Abstract:
A touch display is disclosed including a display module, a polarizer disposed on the display module, and a plurality of touch electrodes at least partly coated on the polarizer, wherein the touch electrodes are formed by nano-silver. Since the touch electrodes formed by nano-silver is employed in the display, a multifunctional touch display is provided. A method for making the touch display is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority of China Patent Application No. CN 201310410710.7, filed on Sep. 9, 2013, and the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to displays, and more particularly relates to a touch display and a method for manufacturing the touch display. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Display is an output device for presentation of information and has been widely used. According to the different designs, the displays can be divided into a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma (PDP) displays, and so on. 
         [0006]    General electronic device often requires an output device and an input device to display electrical signals and receive operating instructions. Conventional display can only output electrical signals for the user, as for receiving operating instructions from the user, an additional input device (such as a mouse or a keyboard) is required. However, the incorporation of multiple devices with single feature will increase the complexity of the electronic device, and it is difficult to achieve light and thin. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present disclosure is directed to touch display which can both sense touch operations and present information. 
         [0009]    A touch display is provided including: a display module; a polarizer disposed on the display module; and a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes totally or partially integrated with the polarizer. 
         [0010]    A method for manufacturing the touch display is also provided, which includes: integrating total or partial plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes to a polarizer to form a touch polarizer; and attaching the touch polarizer to a display module. 
         [0011]    In the touch display, the touch electrode made of nano-silver is integrated into the display, such that the display has both displaying and touching features, and the structure is simplified, the light and thin feature is achieved, and occupied space is reduced. 
         [0012]    These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for manufacturing the touch display of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, perspective view of a nano-silver touch electrode shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic, plan view of a nano-silver touch electrode shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are described below The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
         [0023]    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,”“above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
         [0024]    The present disclosure is directed towards a touch display, which includes a display module, a polarizer disposed on the display module, and a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes. The plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes are totally or partially integrated with the polarizer. The polarizer may be directly or indirectly disposed on the display module. 
         [0025]    The present disclosure is also directed towards a method for manufacturing the touch screen, which includes but not limited to the following steps: integrating total or partial plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes to a polarizer to form a touch polarizer; and attaching the touch polarizer to a display module. “Touch polarizer” means a polarizer having a touch sensing capability. 
         [0026]    The invention will be described in further detail below in conjunction with the drawing. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of a touch display  100  includes a display module  10 , a polarizer  20  disposed on the display module  10 , a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  integrally formed with the polarizer  20 , and a cover plate  40  disposed on the polarizer  20 . The cover plate  40  is an optional component and can be omitted as long as the polarizer  20  has enough rigidness and is sufficient to protect subsequent molding components. The polarizer  20  includes a first protective layer  21 , a polarizer substrate  22 , and a second protective layer  23 , wherein the polarizer substrate  22  is sandwiched between the first protective layer  21  and the second protective layer  23 . 
         [0028]    The plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  can be divided into a plurality of first touch electrodes  31  paralleled arranged along a first direction and a plurality of second touch electrodes  32  paralleled arranged along a second direction. The first touch electrodes  31  are disposed on an upper surface of the first protective layer  21 , and the second touch electrodes  32  are disposed on an upper surface of the second protective layer  23 . The first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  are electrically insulated from each other via the polarizer substrate  22  and/or the second protective layer  23 . The first direction is unparallel to the second direction; preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
         [0029]    In the illustrated embodiment, a surface of the first protective layer  21  or the second protective layer  23  facing the cover plate  40  is defined as the upper surface, and a surface opposing the upper surface is defined as the lower surface. It should be understood that, as long as the first touch electrodes  31  are disposed on either of the upper or the lower surface of the first protective layer  21 , and the second protective layer  23  are disposed on either of the upper or the lower surface of the second protective layer  23 , the modifications or changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for manufacturing the touch display is shown. The method for manufacturing the touch display  100  may include but not limit to the following steps: 
         [0031]    Step S 101 , the first protective layer  21  is formed. 
         [0032]    Step S 102 , the plurality of first touch electrodes  31  are formed on the first protective layer  21 . 
         [0033]    Step S 103 , the second protective layer  23  is formed. 
         [0034]    Step S 104 , the plurality of second touch electrodes  32  are formed on the second protective layer  23 . 
         [0035]    Step S 105 , the polarizer substrate  22  is formed. 
         [0036]    Step S 106 , the first protecting layer  21  with the plurality of first touch electrodes  31 , the polarizer substrate  22 , and the second protecting layer  23  with the plurality of second touch electrodes  32  are attached together, thus forming the touch polarizer  20 . 
         [0037]    Step S 107 , the touch polarizer  20  is attached to the display module  10 . The attaching may be but not limited to bonding. In an alternative embodiment, the cover plate  40  is further attached to the touch polarizer  20  with the display module  10 . 
         [0038]    In a preferable embodiment, step S 101  and step S 102 ; step S 103  and step S 104 ; step S 105  may be independently performed and may not limited to the sequence shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, step S 103  and step S 104  may be performed prior to or at the same time as step S 101  and step S 102 ; step S 105  may also be performed prior to or at the same time as step S 101  and step S 102 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is schematic, perspective view of a nano-silver touch electrode shown in  FIG. 1 . Silver has good electrical conductivities, and the conductive film manufactured based on the nano-silver has a nano-level silver wire diameter, such that it has an excellent optical transmittance. Since nano-silver is easily to be oxidized when exposed to the air, a protective film may be employed to cover its surface. For example, a protective film  33  may be coated on the first touch electrodes  31 . The protective film  33  may be made of organic transparent materials, such as epoxy resin, polyimide or methyl methacrylate, etc. The protective film  33  may have a thickness of between about 80 nm to about 120 nm, whereby it can protect the nano-silver touch electrode from being oxidized. The protective film  33  may be omitted, as long as the nano-silver touch electrode itself has antioxidant properties. 
         [0040]    A method for manufacturing the nano-silver touch electrode may include: 
         [0041]    adding nano-silver to a solvent to form a nano-silver conductive compound; 
         [0042]    forming a nano-silver conductive film by wet coating the nano-silver conductive compound to a protective layer (i.e. the first protective layer  21  or the second protective layer  23 ); 
         [0043]    curing the nano-silver conductive film; 
         [0044]    forming a protective film (i.e. the protective film  33 ) on the nano-silver conductive film, which is optional; 
         [0045]    etching the nano-silver conductive film to form the plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes (i.e. the first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32 ). 
         [0046]    In the method described above, the wet coating may be spinning coating, roll to roll coating, or spray coating, etc. The etching technology may be a lithography etching process. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment of the touch display  200  includes a display module  10 , a polarizer  20  disposed on the display module  10 , and a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  integrally formed with the polarizer  20 . The polarizer  20  includes a first protective layer  21 , a polarizer substrate  22 , and a second protective layer  23 , wherein the polarizer substrate  22  is sandwiched between the first protective layer  21  and the second protective layer  23 . 
         [0048]    The plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  can be divided into a plurality of first touch electrodes  31  paralleled arranged along a first direction and a plurality of second touch electrodes  32  paralleled arranged along a second direction. The first touch electrodes  31  are disposed on one side (i.e. an upper surface) of the first protective layer  21 , and the second touch electrodes  32  are disposed on the other side (i.e. a lower surface) of the first protective layer  21 . The first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  are electrically insulated from each other via the polarizer substrate  22  and/or the second protective layer  23 . The first direction is unparallel to the second direction, preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
         [0049]    It should be understood that, other components will not be described in further details, since their manufacturing method or materials have already been described in the first embodiment. 
         [0050]    The manufacturing method of the touch display  200  is similar to that of  FIG. 2 , the difference is that, in step S 102 , the first touch electrodes  31  are formed on one side of the first protective layer  21 , in step S 104 , the second touch electrodes  32  are formed on the other side of the first protective layer  21 . Then the first protecting layer  21  with the plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30 , the polarizer substrate  22 , and the second protecting layer  23  are attached together in step S 106 , thus forming the touch polarizer  20 . 
         [0051]    It should be understood that, in alternative embodiments, the first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  of the nano-silver touch electrodes  30  may be formed on both sides of the second protective layer  23 , and other steps are similar to the first embodiment and will not be further described. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment of the touch display  300  includes a display module  10 , an optical film  50  disposed on the display module  10 , a polarizer  20  disposed on the optical film  50 , and a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  integrally formed with the polarizer  20 . The polarizer  20  includes a first protective layer  21 , a polarizer substrate  22 , and a second protective layer  23 , wherein the polarizer substrate  22  is sandwiched between the first protective layer  21  and the second protective layer  23 . 
         [0053]    The plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  can be divided into a plurality of first touch electrodes  31  paralleled arranged along a first direction and a plurality of second touch electrodes  32  paralleled arranged along a second direction. The first touch electrodes  31  are disposed on the optical film  50 , and the second touch electrodes  32  are disposed on the first protective layer  21  (i.e. an upper surface thereof). The first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  are electrically insulated from each other via first protective layer  21 . The first direction is unparallel to the second direction; preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
         [0054]    It should be understood that, in alternative embodiments, the second touch electrodes  32  may also be disposed on the second protective layer  23  (i.e. an upper surface or a lower surface thereof). Other components will not be described in further details, since their manufacturing method or materials have already been described in the first embodiment. 
         [0055]    The manufacturing method of the touch display  300  is similar to that of  FIG. 2 , the difference is that, in step S 102 , the first touch electrodes  31  are formed on the optical film  50 , in step S 104 , the second touch electrodes  32  are formed on the first protective layer  21  or the second protective layer  23 . Then the first protecting layer  21  or the second protecting layer  23  with the second touch electrodes  32  and the polarizer substrate  22  are attached together in step S 106 , thus forming the touch polarizer  20 . 
         [0056]    A step of forming the optical film  50  is further included in the manufacturing method, then the touch polarizer  20 , the optical film  50  with the first touch electrodes  31 , and the display module  10  are attached together to form the touch display  300 . Other steps are similar to the first embodiment and will not be further described. 
         [0057]    The optical film according the present embodiment may be a color filter which can accurately select small band light waves to be passed and reflect others undesired light waves, thus improving the optical properties of the touch display. Besides, the optical film  50  can also be optical compensation film, phase compensation plate, transreflective film, optical haze film or antireflection film. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment of the touch display  400  includes a display module  10 , a polarizer  20  disposed on the display module  10 , and a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  integrally formed with the polarizer  20 . The polarizer  20  includes a first protective layer  21 , a polarizer substrate  22 , and a second protective layer  23 , wherein the polarizer substrate  22  is sandwiched between the first protective layer  21  and the second protective layer  23 . 
         [0059]    The plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  30  can be divided into a plurality of first touch electrodes  31  paralleled arranged along a first direction and a plurality of second touch electrodes  32  paralleled arranged along a second direction. The first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  are disposed on the same side (i.e. the same upper surface or the same lower surface) of the second protective layer  23 . The touch display  400  further includes an insulating layer  60  disposed between the plurality of first touch electrodes  31  and the plurality of second touch electrodes  32 . The first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  are electrically insulated from each other via the insulating layer  60 . The first direction is unparallel to the second direction; preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
         [0060]    In alternative embodiments, the first touch electrodes  31  and the second touch electrodes  32  are disposed on the same side (i.e. the same upper surface or the same lower surface) of the first protective layer  21 . The insulating layer  60  may be made of polymer, i.e. polyimide, or inorganic materials, i.e. Si 3 N 4  or SiO 2 , etc. It should be understood that, other components will not be described in further details, since their manufacturing method or materials have already been described in the first embodiment. 
         [0061]    The manufacturing method of the touch display  400  is similar to that of  FIG. 2 , the difference is that, in step S 102 , the first touch electrodes  31  are formed on the second protective layer  23 , in step S 104 , the second touch electrodes  32  are formed on the insulating layer  60 . Then the first protecting layer  21 , the polarizer substrate  22 , and the second protecting layer  23  with the nano-silver touch electrodes  30  and are attached together in step S 106 , thus forming the touch polarizer  20 . 
         [0062]    It should be understood that, in alternative embodiments, the nano-silver touch electrodes  30  may be formed on the same side (i.e. the same upper surface or the same lower surface) of the first protective layer  21 . Other steps are similar to the first embodiment and will not be further described. 
         [0063]      FIG. 7  is a schematic, perspective view of a touch display according to a fifth embodiment. The fifth embodiment of the touch display  500  includes a display module  10 , a polarizer  20  disposed on the display module  10 , and a plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  70  integrally formed with the polarizer  20 . The polarizer  20  includes a first protective layer  21 , a polarizer substrate  22 , and a second protective layer  23 , wherein the polarizer substrate  22  is sandwiched between the first protective layer  21  and the second protective layer  23 . 
         [0064]    The plurality of nano-silver touch electrodes  70  can be divided into a plurality of first touch electrodes  71  paralleled arranged along a first direction and a plurality of second touch electrodes  72  paralleled arranged along a second direction. The first touch electrodes  71  and the second touch electrodes  72  are cross-arranged on the same side (i.e. the same upper surface or the same lower surface) of the first protective layer  21 . The touch display  500  further includes a plurality of isolating pads  80 . Each of the plurality of isolating pads  80  is disposed at an intersection of the cross-arranged first touch electrodes  71  and second touch electrodes  72 , such that the plurality of first touch electrodes  71  and the plurality of second touch electrodes  72  are electrically insulated from each other via the plurality of isolating pads  80  . The first direction is unparallel to the second direction; preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
         [0065]    In alternative embodiments, the first touch electrodes  71  and the second touch electrodes  72  are cross-arranged on the same side (i.e. the same upper surface or the same lower surface) of the second protective layer  23 . The isolating pad  80  may be made of polymer, i.e. polyimide, or inorganic materials, i.e. Si 3 N 4  or SiO 2 , etc. It should be understood that, other components will not be described in further details, since their manufacturing method or materials have already been described in the first embodiment. 
         [0066]      FIG. 8  is a schematic, plan view of a nano-silver touch electrode  70  shown in  FIG. 7 . Each first touch electrode  71  includes a plurality of first electrode areas  711  and a plurality of first wires  712 . Each first wire  712  is located between two adjacent first electrode areas  711  electrically connecting the two adjacent first electrode areas  711 . Each second touch electrode  72  includes a plurality of second electrode areas  721  and a plurality of second wires  722 . Each second wire  722  is located between two adjacent second electrode areas  721  electrically connecting the two adjacent second electrode areas  721 . An isolating pad  80  is disposed between the first wire  712  and the second wire  722  electrically isolating the first wire  712  and the second wire  722 . 
         [0067]    The manufacturing method of the touch display  500  is similar to that of  FIG. 2 , the difference is that, in step S 102 , the first touch electrodes  71 , which include the first electrode areas  711  and a plurality of first wires  712 , and the second electrode areas  721  of the second touch electrode  72  are formed on the first protective layer  21  simultaneously. In step S 104 , the second wires  722  of the second touch electrodes  72  are formed on the isolating pad  80 , and the second wire  722  electrically connects the two adjacent second electrode areas  721 , an extra step of forming the plurality of isolating pads  80  on the corresponding first wires  712 . Then the first protecting layer  21  with the nano-silver touch electrodes  70 , the polarizer substrate  22 , and the second protecting layer  23  are attached together in step S 106 , thus forming the touch polarizer  20 . 
         [0068]    It should be understood that, in alternative embodiments, the nano-silver touch electrodes  70  may be formed on the same side (i.e. the same upper surface or the same lower surface) of the second protective layer  23 . Other steps are similar to the first embodiment and will not be further described. 
         [0069]    In the present embodiments, the display module can be thin film field effect transistor module (TFT-LCD), light emitting diode display module (LED), field emission flat panel display module (FED), plasma flat panel display module (PDP) or organic films electroluminescent module (OLED) and so on. 
         [0070]    In the present embodiments, the polarizer is an optical filter that passes light of a specific polarization and blocks waves of other polarizations. It can filter the glare of light, reflected light, etc. according to the polarization characteristics, so that the light becomes polarization and soft, the text shown in the touch module thus becomes clear and sharp. The polarizer substrate can be made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The first protective layer and the second protective layer can be made of triacetate cellulose (TAC), which has a high light transmittance, good water resistance, and good mechanical strength, such that it can support and protect the polarizer substrate. 
         [0071]    In the present embodiments, similar to the first embodiment, a cover plate  40  may be additionally disposed on the polarizer  20 . The cover plate  40  can be omitted as long as the polarizer  20  has enough rigidness and is sufficient to protect subsequent molding components. 
         [0072]    In the present embodiments, the shape of the nano-silver may be a strip-like pattern as in the first to the fourth embodiment, it can also be a diamond pattern as in the fifth embodiment, which is not limited to that. 
         [0073]    When the touch display according to the described embodiment is a capacitive touch display, the first touch electrode  31  and the second electrode  32  may form a touch capacitance therebetween, when be touched, the capacitance at the touch point will be changed, the touch position information can be determined by measuring the change of the capacitance. The touch display can be other type of touch displays, such as resistance type, which is not limited to that. 
         [0074]    In the touch display, the touch electrode made of nano-silver is integrated into the display, such that the display has both displaying and touching features, and the structure is simplified, light and thin feature is achieved, and occupied space is reduced. 
         [0075]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments thereof and the best modes for carrying out the present invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.