silver salt-containing layer, and the thickness of the conductive metal particle layer can be controlled in the physical development treatment and/or the plating treatment. Therefore, even the conductive film having a thickness of less than 5 μm (preferably less than 3 μm) can be easily produced.

The plating or the like is not necessarily carried out in the method for producing the conductive film10of this embodiment. This is because the desired surface resistance can be obtained by controlling the applied silver amount and the silver/binder volume ratio of the silver salt emulsion layer in the method. The calender treatment or the like may be carried out if necessary.

(Film Hardening Treatment after Development Treatment)

It is preferred that after the silver salt emulsion layer is developed, the resultant is immersed in a hardener and thus subjected to a film hardening treatment. Examples of the hardeners include boric acid and dialdehydes such as glutaraldehyde, adipaldehyde, and 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxane, described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 02-141279.

An additional functional layer such as an antireflection layer or a hard coat layer may be formed on the conductive film10of this embodiment.

The developed metallic silver portion may be smoothened by a calender treatment. The conductivity of the metallic silver portion can be significantly increased by the calender treatment. The calender treatment may be carried out using a calender roll unit. The calender roll unit generally has a pair of rolls.

The roll used in the calender treatment may be composed of a metal or a plastic (such as an epoxy, polyimide, polyamide, or polyimide-amide). Particularly in a case where the photosensitive material has the emulsion layer on both sides, it is preferably treated with a pair of the metal rolls. In a case where the photosensitive material has the emulsion layer only on one side, it may be treated with the combination of the metal roll and the plastic roll in view of wrinkling prevention. The upper limit of the line pressure is preferably 1960 N/cm (200 kgf/cm, corresponding to a surface pressure of 699.4 kgf/cm2) or more, more preferably 2940 N/cm (300 kgf/cm, corresponding to a surface pressure of 935.8 kgf/cm2) or more. The upper limit of the line pressure is 6880 N/cm (700 kgf/cm) or less.

The smoothing treatment such as the calender treatment is preferably carried out at a temperature of 10° C. (without temperature control) to 100° C. Though the preferred treatment temperature range depends on the density and shape of the metal mesh or metal wiring pattern, the type of the binder, etc., the temperature is more preferably 10° C. (without temperature control) to 50° C. in general.

The present invention may be appropriately combined with technologies described in the following patent publications and international patent pamphlets shown in Tables 1 and 2. “Japanese Laid-Open Patent”, “Publication No.”, “Pamphlet No.”, etc. are omitted therein.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be described more specifically below with reference to Examples. Materials, amounts, ratios, treatment contents, treatment procedures, and the like, used in Examples, may be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following specific examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

First Example

In First Example, conductive films of Comparative Examples 1 to 6 and Examples 1 to 36 were produced respectively. The opening ratio of each conductive sheet was calculated, and the moire of each conductive sheet was evaluated. The components, calculation results, and evaluation results of Comparative Examples 1 to 6 and Examples 1 to 36 are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

Examples 1 to 36 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6

An emulsion containing an aqueous medium, a gelatin, and silver iodobromochloride particles was prepared. The amount of the gelatin was 10.0 g per 150 g of Ag, and the silver iodobromochloride particles had an I content of 0.2 mol %, a Br content of 40 mol %, and an average spherical equivalent diameter of 0.1 μm.

K3Rh2Br9and K2IrCl6were added to the emulsion at a concentration of 10−7mol/mol-silver to dope the silver bromide particles with Rh and Ir ions. Na2PdCl4was further added to the emulsion, and the resultant emulsion was subjected to gold-sulfur sensitization using chlorauric acid and sodium thiosulfate. The emulsion and a gelatin hardening agent were applied to a transparent substrate composed of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The amount of the applied silver was 10 g/m2, and the Ag/gelatin volume ratio was 2/1.

The PET support had a width of 30 cm, and the emulsion was applied thereto into a width of 25 cm and a length of 20 m. The both end portions having a width of 3 cm were cut off to obtain a roll photosensitive silver halide material having a width of 24 cm.

An A4 (210 mm×297 mm) sized area of the transparent substrate was exposed in the mesh pattern20shown inFIG. 1. The exposure was carried out using a patterned photomask and a parallel light from a light source of a high-pressure mercury lamp.

The exposed photosensitive material was treated with the above treatment agents using an automatic processor FG-710PTS manufactured by FUJIFILM Corporation under the following conditions. A development treatment was carried out at 35° C. for 30 seconds, a fixation treatment was carried out at 34° C. for 23 seconds, and then a water washing treatment was carried out for 20 seconds at a water flow rate of 5 L/min.

In the conductive film produced in Example 1, the thin metal wires16had an inclination (an angle θ between the first thin metal wire16aand the imaginary line24extending in the opening18in the horizontal direction to connect a plurality of intersection points in the mesh pattern20) of 30°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 2 to 6

The conductive films of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were produced in the same manner as Example 1 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, 260, 300, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film produced in Example 7, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 36°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 8 to 12

The conductive films of Examples 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 were produced in the same manner as Example 7 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, 260, 300, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film produced in Example 13, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 37°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 14 to 18

The conductive films of Examples 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 were produced in the same manner as Example 13 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, 260, 300, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film produced in Example 19, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 39°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 20 to 24

The conductive films of Examples 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 were produced in the same manner as Example 19 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, 260, 300, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film produced in Example 25, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 40°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 26 to 30

The conductive films of Examples 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 were produced in the same manner as Example 25 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, 260, 300, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film produced in Example 31, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 44°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 32 to 36

The conductive films of Examples 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 were produced in the same manner as Example 31 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, 260, 300, and 400 μm respectively.

Comparative Example 1

In the conductive film produced in Comparative Example 1, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 29°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Comparative Examples 2 and 3

The conductive films of Comparative Examples 2 and 3 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 1 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 300 and 400 μm respectively.

Comparative Example 4

In the conductive film produced in Comparative Example 4, the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 45°, a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Comparative Examples 5 and 6

The conductive films of Comparative Examples 5 and 6 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 4 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 300 and 400 μm respectively.

(Calculation of Opening Ratio)

The transmittances of the conductive films of Comparative Examples 1 to 6 and Examples 1 to 36 were measured by a spectrophotometer, and the opening ratios were proportionally calculated to evaluate the transparencies.

Each of the conductive films of Comparative Examples 1 to 6 and Examples 1 to 36 was attached to the display panel58of the display device30, the display device30was fixed to a turntable, and the display device30was operated to display a white color. The moire of the conductive film was visually observed and evaluated while turning the turntable within a bias angle range of −20° to +20°. The display device30had a horizontal pixel pitch Ph and a vertical pixel pitch Pv of about 192 μm. Pavilion Notebook PC dmla (11.6-inch glossy liquid crystal display, WXGA/1366×768) manufactured by Hewlett-Packard Company was used in this evaluation.

The moire was observed at a distance of 0.5 m from the display screen of the display device30. The conductive film was evaluated as “Excellent” when the moire was not visible, as “Fair” when the moire was slightly visible to an acceptable extent, or as “Poor” when the moire was highly visible. In the overall evaluation, each conductive film was evaluated as “A”, “B”, “C”, or “D”. A means that the film was evaluated as Excellent in an angular range of 10° or more, B means that the film was evaluated as Excellent in an angular range of less than 10°, C means that the film was not evaluated as Excellent at any angle and was evaluated as Poor in an angular range of less than 30°, and D means that the film was not evaluated as Excellent at any angle and was evaluated as Poor in an angular range of 30° or more.

As shown in Tables 3 and 4, the conductive films of Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were evaluated as D, and had highly visible moire. Of Examples 1 to 36, in Examples 1, 4 to 7, 25, 28 to 31, and 34 to 36, the moire was only slightly visible to an acceptable extent. In the other Examples, Examples 2, 3, 10 to 13, 16 to 19, 22 to 24, 26, 27, 32, and 33 were desirable because the moire was hardly generated. In particular, in Examples 8, 9, 14, 15, 20, and 21, the moire generation was not observed because the thin metal wires16had an inclination of 36° to 39° and a thin wire pitch Ps of 220 to 240 μm.

Projected capacitive touch panels50were produced using the conductive films of Examples 1 to 36 respectively. When the touch panels50were operated by a finger touch, they exhibited high response speeds and excellent detection sensitivities. Furthermore, when two or more points were touched, the touch panels50exhibited the same excellent properties. Thus, it was confirmed that the touch panels50were capable of multi-touch detection.

Second Example

In Second Example, conductive film stacks54of Comparative Examples 11 to 16 and Examples 41 to 100 were produced respectively. The opening ratio of each conductive film stack54was calculated, and the moire of each conductive film stack54was evaluated. The components, calculation results, and evaluation results of Comparative Examples 11 to 16 and Examples 41 to 100 are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

Examples 41 to 100 and Comparative Examples 11 to 16

A roll photosensitive silver halide material was prepared in the same manner as First Example.

An A4 (210 mm×297 mm) sized area of the first transparent substrate12A was exposed in the pattern of the first conductive film10A shown inFIGS. 7 and 9, and an A4 sized area of the second transparent substrate12B was exposed in the pattern of the second conductive film10B shown inFIGS. 7 and 13. The exposure was carried out using patterned photomasks and a parallel light from a light source of a high-pressure mercury lamp.

The exposed photosensitive material was treated with the above treatment agents of First Example using an automatic processor FG-710PTS manufactured by FUJIFILM Corporation under the following conditions. A development treatment was carried out at 35° C. for 30 seconds, a fixation treatment was carried out at 34° C. for 23 seconds, and then a water washing treatment was carried out for 20 seconds at a water flow rate of 5 L/min.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 41, the small lattices70in the first conductive part14A of the first conductive film10A and the second conductive part14B of the second conductive film10B had an angle θ of 30° between the first side70a(seeFIG. 10) and the first direction (the x direction), a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 42 to 44

The conductive film stacks of Examples 42, 43, and 44 were produced in the same manner as Example 41 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 45, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 32° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 46 to 48

The conductive film stacks of Examples 46, 47, and 48 were produced in the same manner as Example 45 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 49, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 36° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 50 to 52

The conductive film stacks of Examples 50, 51, and 52 were produced in the same manner as Example 49 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 53, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 37° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 54 to 56

The conductive film stacks of Examples 54, 55, and 56 were produced in the same manner as Example 53 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 57, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 39° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 58 to 60

The conductive film stacks of Examples 58, 59, and 60 were produced in the same manner as Example 57 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 61, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 40° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 62 to 64

The conductive film stacks of Examples 62, 63, and 64 were produced in the same manner as Example 61 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 65, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 44° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 66 to 68

The conductive film stacks of Examples 66, 67, and 68 were produced in the same manner as Example 65 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 69, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 45° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 70 to 72

The conductive film stacks of Examples 70, 71, and 72 were produced in the same manner as Example 69 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 73, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 46° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 74 to 76

The conductive film stacks of Examples 74, 75, and 76 were produced in the same manner as Example 73 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 77, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 50° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 78 to 80

The conductive film stacks of Examples 78, 79, and 80 were produced in the same manner as Example 77 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 81, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 51° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 82 to 84

The conductive film stacks of Examples 82, 83, and 84 were produced in the same manner as Example 81 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 85, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 53° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 86 to 88

The conductive film stacks of Examples 86, 87, and 88 were produced in the same manner as Example 85 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 89, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 54° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 90 to 92

The conductive film stacks of Examples 90, 91, and 92 were produced in the same manner as Example 89 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 93, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 58° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 94 to 96

The conductive film stacks of Examples 94, 95, and 96 were produced in the same manner as Example 93 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 97, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 60° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 98 to 100

The conductive film stacks of Examples 98, 99, and 100 were produced in the same manner as Example 97 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

Comparative Example 11

In the conductive film stack produced in Comparative Example 11, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 29° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Comparative Examples 12 and 13

The conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 12 and 13 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 11 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 300 and 400 μm respectively.

Comparative Example 14

In the conductive film stack produced in Comparative Example 14, the small lattices70had an angle θ of 61° between the first side70aand the first direction, a side length of 200 μm, and a line width of 6 μm.

Comparative Examples 15 and 16

The conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 15 and 16 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 14 except that the small lattices70had side lengths of 300 and 400 μm respectively.

The opening ratio calculation and the moire evaluation of the conductive film stacks were carried out in the same manner as First Example. The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

Projected capacitive touch panels50were produced using the conductive film stacks54of Examples 41 to 100 respectively. When the touch panels50were operated by a finger touch, they exhibited high response speeds and excellent detection sensitivities. Furthermore, when two or more points were touched, the touch panels50exhibited the same excellent properties. Thus, it was confirmed that the touch panels50were capable of multi-touch detection.

Third Example

In Third Example, conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 21 to 26 and Examples 101 to 160 were produced respectively. The opening ratio of each conductive film stack was calculated, and the moire of each conductive film stack was evaluated. The components, calculation results, and evaluation results of Comparative Examples 21 to 26 and Examples 101 to 160 are shown in Tables 7 and 8.

Examples 101 to 160 and Comparative Examples 21 to 26

A roll photosensitive silver halide material was prepared in the same manner as First Example.

An A4 (210 mm×297 mm) sized area of the first transparent substrate12A was exposed in the pattern of the first conductive film10A shown inFIGS. 7 and 9, and an A4 sized area of the second transparent substrate12B was exposed in the pattern of the second conductive film10B shown inFIGS. 7 and 13. The exposure was carried out using patterned photomasks and a parallel light from a light source of a high-pressure mercury lamp.

The exposed photosensitive material was treated with the above treatment agents of First Example using an automatic processor FG-710PTS manufactured by FUJIFILM Corporation under the following conditions. A development treatment was carried out at 35° C. for 30 seconds, a fixation treatment was carried out at 34° C. for 23 seconds, and then a water washing treatment was carried out for 20 seconds at a water flow rate of 5 L/min.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 101, the first large lattices68A in the first conductive part14A of the first conductive film10A had an aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of 0.5773, the second large lattices68B in the second conductive part14B of the second conductive film10B had an aspect ratio (Lvb/Lhb) of 0.5773, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 102 to 104

The conductive film stacks of Examples 102, 103, and 104 were produced in the same manner as Example 101 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 105, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.6248, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 106 to 108

The conductive film stacks of Examples 106, 107, and 108 were produced in the same manner as Example 105 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 109, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.7266, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 110 to 112

The conductive film stacks of Examples 110, 111, and 112 were produced in the same manner as Example 109 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 113, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.7535, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 114 to 116

The conductive film stacks of Examples 114, 115, and 116 were produced in the same manner as Example 113 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 117, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.8098, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 118 to 120

The conductive film stacks of Examples 118, 119, and 120 were produced in the same manner as Example 117 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 121, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.8391, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 122 to 124

The conductive film stacks of Examples 122, 123, and 124 were produced in the same manner as Example 121 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 125, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.9657, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 126 to 128

The conductive film stacks of Examples 126, 127, and 128 were produced in the same manner as Example 125 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 129, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.0000, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 130 to 132

The conductive film stacks of Examples 130, 131, and 132 were produced in the same manner as Example 129 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 133, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.0356, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 134 to 136

The conductive film stacks of Examples 134, 135, and 136 were produced in the same manner as Example 133 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 137, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.1917, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 138 to 140

The conductive film stacks of Examples 138, 139, and 140 were produced in the same manner as Example 137 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 141, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.2349, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 142 to 144

The conductive film stacks of Examples 142, 143, and 144 were produced in the same manner as Example 141 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 145, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.3271, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 146 to 148

The conductive film stacks of Examples 146, 147, and 148 were produced in the same manner as Example 145 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 149, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.3763, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 150 to 152

The conductive film stacks of Examples 150, 151, and 152 were produced in the same manner as Example 153 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 153, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.6004, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 154 to 156

The conductive film stacks of Examples 154, 155, and 156 were produced in the same manner as Example 149 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 157, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.7321, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 158 to 160

The conductive film stacks of Examples 158, 159, and 160 were produced in the same manner as Example 157 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 220, 240, and 400 μm respectively.

Comparative Example 21

In the conductive film stack produced in Comparative Example 21, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 0.5543, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Comparative Examples 22 and 23

The conductive film stacks of Comparative Example 22 and 23 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 21 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 300 and 400 μm respectively.

Comparative Example 24

In the conductive film stack produced in Comparative Example 24, the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B had an aspect ratio of 1.8040, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Comparative Examples 25 and 26

The conductive film stacks of Comparative Example 25 and 26 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 24 except that the thin metal wires16had thin wire pitches Ps of 300 and 400 μm respectively.

The opening ratio calculation and the moire evaluation of the conductive film stacks were carried out in the same manner as First Example. The results are shown in Tables 7 and 8.

As shown in Tables 7 and 8, the conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 21 to 26 were evaluated as D, and had highly visible moire. Of Examples 101 to 160, in Examples 101, 104, 121, 124, 125, 128 to 133, 136, 137, 140, 157, and 160, the moire was only slightly visible to an acceptable extent. In the other Examples, Examples 102, 103, 105, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 120, 122, 123, 126, 127, 134, 135, 138, 139, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 152, 153, 156, 158, and 159 were desirable because the moire was hardly generated. In particular, in Examples 106, 107, 110, 111, 114, 115, 118, 119, 142, 143, 146, 147, 150, 151, 154, and 155, the moire generation was not observed because the aspect ratio of the first large lattices68A and the second large lattices68B was more than 0.62 and less than 0.81, or more than 1.23 and less than 1.61, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 220 μm or 240 μm.

Projected capacitive touch panels50were produced using the conductive film stacks54of Examples 101 to 160 respectively. When the touch panels50were operated by a finger touch, they exhibited high response speeds and excellent detection sensitivities. Furthermore, when two or more points were touched, the touch panels50exhibited the same excellent properties. Thus, it was confirmed that the touch panels50were capable of multi-touch detection.

Fourth Example

In Fourth Example, conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 31 to 36 and Examples 161 to 220 were produced respectively. The opening ratio of each conductive film stack was calculated, and the moire of each conductive film stack was evaluated. The components, calculation results, and evaluation results of Comparative Examples 31 to 36 and Examples 161 to 220 are shown in Tables 9 and 10.

Examples 161 to 220 and Comparative Examples 31 to 36

The conductive film stacks were produced and evaluated in the same manner as Third Example except that the first conductive film110A was exposed in the pattern shown inFIG. 19and the second conductive film110B was exposed in the pattern shown inFIG. 20. The aspect ratio of the rhombus formed between the two first upper bases126A arranged in the horizontal direction was considered as the aspect ratio of the first large lattice118A in the first conductive part114A of the first conductive film110A, and the aspect ratio of the rhombus formed between the two horizontally extending corners was considered as the aspect ratio of the second large lattice118B in the second conductive part114B of the second conductive film110B.

In the conductive film stack produced in Example 161, the first large lattices118A in the first conductive part114A of the first conductive film110A had an aspect ratio (Lva/Lha) of 0.5773, the second large lattices118B in the second conductive part114B of the second conductive film110B had an aspect ratio (Lvb/Lhb) of 0.5773, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 200 μm and a line width of 6 μm.

Examples 162 to 220 and Comparative Examples 31 to 36

The conductive film stacks of Examples 162 to 220 were produced in the same manner as Examples 102 to 160 of Third Example respectively. The conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 31 to 36 were produced in the same manner as Comparative Examples 21 to 26 of Third Example respectively.

As shown in Tables 9 and 10, the conductive film stacks of Comparative Examples 31 to 36 were evaluated as D, and had highly visible moire. Of Examples 161 to 220, in Examples 161, 181, 184, 185, 188, 189, 192, 193, 200, 217, and 220, the moire was only slightly visible to an acceptable extent. In the other Examples, Examples 162 to 165, 168, 169, 172, 173, 176, 177, 180, 182, 183, 186, 187, 190, 191, 194 to 199, 201, 204, 205, 208, 209, 212, 213, 216, 218, and 219 were desirable because the moire was hardly generated. In particular, in Examples 166, 167, 170, 171, 174, 175, 178, 179, 202, 203, 206, 207, 210, 211, 214, and 215, the moire generation was not observed because the aspect ratio of the first large lattices118A and the second large lattices118B was more than 0.62 and less than 0.81, or more than 1.23 and less than 1.61, and the thin metal wires16had a thin wire pitch Ps of 220 μm or 240 μm.

Projected capacitive touch panels50were produced using the conductive film stacks104of Examples 161 to 220 respectively. When the touch panels50were operated by a finger touch, they exhibited high response speeds and excellent detection sensitivities. Furthermore, when two or more points were touched, the touch panels50exhibited the same excellent properties. Thus, it was confirmed that the touch panels50were capable of multi-touch detection.

It is to be understood that the conductive film and the display device of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention.