Patent Publication Number: US-11023061-B2

Title: Panel with multiple conductive patterns

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention generally relates to a panel and a manufacturing method thereof, specifically, to a panel whose manufacturing procedures are simplified and light reflection is improved, and a manufacturing method thereof. 
     Related Art 
     Touch panels may be classified into resistive touch panels, capacitive touch panels, optical touch panels, sound wave touch panels, electromagnetic touch panels, and the like, according to different sensing principles. Because capacitive touch panels have advantages such as short response time, high sensitivity, good reliability and high durability, the capacitive touch panels are widely used currently. 
     Touch lines of a capacitive touch panel mainly include drive lines (Tx) and sensing lines (Rx), which are respectively distributed on an entire panel horizontally and vertically in an intersecting and dense manner. The drive lines and sensing lines form a capacitor structure, and a touch position can be calculated according to a capacitance change caused by touch. 
     According to a composition manner, capacitive touch panels may be divided into an externally-attached type and a built-in type (integrated type). Externally-attached capacitive touch panels are generally made by first making touch lines on a touch substrate, and then attaching the touch substrate on which the touch lines have been made to an outer surface of a display. Built-in capacitive touch panels are generally made by integrating touch lines in a color filter substrate structure of a display. However, it is known that in the method of integrating touch lines in a color filter substrate structure, generally, additional light shield programs are needed after the metal lines are completed, to form a light shield layer, so as to improve the light reflection problem of the metal lines, and consequently, complexity and difficulty of manufacturing procedures are further raised. 
     Therefore, how to simplify manufacturing programs of touch lines and further solve the light reflection problem of metal lines at the same time is one of important research and development directions of touch panel designs. 
     SUMMARY 
     One of the objectives of the present invention lies in providing a panel and a manufacturing method thereof; according to one embodiment of the present invention, a mask pattern used in a patterning step is used as an insulation layer that isolates a bridging portion of adjacent conductive electrodes, so as to effectively simplify manufacturing steps of a touch line. 
     Another objective of the present invention lies in providing a panel and a manufacturing method thereof; according to one embodiment of the present invention, a mask pattern used in a patterning step is used as a light shield layer of a metal line, so as to effectively simplify manufacturing steps, save material costs, and improve light reflection of the metal line. 
     Another objective of the present invention lies in providing a panel and a manufacturing method thereof; according to one embodiment of the present invention, a metal layer of a peripheral circuit is used as a bridging portion of adjacent conductive electrodes to effectively reduce a resistance value. 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a panel, comprising: forming a first conductive pattern comprising a first portion and a second portion; forming a second conductive pattern connecting between the first portion and the second portion; and thermally treating a mask pattern of an insulation material to form an insulation pattern substantially covering a side surface of the second conductive pattern. 
     In an embodiment, the step of forming the second conductive pattern comprises: forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive pattern, to cover the first portion and the second portion; forming the mask pattern on the second conductive layer, the mask pattern defining the second conductive pattern; and etching the second conductive layer by using the mask pattern as a mask, to form the second conductive pattern. 
     In an embodiment, the etching the second conductive layer comprises wet-etching the second conductive layer, so that the second conductive pattern retracts relative to the mask pattern to form an undercutting space under the mask pattern. 
     In an embodiment, thermally treating the mask pattern comprises thermally reflowing the mask pattern to fill the undercutting space. 
     In an embodiment, the undercutting space is not filled up by the insulation material, to form at least one remaining space adjacent to a side edge of the insulation pattern and a side edge of the second conductive pattern. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a panel manufactured by using the foregoing method, wherein a horizontal distance between an outer side surface of the insulation pattern and an inner side surface adjacent to the second conductive pattern is less than 3 micrometers. 
     In an embodiment, the second conductive pattern comprises a first bridging portion connecting between the first portion and the second portion; the insulation pattern comprises a first insulation portion located on the first bridging portion and substantially covering a side surface of the first bridging portion; a horizontal distance between an outer side surface of the first insulation portion and an inner side surface adjacent to the first bridging portion is less than 3 micrometers; the panel further comprises a third conductive pattern comprising two first sensing portions, two second sensing portions, and a second bridging portion; the two first sensing portions are respectively electrically connected to the first portion and the second portion; the second bridging portion at least partially crosses over the first insulation portion; and the second bridging portion is connected to the two second sensing portions. In an embodiment, the first conductive pattern and the third conductive pattern comprise transparent conductive materials. 
     In an embodiment, the first conductive pattern further comprises a third portion and a fourth portion; the second conductive pattern further comprises a line portion connected to the third portion and the fourth portion; and the insulation pattern further comprises a second insulation portion located on the line portion and substantially covering a side surface of the line portion. In an embodiment, the third conductive pattern further comprises a connection portion and a pad portion; the connection portion is connected to the third portion and one of the two first sensing portions; and the pad portion is electrically connected to the fourth portion. 
     In an embodiment, the panel further comprises a third conductive pattern, wherein the first conductive pattern further comprises a third portion and a fourth portion; the third conductive pattern at least partially crosses over the insulation pattern, and the third conductive pattern is electrically connected to the third portion and the fourth portion. In an embodiment, the first conductive pattern comprises a transparent conductive material, and the third conductive pattern comprises a transparent conductive material or a metal material. 
     In an embodiment, the second conductive pattern comprises a first bridging portion connecting between the first portion and the second portion; the insulation pattern comprises a first insulation portion located on the first bridging portion and substantially covering a side surface of the first bridging portion; a horizontal distance between an outer side surface of the first insulation portion and an inner side surface adjacent to the first bridging portion is less than 3 micrometers; the first conductive pattern further comprises a connection portion and a first pad portion; the connection portion is connected to one of the first portion and the second portion; the second conductive pattern further comprises a line portion connected to the connection portion and the first pad portion; the insulation pattern further comprises a second insulation portion; the second insulation portion is located on the line portion and substantially covers a side surface of the line portion. 
     In an embodiment, the third conductive pattern comprises a second bridging portion; the second bridging portion at least partially crosses over the first insulation portion and is connected to the third portion and the fourth portion; and the third conductive pattern further comprises a second pad portion electrically connected to the first pad portion. In an embodiment, the first conductive pattern comprises a transparent conductive material, and the second conductive pattern comprises a metal material. 
     In an embodiment, the insulation pattern comprises a black photoresist material. 
     In an embodiment, at least one remaining space is formed adjacent to a side edge of the insulation pattern and a side edge of the second conductive pattern. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a panel of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2D  respectively are schematic sectional views along lines AA, BB, CC, and DD of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a panel of another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4D  respectively are schematic sectional views along lines AA, BB, CC, and DD of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5C , and  FIG. 5D  are schematic diagrams of a method for manufacturing a panel of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of a varied embodiment of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5E  is a schematic diagram of a varied embodiment of  FIG. 5D . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides a panel and a manufacturing method thereof, in particular, a panel whose manufacturing steps are effectively simplified and material costs are effectively saved and a manufacturing method thereof; according to one embodiment of the present invention, a mask pattern used in a patterning step is used as an insulation layer of a bridging portion of adjacent conductive electrodes and/or a light shield layer of a metal line, so as to effectively simplify manufacturing steps, save material costs, and improve light reflection of the metal line. Specifically, the panel of the present invention may be any panel that needs an insulation layer to isolate lines, for example, a touch panel, or a touch display panel that integrates touch and display functions, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Subsequently, details of a panel and a manufacturing method thereof of embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings by using a touch panel as an example. 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A-2D , a panel  1  comprises a first conductive pattern  110 , a second conductive pattern  120 , a third conductive pattern  130 , and an insulation pattern  140 . Specifically, the first conductive pattern  110  is located on a substrate  100 , which, for example, is an insulation substrate made of a polymer or glass, or a manufacturing substrate of any suitable phase in display panel manufacturing procedures, for example, a color array substrate. In this embodiment, the substrate  100  comprises a sensing area  101  and a peripheral circuit area  102 . The peripheral circuit area  102 , for example, surrounds the sensing area  101 . Touch lines are provided in the sensing area  101 , and fanout lines are provided in the peripheral circuit area  102 . 
     The first conductive pattern  110  may comprise a plurality of first portions  112  and a plurality of second portions  114 . For example, the plurality of first portions  112  and the plurality of second portions  114  are provided in pairs in the sensing area  101  of the substrate  100 . One first portions  112  and one second portions  114  constitute a pair. Each pair of the first portion  112  and the second portion  114  may be used as electric contacts of adjacent touch electrodes of a touch panel. In addition, the first conductive pattern  110  may further comprise a third portion  116  and a fourth portion  118 . The third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118  may be provided in the peripheral circuit area  102  as electric contacts of peripheral circuits of the panel. For example, the third portion  116  is used as an electric contact for a fan-out area of the panel, and the fourth portion  118  is used as an electric contact of a connection pad of the panel. The first conductive pattern  110  preferably is made by material comprising a transparent conductive material, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) or an indium zinc oxide (IZO). 
     The second conductive pattern  120  connects between the first portion  112  and the second portion  114 . Specifically, the second conductive pattern  120  is located on the substrate  100 , and may comprise a plurality of first bridging portions  122 . The plurality of first bridging portions  122  is located in the sensing area  101  of the substrate  100 , and one first bridging portion  122  is configured to connect between one pair of the first portion  112  and the second portion  114 . That is, the first bridging portion  122  is located between the corresponding first portion  112  and second portion  114 ; and preferably, two ends of the first bridging portion  122  are respectively partially covered on adjacent sides of the first portion  112  and the second portion  114  to be electrically connected to the first portion  112  and the second portion  114 . In addition, the second conductive pattern  120  further comprises a line portion  124 , configured to be connected to the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118 . For example, the line portion  124  is located in the peripheral circuit area  102  of the substrate  100 , and is used as a line that connects the electric contact of the fan-out area (that is, the third portion  116 ) to the electric contact of the connection pad (that is, the fourth portion  118 ). That is, the line portion  124  is located between the corresponding third portion  116  and fourth portion  118 ; and preferably, two ends of the line portion  124  are respectively partially covered on corresponding side edges of the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118  to be electrically connected to the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118 . The second conductive pattern  120 , for example, comprises a metal material, for example, copper, aluminum, titanium, molybdenum, silver, or gold, to reduce a resistance value of the bridging portion  122  that connects between adjacent electric contacts (for example,  112  and  114 ) or the line portion  124  connected to electric contacts (for example,  116  and  118 ). In other words, according to the present invention, by using a metal layer that forms peripheral circuits and is also used as a bridging portion that connects between electric contacts of adjacent touch electrodes, a resistance value of the bridging portion is effectively reduced in a case in which manufacturing procedures are not additionally added, and manufacturing steps are simplified. 
     The insulation pattern  140  is located on the second conductive pattern  120  and substantially covers a side surface of the second conductive pattern  120 , and a horizontal distance d between an outer side surface  142   a  of the insulation pattern  140  and an inner side surface  142   b  adjacent to the second conductive pattern  120  is less than about 3 micrometers. Specifically, the insulation pattern  140  may comprise a plurality of first insulation portions  142 , and each insulation portion  142  is located on the corresponding first bridging portion  122  and substantially covers a side surface of the first bridging portion  122 , to isolate electric contact between the first bridging portion  122  and subsequent other conductive layers. A horizontal distance between an outer side surface  142   a  of the first insulation portion  142  and an inner side surface  142   b  adjacent to the corresponding first bridging portion  122  is less than about 3 micrometers, and the first insulation portion  142  does not completely cover the first portion  112  and the second portion  114 , so that uncovered portions of the first portion  112  and the second portion  114  may be electrically connected to subsequent other conductive layers. 
     In addition, the insulation pattern  140  may further comprise a second insulation portion  144  located on the line portion  124  and substantially covering a side surface of the line portion  124 . A horizontal distance between an outer side surface of the second insulation portion  144  and an inner side surface adjacent to the line portion  124  may also be less than about 3 micrometers, and the second insulation portion  144  does not completely cover the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118 , so that uncovered portions of the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118  may be electrically connected to subsequent other conductive layers. The insulation pattern  140  preferably is formed by thermally treating a mask pattern of an insulation material used for patterning the second conductive pattern  120 , to simplify manufacturing steps and saving material costs (described in detail subsequently). In this embodiment, the insulation pattern  140 , for example, is a black photoresist material or an anti-reflection material. The anti-reflection material reduces light reflection by using light scatting or interference principles. The insulation pattern  140 , for example, made by a material including a pigment, a dye, carbon black, a carbon nanotube, titanium nitride, a quantum dot, and zirconia, but the present invention is not limited thereto, so that the insulation pattern  140  not only can be used as an insulation layer for the first bridging portion  122 , but also can be used as a light shield layer to reduce light reflection phenomenon of the metal line portion  124 . 
     The third conductive pattern  130  is located on the substrate  100 , and comprises a plurality of first sensing portions  132 , a plurality of second sensing portions  134 , and a plurality of second bridging portions  136 , wherein two adjacent first sensing portions  132  are respectively electrically connected to the corresponding first portion  112  and the second portion  114 . The second bridging portion  136  at least partially crosses over and contacts the corresponding first insulation portion  142 , and second bridging portion  136  is connected to two adjacent second sensing portions  134 . Specifically, the two adjacent first sensing portions  132  are respectively provided on opposite two ends of the first bridging portion  122  in a first direction X, to be electrically connected to portions that are not covered by the first insulation portion  142  of the first portion  112  and the second portion  114 , so that the two adjacent first sensing portions  132  are electrically connected to each other via the first bridging portion  122 , to be used as, for example, a drive line (Tx) extending along the first direction X of a touch line. The two adjacent second sensing portions  134  are respectively provided on opposite two sides of the first bridging portion  122  in a second direction Y, and are electrically connected to each other by the second bridging portion  136  that crosses over the first insulation portion  122 , to be used as, for example, a sensing line (Rx) extending along the second direction Y of the touch line. 
     In addition, the third conductive pattern  130  may further comprise a connection portion  137  and a pad portion  138 . The connection portion  137  and the pad portion  138  preferably are located in the peripheral circuit area  102  of the substrate  100 ; the connection portion  137  is connected to one of the third portion  116  and the first sensing portion  132 , and the pad portion  138  is electrically connected to the fourth portion  118 . Specifically, the connection portion  137  and the pad portion  138  are respectively electrically connected to portions that are not covered by the second insulation portion  144  of the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118 , to be electrically connected to the line portion  124 , and used as, for example, an output line in the peripheral circuit area  102 . The third conductive pattern  130  may be made by a material comprising a transparent conductive material, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) or an indium zinc oxide (IZO). 
     Further, according to different manufacturing designs, the drive line (Tx) and the sensing line (Rx) of the touch line may have different patterns. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4A-4D , a panel  2  comprises a first conductive pattern  210 , a second conductive pattern  220 , a third conductive pattern  230 , and an insulation pattern  240 . Specifically, the first conductive pattern  210  is located on the foregoing substrate  100 , and description of the foregoing embodiment may be referred to for details of the substrate  100 , which are not described herein again. 
     The first conductive pattern  210  may comprise a plurality of first portions  212  and a plurality of second portions  214 . For example, the plurality of first portions  212  and a plurality of second portions  214  may be provided in pairs in a sensing area  101  of the substrate  100  at intervals; each pair of the first portion  212  and the second portion  214  may be used as, for example, a touch electrode of a drive line (Tx) in a first direction X. In addition, the first conductive pattern  210  may further comprise a third portion  216  and a fourth portion  218 . The third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218  may be provided in pairs in a sensing area  101  of the substrate  100 ; each pair of the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218  may be used as, for example, a touch electrode of a sensing line (Rx) in a second direction Y. That is, in this embodiment, the first portion  212  and the second portion  214  are two adjacent first sensing portions provided along the first direction X at intervals, and the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218  are two adjacent second sensing portions provided along the second direction Y at intervals. 
     In addition, the first conductive pattern  210  may further comprise a connection portion  217  and a first pad portion  219 . The connection portion  217  and the first pad portion  219  are preferably located in a peripheral circuit area  102  of the substrate  100 , and a connection portion  137  is connected to one of the first portion  212  and the second portion  214  (for example, the second portion  214 ). In other words, the connection portion  137  is electrically connected to, for example, a touch electrode of the drive line (Tx) to be used as a line segment extending from the sensing area  101  to the peripheral circuit area  102 . The first pad portion  219  is provided corresponding to the connection portion  217  to be used as, for example, a connection pad of an output line. The first conductive pattern  210  is preferably made by a material comprising a transparent conductive material, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) or an indium zinc oxide (IZO). 
     The second conductive pattern  220  connects between the first portion  212  and the second portion  214 . Specifically, the second conductive pattern  220  is located on the substrate  100 , and may comprise a plurality of first bridging portions  222 . The plurality of first bridging portions  222  is located in the sensing area  101  of the substrate  100 , and one first bridging portion  222  is configured to connect between one pair of the first portion  212  and the second portion  214 . That is, the first bridging portion  222  is located between the corresponding portion  212  and the second portion  214 , and preferably, two ends of the first bridging portion  222  respectively partially cover on adjacent sides of the first portion  212  and the second portion  214  to be electrically connected to the first portion  212  and the second portion  214 , so that two adjacent first sensing portions (that is, the first portion  212  and the second portion  214 ) in a same column are electrically connected to each other to become, for example, the drive line (Tx) extending along the first direction X of the touch line. 
     In addition, the second conductive pattern  220  further comprises a line portion  224  to be connected to the connection portion  217  and the first pad portion  219 . For example, the line portion  224  is located in the peripheral circuit area  102  of the substrate  100  to be used as an output line connected to the connection portion  217  and the first pad portion  219 . That is, preferably, two ends of the line portion  224  respectively partially cover on corresponding side edges of the connection portion  217  and the first pad portion  219  to be electrically connected to the connection portion  217  and the first pad portion  219 . The second conductive pattern  220 , for example, is made by a material comprising a metal material, for example, copper, aluminum, titanium, molybdenum, silver, or gold, to reduce a resistance value of the bridging portion  222  or the line portion  224  that connects between adjacent touch electrodes (for example,  212  and  214 ). In other words, according to the present embodiment, by using a metal layer that forms peripheral circuits and is also used as a bridging portion that connects between adjacent touch electrodes, a resistance value of the bridging portion is effectively reduced in a case in which manufacturing procedures are not additionally added, and manufacturing steps are simplified. 
     The insulation pattern  240  is located on the second conductive pattern  220  and substantially covers a side surface of the second conductive pattern  220 , and a horizontal distance d between an outer side surface  242   a  of the insulation pattern  240  and an inner side surface  242   b  adjacent to the second conductive pattern  220  is less than about 3 micrometers. Specifically, the insulation pattern  240  may comprise a plurality of first insulation portions  242 , and each insulation portion  242  is located on the corresponding first bridging portion  222  and substantially covers a side surface of the first bridging portion  222 , to isolate electric contact between the first bridging portion  222  and subsequent other conductive layers. A horizontal distance between an outer side surface of the first insulation portion  242  and an inner side surface adjacent to the corresponding first bridging portion  222  is less than about 3 micrometers, and the first insulation portion  242  does not completely cover the first portion  212  and the second portion  214 . 
     In addition, the insulation pattern  240  may further comprise a second insulation portion  244 , which is located on the line portion  224  and substantially covers a side surface of the line portion  224 . A horizontal distance between an outer side surface of the second insulation portion  244  and an inner side surface of the second insulation portion  244  adjacent to the line portion  224  may also be less than about 3 micrometers, and the second insulation portion  244  does not completely cover the connection portion  217  and the first pad portion  219 , and an uncovered portion of the first pad portion  219  may be electrically connected to subsequent other conductive layers. Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the insulation pattern  240  preferably is formed by thermally treating a mask pattern of an insulation material used for patterning the second conductive pattern  220 , to simplify manufacturing steps and saving material costs. The insulation pattern  240 , for example, is made by a black photoresist material or an anti-reflection material; the anti-reflection material reduces light reflection by using light scatting or interference principles. The insulation pattern  240 , for example, is made by a material including a pigment, a dye, carbon black, a carbon nanotube, titanium nitride, a quantum dot, and zirconia, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The third conductive pattern  230  is located on the substrate  100 , and comprises a plurality of second bridging portions  232 , wherein each second bridging portion  232  at least partially crosses over the corresponding first insulation portion  242  and is connected to the corresponding third portion  216  and fourth portion  218 . Specifically, the second bridging portion  232  is located between the corresponding third portion  216  and fourth portion  218 , and preferably, two ends of the second bridging portion  232  respectively partially cover on adjacent sides of the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218  to be electrically connected to the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218 , so that two adjacent second sensing portions (that is, the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218 ) in a same column are electrically connected to each other, to become, for example, the sensing line (Rx) extending along the second direction Y of the touch line. 
     In addition, the third conductive pattern  230  may further comprise a second pad portion  234  to be electrically connected to the first pad portion  219 . Specifically, the second pad portion  234  is electrically connected to a portion that is not covered by the second insulation portion  244  of the first pad portion  219 , to be electrically connected to the line portion  224  and form, for example, an output line in the peripheral circuit area  102 . In an embodiment, the third conductive pattern  230  is preferably made by a material comprising a metal material, for example, copper, aluminum, titanium, molybdenum, silver, or gold, to reduce a resistance value of the bridging portion  232  or the second pad portion  234  that connects between adjacent touch electrodes (for example, third portion  216  and fourth portion  218 .) In another embodiment, the third conductive pattern  230  may be made by a material comprising a transparent conductive material, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) or an indium zinc oxide (IZO), but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     As shown in the foregoing embodiment in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a panel, comprising forming a first conductive pattern (for example,  110  or  210 ), forming a second conductive pattern (for example,  120  or  220 ), and forming an insulation pattern (for example,  140  or  240 ) located on the second conductive pattern and substantially covering a side surface of the second conductive pattern. The manufacturing method may further comprise forming a third conductive pattern (for example,  130  or  230 ), to complete, for example, the panel  1  or  2  shown in  FIG. 1 or 3 . 
     Specifically, the step of forming the first conductive pattern may comprise, for example, sputtering (or coating), photolithography, etching, and printing manufacturing procedures, to form the first conductive pattern  110  shown in  FIG. 1  or the first conductive pattern  210  shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the step of forming the first conductive pattern  110  may comprise forming the first portion  112  and the second portion  114  that are used as electric contacts of touch electrodes, and may further comprise forming the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118  that are used as electric contacts of peripheral circuits. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the step of forming the first conductive pattern  210  comprises forming the first portion  212  and the second portion  214  that are used as, for example, a touch electrode of the drive line (Tx), and may further comprise forming the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218  that are used as, for example, a touch electrode of the sensing line (Rx), and the connection portion  217  used as a partial line segment of a peripheral output line and the first pad portion  219 . 
     The step of forming the second conductive pattern may comprise, for example, sputtering (or deposition, or coating), photolithography, etching, and printing manufacturing procedures, to form the second conductive pattern  120  shown in  FIG. 1  or the second conductive pattern  220  shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the step of forming the second conductive pattern  120  comprises forming the first bridging portion  122  connecting between the first portion  112  and the second portion  114 , and may further comprise forming the line portion  124  connected to the third portion  116  and the fourth portion  118 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the step of forming the second conductive pattern  220  comprises forming the first bridging portion  222  connecting between the first portion  212  and the second portion  214 , and may further comprise forming the line portion  224  connected to the first pad portion  219  and the connection portion  217 . 
     The step of forming the insulation pattern may comprise thermally treating the foregoing mask pattern used for forming the second conductive pattern, to form, for example, the insulation pattern  140  shown in  FIG. 1  or the insulation pattern  240  shown in  FIG. 3  (as stated in detailed description of  FIG. 5A-5D ). In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the step of forming the insulation pattern  140  comprises forming the first insulation portion  142  located on the first bridging portion  122  and substantially covering the side surface of the first bridging portion  122 , and may further comprise forming the second insulation portion  144  located on the line portion  124  and substantially covering the side surface of the line portion  124 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the step of forming the insulation pattern  240  comprises forming the first insulation portion  242  located on the first bridging portion  222  and substantially covering the side surface of the first bridging portion  222 , and may further comprise forming the second insulation portion  244  located on the line portion  224  and substantially covering the side surface of the line portion  224 . 
     The step of forming the third conductive pattern may comprise, for example, sputtering (or deposition, or coating), photolithography, etching, and printing manufacturing procedures, to form the third conductive pattern  130  shown in  FIG. 1  or the third conductive pattern  230  shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the step of forming the third conductive pattern  130  comprises forming a plurality of first sensing portions  132 , a plurality of second sensing portions  134 , and a plurality of second bridging portions  136  connecting between adjacent sensing portions  134 , and may further comprise forming the connection portion  137  electrically connected to one of the third portion  116  and the first sensing portion  132 , and forming the pad portion  138  electrically connected to the fourth portion  118 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the step of forming the third conductive pattern  230  comprises forming the second bridging portion  232  connecting between the third portion  216  and the fourth portion  218 , and may further comprise forming the second pad portion  234  electrically connected to the first pad portion  219 . 
     In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the step of forming the second conductive pattern may be integrated with the step of forming the insulation pattern, to simplify manufacturing steps and save material costs. Refer to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5D  subsequently for details of integration. As shown in  FIG. 5A , a step of forming a second conductive pattern  420  comprises forming a second conductive layer  420   a  on a first conductive pattern  410 , to cover a first portion  412  and a second portion  414 . For example, the first conductive pattern  410  of this embodiment may correspond to the first conductive pattern  110  or  210  in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3 , and the first portion  412  and the second portion  414  respectively correspond to the first portion  112  or  212  and the second portion  114  or  214 . The second conductive layer  420   a  preferably is a metal layer that is formed by a metal material (for example, copper, aluminum, titanium, molybdenum, silver, or gold) and formed on a substrate  100  by film forming technologies such as sputtering and deposition. 
     Next, a photolithography technology is used to form a mask pattern (for example,  450  shown in  FIG. 5C ) on the second conductive layer  420   a , and the second conductive layer  420   a  is etched by using the mask pattern  450  as a mask to form the second conductive pattern  420 . The mask pattern  450  may be formed by a positive or negative photoresist. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5A , in an embodiment, by coating a positive photoresist layer  450   a  on the second conductive layer  420   a  and manufacturing procedures such as exposure and development in cooperation with a photomask  30 , the positive photoresist layer  450   a  is enabled to be the mask pattern  450 . Specifically, the photomask  30  comprises a photomask substrate  300  and a photomask pattern  310  formed on the photomask substrate  300 . The photomask pattern  310  may be formed by chromium, and is configured to prevent exposure energy from passing there through. An unexposed area  452   a  and an exposed area  454   a  are formed after the positive photoresist layer  450   a  is exposed by the photomask  30 , and the developed exposed area  454   a  is removed and the unexposed area  452   a  is kept as the mask pattern  450 , so that the mask pattern  450  defines a range of the second conductive pattern  420 . 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5B , by coating a negative photoresist layer  450   b  on the second conductive layer  420   a  and manufacturing procedures such as exposure and development in cooperation with a photomask  30 ′, the negative photoresist layer  450   b  is enabled to be the mask pattern  450 . Specifically, the photomask  30 ′ comprises the photomask substrate  300  and a photomask pattern  310 ′ formed on the photomask substrate  300 . An exposed area  452   b  and an unexposed area  454   b  are formed after the negative photoresist layer  450   b  is exposed by the photomask  30 ′, and the developed unexposed area  454   b  is removed and the exposed area  452   b  is kept as the mask pattern  450 . That is, a portion that does not belong to the photomask pattern  310 ′ (that is, a negative image of the photomask pattern  310 ′) corresponds to the mask pattern  450 , so that the mask pattern  450  defines a range of the second conductive pattern  420 . In this embodiment, the second conductive pattern  420  defined by the mask pattern  450  corresponds to the second conductive pattern  120  or  220  of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3 , and may comprise the first bridging portion  122  or  222 , and may further comprise the line portion  124  or  224 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , the step of etching the second conductive layer  420   a  by using the mask pattern  450  as mask comprises wet-etching the second conductive layer  420   a , so that the second conductive pattern  420  becomes inward relative to the mask pattern  450  to form an undercutting space  460  under the mask pattern  450 . Specifically, a size of the undercutting space  460  may be controlled by controlling concentration of an etching agent and etching time, so that a part of the mask pattern  450  protrudes from the second conductive pattern  420 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 5D , the step of thermally treating the mask pattern  450  comprises thermally reflowing the mask pattern  450  to fill the undercutting space  460 , so that the mask pattern  450  becomes an insulation pattern  440 , and substantially not only covers an upper surface of the second conductive pattern  420  but also covers a side surface of the second conductive pattern  420 . In an embodiment, a horizontal distance d between an outer side surface  440   a  of the insulation pattern  440  and an inner side surface  440   b  adjacent to the second conductive pattern  420  is less than about 3 micrometers. The insulation pattern  440  may correspond to the insulation pattern  140  or  240  of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3 , and may comprise the first insulation portion  142  or  242 , and may further comprise the second insulation portion  144  or  244 . In this embodiment, the mask pattern  450 , for example, is made by a black photoresist material or an anti-reflection material; the anti-reflection material reduces light reflection by using light scatting or interference principles. The mask pattern  450 , for example, is made by a material including a pigment, a dye, carbon black, a carbon nanotube, titanium nitride, a quantum dot, and zirconia, but the present invention is not limited thereto, so that the insulation pattern  440  formed by thermally treating the mask pattern  450  can have a light shield effect to remove an additional manufacturing procedure of forming a light shield layer. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5E , according to a size of the undercutting space  460  formed by an etching manufacturing procedure, a condition of a thermal reflowing manufacturing procedure and a thickness of the mask pattern  450 . After thermal reflowing, the undercutting space may possibly not be filled up by an insulation material (for example, a black photoresist material), to form at least one remaining space  470  adjacent to a side edge of the insulation pattern  440  and a side edge of the second conductive pattern  420 . In other words, in the embodiments of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , according to actual manufacturing conditions, the remaining space  470  shown in  FIG. 5E  may be possibly formed adjacent to side edges of the first insulation portions  142  and  242  and side edges of the first bridging portions  122  and  222 , or adjacent to the side edges of the second insulation portions  144  and  244  and the side edges of the line portions  124  and  224 . 
     The present invention is described through the foregoing embodiments; however, these embodiments are intended for an exemplary objective, rather than limit the present invention. A person skilled in the art should know that other modifications of exemplified embodiments may be made to embodiments specifically described herein without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention also covers such modifications and is limited only to the appended claims.