Patent Publication Number: US-2019179444-A1

Title: Touch panel and touch device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2018/072699, filed Jan. 15, 2018, which claims the priority benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201711343242.0, filed Dec. 12, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a display technology field, and more particularly to a touch panel and a touch device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Touch panel according to the working principle can be divided into two kinds of resistance and capacitance, the current capacitive touch panel applications in electronic products increasingly popular. Capacitive touch panel is the use of human body (finger) current sensing work, is a combination of electrodes and the human body to sense the touch signal touch panel. When a person touches the panel, a coupling capacitance is formed between the finger and the conductive layer of the touch panel due to the electric field of the human body. The current generated by the electrodes on the touch panel flows to the contacts, so that the position of the touch point can be accurately calculated. However, the structure of the existing touch panel is relatively simple, and the capacitance value is fixed. The capacitance of the touch panel is not compatible with the capacitance value of the touch driver chip in the market, which hinders the application of this type of touch panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure provides a touch panel, including: 
     a substrate;
 
a plurality of first electrode chains disposed on the substrate, the plurality of the first electrode chains arranged at intervals, each of the first electrode chains including a plurality of first electrodes;
 
a plurality of second electrode chains disposed on the substrate, each of the second electrode chains including a plurality of second electrodes, wherein the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain are insulated from each other and a gap region is provided between the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain, and a connecting portion is formed at the intersection of the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain; and
 
a plurality of floating electrodes disposed in the gap region, wherein the floating electrode is electrically insulated from the first electrode chain and the second electrode chain, respectively, for adjusting a mutual capacitance between the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain.
 
     Compared with the prior art, the touch panel of the present disclosure adjusts a mutual capacitance between the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain by providing the floating electrode in the gap region between the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain. The floating electrode is electrically insulated from the first electrode chain and the second electrode chain, respectively, for adjusting the mutual capacitance between the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain. Therefore, the mutual capacitance between the second electrode chain and the first electrode chain in the touch panel of the present disclosure is adjustable and is compatible with the touch driving chip in the market. 
     The present disclosure also provides a touch device. The touch device includes the touch panel as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To describe the structural features and effectiveness of the present disclosure more clearly, the following detailed description is accompanied with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structural diagram of the touch panel provided by Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a bridge structure of the touch panel according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3 ( a )  to  FIG. 3 ( c )  are schematic diagrams of the structure of the connecting portion of the touch panel according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  to  FIG. 8  are schematic structural diagrams of the floating electrode according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  to  FIG. 13  are schematic structural diagrams of the touch panel provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic structural diagram of the touch device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure are clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. 
     Reference herein to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those skilled in the art understand that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments. 
     In order to make the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the foregoing solutions are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a schematic structural diagram of the touch panel provided by Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The touch panel  10  includes a substrate (not shown); a plurality of first electrode chains  100  disposed on the substrate, the plurality of first electrode chains  100  spaced apart from each other, each of the first electrode chains  100  including a plurality of first electrodes  110 ; 
     a plurality of second electrode chains  200  disposed on the substrate, each of the second electrode chains  200  including a plurality of second electrodes  210 , wherein the second electrode chain  200  is insulated from the first electrode chain  100  and has a gap region between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 , and a connecting portion  1000  formed at the intersection of the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 ; and
 
a plurality of floating electrodes  300  disposed in the gap region are respectively electrically insulated from the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200  for adjusting the mutual capacitance between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 .
 
     The substrate is a transparent substrate, such as a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, or the like, and may be a flexible substrate. 
     Each floating electrode  300  includes a bar  301  parallel to the gap region and a plurality of protrusions  302  disposed on the bar  301 . The bar  301  includes a first surface  301   a  and a second surface  301   b  disposed oppositely. The protrusion  302  is disposed on at least one surface of the first surface  301   a  and the second surface  301   b  and is spaced apart from each other. 
     The connecting portion  1000  includes a first connecting portion  220  and a second connecting portion  120 , the first connecting portion  220  and the second connecting portion  120  are alternately and electrically insulated, the first connecting portion  220  is for connecting two adjacent first electrodes  110 , and the second connecting portion  120  is for connecting two adjacent second electrodes  210 . 
     Preferably, the first electrode  110  is a sensing electrode, and the second electrode  210  is a driving electrode. Or the first electrode  110  is a driving electrode and the second electrode  210  is a sensing electrode. 
     Each of the first electrode chains  100  includes a plurality of first electrodes  110  spaced apart from each other, and two adjacent first electrodes  110  are electrically connected by the first connecting portion  220 . Preferably, on the same first electrode chain  100 : the two adjacent first electrodes  110  may also be directly point-to-point connected. In this embodiment, the first connecting portion  220  is formed integrally with the first electrode chain  100  and patterned in a photomask during the manufacturing process. However, the width of the first connecting portion  220  is smaller than that of the first electrode chain  100 . 
     Each of the second electrode chains  200  includes a plurality of second electrodes  210  spaced apart and two adjacent second electrodes  210  electrically connected through the second connecting portion  120 . Preferably, on the same second electrode chain  200 : two adjacent second electrodes  210  may be connected by a bridge  2000 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Or may be electrically connected through other structures, which is not limited in the present application. 
     A plurality of second electrode chains  200  are disposed on the substrate. The second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100  are alternately insulated. A connecting portion  1000  are formed at the intersection of the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 . The connecting portion  1000  includes a first connecting portion  220  and a second connecting portion  120 . The first connecting portion  220  and the second connecting portion  120  are alternately and electrically insulated. The first connecting portion  220  is for connecting two adjacent first electrodes  110 , the second connecting portion  120  is for connecting the two adjacent second electrodes  210 . See  FIG. 3 ( a ) ,  FIG. 3 ( b )  and  FIG. 3 ( c ) . 
     The floating electrode  300  is electrically insulated from the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200 . There is a gap between the floating electrode  300  and the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200 . The gap between the floating electrode  300  and the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200  may also be filled with an insulating material, which is not limited herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 8  together.  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 8  show the structure of the floating electrode according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The floating electrode  300  includes a bar  301  and a plurality of protrusions  302 . The bar  301  includes a first surface  301   a  and a second surface  301   b  disposed oppositely. The protrusion  302  is disposed on at least one surface of the first surface  301   a  and the second surface  301   b , and is spaced apart from each other. Optionally, the number of the bars  301  may be one or more, and the number of the bars  301  is not limited herein. The outline of the protrusion  302  may be rectangular, diamond, triangle, arc or wavy, or may be a combination of the above structures, or may be other irregular structures, in this application, the outline of the protrusion  302  is not limited. Optionally, the protrusions  302  may be disposed only on the first surface  301   a  or only on the second surface  301   b , and may also be disposed on the first surface  301   a  and the second surface  301   b  at the same time, in this application, the installation surface of the protrusion  302  is not limited. In addition, the number of the protrusions  302  may be one, or may be multiple, as long as it does not violate the improvement of the present application, are considered to be eligible. 
     In an embodiment, the first electrode chain  100 , the second electrode chain  200  and the floating electrode  300  are disposed on the same layer and are made of the same material. As formed by the same transparent conductive material or metal material layer, so that it can be simultaneously formed by one patterning process, thereby simplifying the process. In another embodiment, one of the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200  is disposed in the same layer as the floating electrode  300  and is made of the same material, the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200  are disposed in different layers. One of the first electrode chains  100  and the second electrode chains  200  and the floating electrode  300  are disposed on the first layer on the substrate, and may be made of the same material while the other one of the first electrode chains  100  and the second electrode chains  200  is disposed on a second layer different from the first layer so that formation of the bridge  2000  connection structure described above may be avoided. 
     The first electrode  110  and/or the second electrode  210  is a block structure made of a transparent conductive material. The entire touch layer composed of the first electrode chain  100  and the second electrode chain  200  is a network structure. And may be formed in various shapes, such as a diamond shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, etc., which is not limited in the present disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, in the case where the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  have a diamond shape or a square shape, the adjacent first electrodes  110  in each of the first electrode chains  100  are electrically connected to each other in the first direction at the apexes of a rhombus shape or a square shape, the adjacent second electrodes  210  in each of the second electrode chains  200  are electrically connected to each other by the above-described bridge  2000  structure at the apexes of a diamond shape or a square shape in the second direction. 
     In the touch panel  10  provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the floating electrode  300  is disposed in the gap region between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 , each second electrode chain  200  includes a plurality of second electrodes  210 , each first electrode chain  100  includes a plurality of first electrodes  110 . The second electrode chain  200  is electrically insulated from the first electrode chain  100 , the floating electrode  300  is electrically insulated from the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 , respectively. The floating electrode  300  includes a bar  301  and a plurality of protrusions  302 . The bar  301  includes a first surface  301   a  and a second surface  301   b  disposed oppositely. The protrusion  302  is disposed on at least one surface of the first surface  301   a  and the second surface  301   b , and is spaced apart from each other. 
     The touch panel provided by the technical solution includes a floating electrode  300 , the floating electrode  300  includes a bar  301  and a plurality of protrusions  302 . The floating electrode  300  having the protrusion  302  has a large volume, a large dielectric capacity, and a large dielectric constant. The floating electrode  300  without the protrusion  302  has a small volume, a small dielectric capacity, and a small dielectric constant. The structure of such a floating electrode can be set by changing the mutual capacitance between the second electrode  210  and the first electrode  110  corresponding to the position of the protrusion  302  so as to achieve mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 . By mutual compensation between the capacitance values, the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100  is realized, which is easy to be compatible with the touch control driver chip in the market. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  is a schematic structural diagram of a touch panel provided in a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The touch panel provided in the second embodiment of the present disclosure has the same basic structure as the touch panel provided in the first embodiment, the same components in the touch panel provided in the second embodiment have the same functions as those in the touch panel provided in the first embodiment. The difference is that the first electrode  110  and/or the second electrode  210  of the touch panel provided in the second embodiment includes a plurality of spaced-apart grooves. The groove is disposed at an edge of the first electrode  110  and/or the second electrode  210  close to the gap region, and the protrusion  302  is disposed in the receiving space of the groove without contact with the edge of the first electrode  110  and/or the second electrode  210 . The width of the protrusion  302  is greater than the width of the bar  301 , the first capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  corresponding to the position of the protrusion  302  is smaller than the second capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  corresponding to the position of the bar  301 . Through the mutual compensation between the first capacitor and the second capacitor, the adjustment of the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is realized, so as to realize the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 . By mutual compensation between the capacitance values, the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100  is realized, which is easy to be compatible with the touch control driver chip in the market. 
     The protrusion  302  is optional disposed in the receiving space of the recess, and the protrusion  302  may also be disposed at a position facing the receiving space of the recess. In addition, the protrusion  302  may also be disposed at a position offset from the receiving space of the groove. The grooves may be provided only at the edge of the first electrode  110 , at the edge of the second electrode  210 , or at the edge of the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  at the same time. Optionally, the number of grooves may be one or more. This application does not limit the above optional solutions, so long as they do not violate the original intention of the application, they are considered to be eligible. 
     For example, when the groove  111  is disposed at the edge of the first electrode  110 , referring to  FIG. 9 , the groove  111  is disposed on the edge of the first electrode  110 . The protrusion  302  of the floating electrode  300  is disposed in the receiving space of the groove  111 . At this time, the distance between the bottom of the groove  111  and the end face of the second electrode  210  adjacent to the bar  301  is D 1 , D 1  can be regarded as a fixed value. The distance between the end surface of the protrusion  302  adjacent to the first electrode  110  and the end surface of the second electrode  210  adjacent to the bar  301  is d 1 , d 1  can be changed. Since D 1  is greater than d 1 , the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is small at the portion of the distance D 1 . At the distance d 1 , the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is larger. By increasing or decreasing d 1 , the ratio between the distance D 1  and the distance d 1  is adjusted and matched with each other to compensate each other. Since the protrusions  302  are arranged at intervals, a portion with a large capacitance value and a portion with a small capacitance value may form a mutual compensation effect. It is conducive to adjusting the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  so as to realize the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 . By mutual compensation between the capacitance values, the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100  is realized, which is easy to be compatible with the touch control driver chip in the market. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  is another schematic structural diagram of a touch panel provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. The groove  211  is disposed on the edge of the second electrode  210 . The protrusion  302  of the floating electrode  300  is disposed in the receiving space of the groove  211 . At this time, the maximum distance between the groove  211  and the first electrode  110  is D 2 , D 2  can be regarded as a fixed value, the minimum distance between the second electrode  210  and the edge portion of the first electrode  110  is d 2 , d 2  can be changed. Since D 2  is greater than d 2 , the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is small at the portion of the distance D 2 . In the region of the distance d 2 , the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is relatively large. By increasing or decreasing d 2 , it is used to adjust the ratio of the maximum distance D 2  to the minimum distance d 2  so as to match each other and compensate each other. 
     The protrusion  302  is disposed in the receiving space of the groove is optional, not necessarily to do so. Further, the protrusion  302  may also be disposed at a position facing the receiving space of the recess, not necessarily disposed in the receiving space of the recess. In addition, the protrusion  302  may also be disposed at a position offset from the receiving space of the groove. Optionally, the grooves may be disposed only on the edge of the second electrode  210 , the edge of the first electrode  110 , or the edge of the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210 . Optionally, the number of grooves may be one or more. This application does not limit the above optional solutions, so long as they do not violate the original intention of the application, they are considered to be eligible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  is still another schematic structural diagram of a touch panel provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. The first groove  112  is disposed on the edge of the first electrode  110 , the second groove  212  is disposed on the edge of the second electrode  210 . The protrusion  302  of the floating electrode  300  is disposed in the receiving space of the first groove  112  and the second groove  212 . At this time, the maximum distance between the first groove  112  and the second groove  212  is D 3 , and the minimum distance between the second electrode  210  and the edge portion of the first electrode  110  is d 3 . Since D 3  is greater than d 3 , the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is small at the distance D 3 , and the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is larger at the distance d 3 . By increasing or decreasing the maximum distance D 3  and the minimum distance d 3 , the ratio for adjusting the maximum distance D 3  and the minimum distance d 3  is matched with each other to compensate each other. Since the protrusions  302  are arranged at intervals, a portion with a large capacitance value and a portion with a small capacitance value may form a mutual compensation effect, which helps to adjust the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  and further realize the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 . By mutual compensation between the capacitance values, the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100  is realized, which is easy to be compatible with the touch control driver chip in the market. 
     The protrusion  302  disposed in the receiving space of the first groove  112  and the second groove  212  is optional, and it is not necessary to do so. Further, the protrusion  302  may also be disposed at a position facing the receiving space of the first groove  112  or the second groove  212  and not necessarily disposed in the receiving space of the first groove  112  or the second groove  212 . In addition, the protrusion  302  may also be disposed at a receiving space position that is offset from the first groove  112  or the second groove  212 . Optionally, the first groove  112  or the second groove  212  may be disposed at the edge of the second electrode  210  only or at the edge of the first electrode  110  only or at the edge of the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  at the same time. Optionally, the number of grooves may be one or more. This application does not limit the above optional solutions, so long as they do not violate the original intention of the application, they are considered to be eligible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  is another schematic structural diagram of a touch panel provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. The minimum distance between the protrusion  302  and the groove on the first electrode  110  or the second electrode  210  is marked as a first distance D, which is variable. The minimum distance between the bar  301  without the protrusion  302  and the first electrode or the second electrode is marked as the second distance d, which can be regarded as a fixed value. By increasing or decreasing the first distance D for adjusting the ratio of the first distance D and the second distance d to match each other and compensate each other. By mutual compensation between the first distance D and the second distance d, the adjustment of the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is achieved. 
     Further, since the first distance D is greater than the second distance d, the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  corresponding to the first distance D is smaller than the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  corresponding to the second distance d. The protrusions  302  are spaced apart, the first distance D is variable, the second distance d can be regarded as a fixed value. By increasing or decreasing the first distance D for adjusting the ratio of the first distance D and the second distance d to match each other and compensate each other. Since the capacitances formed between the first distance D and the second distance d adjacent to each other can have a mutual compensation effect so as to achieve the purpose of adjusting the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  so as to realize mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100 . By mutual compensation between the capacitance values, the mutual capacitance adjustment between the second electrode chain  200  and the first electrode chain  100  is realized, which is easy to be compatible with the touch control driver chip in the market. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 13  is still another schematic structural diagram of a touch panel provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. The facing area between the protrusion  302  and the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is referred to as a first facing area S 1 . The facing area between the bar  301 , the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  is referred to as a second facing area S 2 . The floating electrode  300  is cut open, where S 1  is the cross-sectional area of the protrusion  302 , S 2  is the cross-sectional area of the bar  301 , the first facing area S 1  can be changed, the second facing area S 2  can be regarded as a fixed value. By increasing or decreasing the first facing area S 1 , the ratio of the first facing area S 1  and the second facing area S 2  is adjusted and matched with each other to compensate each other. The mutual compensation between the first facing area S 1  and the second facing area S 2  can realize the adjustment of the capacitance between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210 . 
     Further, since the first facing area S 1  and the second facing area S 2  may be different, therefore, the capacitance values between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  corresponding to the first facing area S 1  are also different from the capacitance values between the first electrode  110  and the second electrode  210  corresponding to the second facing area S 2  while the protrusions  302  are arranged at intervals. The floating electrode  300  is cut open, where S 1  is the cross-sectional area of the protrusion  302 , S 2  is the cross-sectional area of the bar  301 . The first positive area S 1  can be varied, the second positive area S 2  can be regarded as a fixed value. By increasing or decreasing the first facing area S 1 , the ratio of the first facing area S 1  and the second facing area S 2  is adjusted and matched with each other to compensate each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 14  is a schematic structural diagram of a touch device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The touch device  1  includes a touch panel  10 . The touch panel  10  may be the touch panel  10  provided in any one of the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described herein again. The touch device  1  may be, but not limited to, an electronic book, a smart phone (such as an Android mobile phone, an iOS mobile phone, a Windows Phone mobile phone, etc.), a tablet, a palmtop computer, a laptop, a mobile Internet device (MID) or a wearable device. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail above. Specific examples are used herein to describe the principles and implementation manners of the present disclosure. The description of the foregoing embodiments is merely used to help understand the method and core idea of the present disclosure. Meanwhile, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the specific implementation manners and the application scope according to the idea of the present disclosure. To sum up, the contents of the description should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.