Patent Publication Number: US-2016239130-A1

Title: Touch panel and touch display device using the same

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 104105314, filed Feb. 16, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates in general to a touch panel and a touch display device using the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the development of technology, touch display devices have been widely used in mobile phones, tablet PCs, notebook computers and other electronic devices. In order to facilitate devices carrying, such electronic devices are manufactured thinner and lighter. However, the inner traces have been more complicated with the more functions of the electronic devices, such that signals may disturb each other or the electrostatic discharge (ESD) may be occurred. Therefore, effectively solving the problems mentioned above in the limited spaces has been a main goal in the technical field. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure is directed to a touch panel and a touch display device using the same. The signals disturbing between the adjacent traces or the electrostatic discharge resulting from the electrostatic accumulation in the end points of the traces may be effectively solved by the design of the inner traces. 
     According to one embodiment, a touch panel including a first substrate and a touch electrode layer is provided. The first substrate has a touch area and a trace area outside the touch area. The touch electrode layer is disposed on the first substrate and includes a plurality of touch electrodes and a first trace. The touch electrodes are disposed on the touch area. The first trace has a trace portion disposed on the trace area, a contact portion disposed on the touch area, and a connecting portion. The contact portion is electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes. The connecting portion has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the trace portion and the second end is connected to the contact portion. A first width of the first end is smaller than a second width of the second end. 
     According to another embodiment, a touch display device including a first substrate, an array layer disposed on the first substrate, a display medium layer disposed on the array layer, a second substrate disposed on the display medium layer, a protection layer disposed on the second substrate, and a touch electrode layer disposed between the protection layer and the first substrate is provided. The touch electrode layer includes a plurality of touch electrodes disposed on a touch area, and a first trace. The first trace has a trace portion disposed on a trace area outside the touch area, a contact portion disposed on the touch area and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes, and a connecting portion having a first end connected to the trace portion and a second end connected to the contact portion. A first width of the first end is smaller than a second width of the second end. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the touch panel in one embodiment according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an enlarged schematic diagram of area A in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of the touch panel in another embodiment according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a top view of the touch panel in still another embodiment according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3D  respectively illustrate the cross-section view of the touch display devices in the embodiments according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C  respectively illustrate the cross-section view of the touch display devices in the embodiments according to the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments are described in details with reference to the accompanying drawings. The identical elements of the embodiments are designated with the same reference numerals. Also, it is important to point out that the illustrations may not be necessarily drawn to scale, and that there may be other embodiments of the present disclosure which are not specifically illustrated. Thus, the specification and the drawings are regarded as an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the touch panel  100  in one embodiment according to the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the touch panel  100  includes a first substrate  10  and a touch electrode layer  20 . The first substrate  10  has a touch area  11  and a trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . In this embodiment, the trace area  12  is disposed on the periphery of the touch area  11 . The touch electrode layer  20  is disposed on the first substrate  10  and includes a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are in the touch area  11 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates an enlarged schematic diagram of area A in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , the first trace  21  of the touch panel  100  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . 
     In this embodiment, the first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1  and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . For example, the trace portion  201  is extended along a first direction (X-direction) in  FIG. 2A . The first width W 1  is such as a width of the first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  perpendicular to the first direction (along Y-direction), the second width W 2  is such as a width of the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  along the first direction (X-direction), and the first width W 1  is smaller than the second width W 2 . In more detail, a projection of the second end  232  on the first substrate  10  may overlap a portion of the edge of the touch electrodes  111  connected to the first trace  21 . 
     Besides, the connecting portion  203  in the embodiment according to the disclosure has a first side  2031  and a second side  2032 . The first side  2031  is a curve having a first curvature, and the second side  2032  may also be a curve having a second curvature different from the first curvature. Here, the first curvature is defined as an average curvature of the points on the first side  2031 , and the second curvature is defined as an average curvature of the points on the second side  2032 . For example, the first curvature may larger than the second curvature in the embodiment of the disclosure, such that the widths of the connecting portion  203  from the first end  231  to the second end  232  may be increasing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , a width of the trace portion  201  of the first trace  21  perpendicular to the first direction (along Y-direction) is substantially the same as the first width W 1 . A maximum width of the contact portion  202  perpendicular to the first direction (along Y-direction) is a third width W 3 . A maximum width of the first trace  21  perpendicular to the first direction (along Y-direction) is a fourth width W 4 . The first width W 1  is smaller than the third width W 3 , and the third width W 3  is smaller than the fourth width W 4 . 
     In this embodiment, the touch electrode layer  20  of the touch panel  100  further includes a second trace  22  disposed on the first substrate  10  and adjacent to the first trace  21 . Besides, the structure of the second trace  22  is similar to the structure of the first trace  21 , which would not be narrated herein. As shown in  FIG. 2A , a minimum distance W 5  between the contact portion  202  of the first trace  21  and the second trace  22  is larger than a minimum distance W 6  between the trace portion  201  of the first trace  21  and the second trace  22 . 
     Since two ends (first end  231  and second end  232 ) of the connecting portion  203  have different first width W 1  and second width W 2 , and the first width W 1  is smaller than the second width W 2 , when the signal is transferred from the trace portion  201  to the contact portion  202  via the connecting portion  203  of the first trace  21 , the junction resistance would be smaller. 
     Further, since the first side  2031  and the second side  2032  of the connecting portion  203  are curves, it may be effectively prevented from the electrostatic discharge (ESD) resulting from the electrostatic accumulation. 
     Furthermore, since the minimum distance W 5  between the contact portion  202  of the first trace  21  and the second trace  22  is larger than the minimum distance W 6  between the trace portion  201  of the first trace  21  and the second trace  22 , it may be effectively prevented the contact portion  202  of the first trace  21  from being disturbed by the adjacent trace (second trace  22 ). 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of the touch panel  100 ′ in another embodiment according to the disclosure. Similar to the structure shown in  FIG. 2A , the touch electrode layer of the touch panel  100 ′ includes a first trace  21 , and the first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202 , and a connecting portion  203 ′. The connecting portion  203 ′ has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , the first end  231  of the connecting portion  203 ′ has a first width W 1 , the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203 ′ has a second width W 2 , and the first width W 1  is smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     The connecting portion  203 ′ in the embodiment according to the disclosure has a first side  2033  and a second side  2034 . It is different from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A  that the first side  2033  is a curve having a first curvature, while the second side  2034  is a polygonal line. Similarly, the first curvature is defined as an average curvature of the points on the first side  2033 . The description of other elements similar to the touch panel  100  shown in  FIG. 2A  would be omitted herein. It should be noted that the second side  2034  may be a straight line in another embodiment. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a top view of the touch panel  100 ″ in still another embodiment according to the disclosure. Similar to the structure shown in  FIG. 2A , the touch electrode of the touch panel  100 ″ includes a first trace  21 , and the first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202 , and a connecting portion  203 ″. The connecting portion  203 ″ has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2C , the first end  231  of the connecting portion  203 ″ has a first width W 1 , the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203 ″ has a second width W 2 , and the first width W 1  is smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     The connecting portion  203 ″ in the embodiment according to the disclosure has a first side  2035  and a second side  2036 . It is different from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A  that the first side  2035  is a straight line, and the second side  2036  may be a polygonal line. 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2C , the contact portions  202  are illustrated as rectangles, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The shape of the contact portion  202  may be determined by the configuration of the touch panel. Besides, when the contact portion  202  is rectangular, the four corner of the contact portion  202  may be round corners to prevent from the electrostatic discharge (ESD). 
     Besides, the traces disposed on the touch electrode layer  20  (such as the first trace  21  and the second trace  22 ) may be formed by inkjet printing, screen printing or photolithography. 
     The touch panels in the embodiments above may be applied to various touch display devices.  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3D  respectively illustrate the cross-section view of the touch display devices  1  to  4  in the embodiments according to the disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , the touch display device  1  may be such as an out-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  31 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  33 , a second substrate  32 , a protection layer  500  and a touch electrode layer  102 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  31 . The display medium layer  33  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  32  is disposed on the display medium layer  33 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  32 . The touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between the protection layer  500  and the first substrate  31 . In this embodiment, the touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between the protection layer  500  and the second substrate  32 . 
     The touch electrode layer  102  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . The touch electrode layer  102  in the embodiment according to the disclosure may include electrodes Tx and Rx arranged along different directions. Therefore, the touch electrode layer  102  may be stacked electrodes Tx, Rx or coplanar electrodes Tx, Rx. 
     In this embodiment, the protection layer  500  may be such as a cover glass, the first substrate  31  may be such as an array substrate, the second substrate  32  may be such as a color filter substrate, and the display medium layer  33  may be such as a liquid crystal layer. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the touch display device  2  may be such as an out-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  31 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  33 , a second substrate  32 , a protection layer  500 , a first touch electrode layer  1021 , and a second touch electrode layer  1022 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  31 . The display medium layer  33  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  32  is disposed on the display medium layer  33 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  32 . In this embodiment, the first touch electrode layer  1021  is disposed between the second substrate  32  and the display medium layer  33 , the second touch electrode layer  1022  is disposed between the second substrate  32  and the protection layer  500 , and the second substrate  32  may be a thin film. 
     The first touch electrode layer  1021  and the second touch electrode layer  1022  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . The first touch electrode layer  1021  and the second touch layer  1022  in the embodiment according to the disclosure may include electrodes Tx and Rx arranged along different directions. 
     In this embodiment, the touch display device  2  may further include a color filter substrate  34  disposed between the display medium layer  33  and the first touch electrode  1021 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3C , the touch display device  3  may be such as an out-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  31 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  33 , a second substrate  32 , a protection layer  500 , a first touch electrode layer  1021 , and a second touch electrode layer  1022 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  31 . The display medium layer  33  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  32  is disposed on the display medium layer  33 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  32 . The first touch electrode layer  1021  is disposed between the second substrate  32  and the display medium layer  33 , the second touch electrode layer  1022  is disposed between the second substrate  32  and the protection layer  500 , and the second substrate  32  may be a thin film. 
     In this embodiment, the touch display device  3  may further include a third substrate  35  disposed between the first touch electrode layer  1021  and the display medium layer  33 , and the third substrate  35  may be a thin film similar to the second substrate  32 . Besides, the first touch electrode layer  1021  and the second touch electrode layer  1022  may respectively include electrodes Tx and Rx arranged along different directions. 
     The first touch electrode layer  1021  and the second touch electrode layer  1022  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     Further, the touch display device  3  may include a color filter substrate  34  disposed between the display medium layer  33  and the third substrate  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3D , the touch display device  4  may be such as an on-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  31 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  36 , a second substrate  32 , a protection layer  500  and a touch electrode layer  102 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  31 . The display medium layer  36  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  32  is disposed on the display medium layer  36 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  32 . The touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between the protection layer  500  and the first substrate  31 . In this embodiment, the touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between the second substrate  32  and the display medium layer  36 . 
     The touch electrode layer  102  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     In this embodiment, the display medium layer  36  may be such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) layer, and the touch electrode layer  102  in the embodiment according to the disclosure may include electrodes Tx and Rx arranged along different directions. Therefore, the touch electrode layer  102  may be stacked electrodes Tx, Rx or coplanar electrodes Tx, Rx. 
       FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C  respectively illustrate the cross-section view of the touch display devices  5  to  7  in the embodiments according to the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the touch display device  5  may be such as an in-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  41 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  43 , a second substrate  42 , a protection layer  500  and a touch electrode layer  102 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  41 . The display medium layer  43  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  42  is disposed on the display medium layer  43 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  42 . The touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between display medium layer  43  and the first substrate  41 . 
     The touch electrode layer  102  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     In this embodiment, the protection layer  500  may be such as a cover glass, the first substrate  41  may be such as an array substrate, and the display medium layer  43  may be such as a liquid crystal layer. The touch electrode layer  102  in the embodiment according to the disclosure may include electrodes Tx and Rx arranged along different directions. Therefore, the touch electrode layer  102  may be stacked electrodes Tx, Rx or coplanar electrodes Tx, Rx. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the touch display device  6  may be such as an on-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  41 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  43 , a second substrate  42 , a protection layer  500  and a touch electrode layer  102 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  41 . The display medium layer  43  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  42  is disposed on the display medium layer  43 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  42 . The touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between protection layer  500  and the first substrate  41 . In this embodiment, the touch electrode layer  102  is disposed between protection layer  500  and the second substrate  42 . 
     The touch electrode layer  102  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     In this embodiment, the second substrate  42  may be such as a color filter substrate, and the display medium layer  43  may be such as a liquid crystal layer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4C , the touch display device  7  may be such as an hybrid in-cell touch display device, and include a first substrate  41 , an array layer (not shown), a display medium layer  43 , a second substrate  42 , a protection layer  500 , a first touch electrode layer  1021 , and a second touch electrode layer  1022 . The array layer is disposed on the first substrate  41 . The display medium layer  43  is disposed on the array layer. The second substrate  42  is disposed on the display medium layer  43 . The protection layer  500  is disposed on the second substrate  42 . In this embodiment, the first touch electrode layer  1021  is disposed between the protection layer  500  and the second substrate  42 , and the second touch electrode layer  1022  is disposed between the display medium layer  43  and the first substrate  41 . 
     The first touch electrode layer  1021  and the second touch electrode layer  1022  may have the structure similar to the touch electrode layer  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , and include a plurality of touch electrodes  111  and a first trace  21 . The touch electrodes  111  are disposed on the touch area  11 . The first trace  21  has a trace portion  201 , a contact portion  202  and a connecting portion  203 . The trace portion  201  is disposed on the trace area  12  outside the touch area  11 . The contact portion  202  is disposed on the touch area  11  and electrically connected to at least one of the touch electrodes  111 . The connecting portion  203  has a first end  231  and a second end  232 . The first end  231  is connected to the trace portion  201 , and the second end  232  is connected to the contact portion  202 . The first end  231  of the connecting portion  203  has a first width W 1 , and the second end  232  of the connecting portion  203  has a second width W 2  different from the first width W 1 . In one embodiment, the first width W 1  may be smaller than the second width W 2 . The first touch electrode layer  1021  and the second touch electrode layer  1022  in the embodiment according to the disclosure may include electrodes Tx and Rx arranged along different directions. 
     In this embodiment, the first substrate  41  of the touch display device  7  may be such as an array substrate, and the second substrate  42  of the touch display device  7  may be such as a color filter substrate. 
     Although the touch display devices  1  to  7  in the examples above includes the touch panel  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A , the disclosure is not limited thereto. Instead, the touch panel  100 ′ in  FIG. 2B  or the touch panel  100 ″ in  FIG. 2C  may also be applied to the touch display devices  1  to  7 . 
     Besides, the touch display devices  1  to  7  may respectively include a color filter layer (not shown in the Figures). The color filter layer may be disposed between the display medium ( 33 ,  34 ) and the second substrate ( 32 ,  42 ), or between the array layer and the display medium layer ( 33 ,  43 ). 
     As described in the embodiments above, since the connecting portion according to the disclosure has different widths, when the signal is transferred from the trace portion to the contact portion via the connecting portion, the junction resistance would be smaller. Further, the first side and the second side of the connecting portion may be curves, so that it may be effectively prevented from the electrostatic discharge (ESD) resulting from the electrostatic accumulation. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.