Patent Publication Number: US-2012026107-A1

Title: Touch screen panel and display device having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0072431, filed on Jul. 27, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     An embodiment relates to a touch screen panel and an image display device having the same. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     A touch screen panel is an input device that allows users to select contents displayed on a screen of an image display device, for example, using users&#39; finger or an object to input commands of a user. 
     To this end, the touch screen panel is provided on a front face of the image display device and converts positional information of a contact into electrical signals. 
     Touch screen panels can replace other input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the use of touch screen panels is expanding gradually. 
     Common touch screen panels include a black matrix formed in a touch inactive region along the edge of a touch active region. Thus, it is possible that position detecting lines under the touch inactive region may be prevented from being visualized. 
     As image display devices equipped with a touch screen panel recently implement various colors, a demand for implementing various colors for the edge of the touch screen panel has been increasing, and a study for easily implementing the various colors has been conducted. 
     Further, as the touch screen panel is used as an input means for portable display devices, it is required to reduce the thickness of the image display device quipped with the touch screen panel and ensure reliability for the thickness. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a touch screen panel that implements various colors for the edge and ensure reliability and an image display panel having the touch screen panel. 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a transparent substrate; conductive sensing cells formed in a touch active region on one side of the transparent substrate; and a decoration film attached to the other side of the transparent substrate and having a decoration layer overlapping a touch inactive region outside the touch active region. 
     In this configuration, the transparent substrate may be a window substrate positioned at the uppermost portion of substrates in an image display device to implement a window integral type touch screen panel. 
     Further, the decoration layer may include a base color layer. In this configuration, the color of the base color layer may be one selected from chromatic colors. 
     Further, the decoration layer may have a stacked structure composed of the chromatic color layer and one or more achromatic color layers positioned between the base color layer and the transparent substrate. 
     Further, the decoration layer may have a stacked structure composed of the chromatic color layer and a white color layer positioned between the base color layer and the transparent substrate. 
     Further, the decoration layer may have a stacked structure composed of the chromatic color layer and a black color layer positioned between the base color layer and the transparent substrate. Further, the decoration layer may further include a white color layer stacked between the base color layer and the black color layer. 
     Further, the conductive sensing cells may be formed on the bottom of the transparent substrate and the decoration film may be attached to the top of the transparent substrate. 
     Further, the decoration layer may be formed along the edge on one side of the decoration film. 
     Further, the touch screen panel may further include an adhesive layer positioned between the transparent substrate and the decoration film and attaching the decoration film to the transparent substrate. 
     Further, the decoration film may include a transparent film that is a base and the decoration film arranged along the edge on one side of the transparent film. In this configuration, the decoration layer may be formed on one side facing the transparent substrate of the transparent film. 
     Further, the touch screen panel may further include position detection lines formed in a touch inactive region on one side of the transparent substrate to over the decoration layer and electrically connected with the conductive sensing cells. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides an image display device that includes: a display panel for displaying an image; and a touch screen panel receiving touch input, on the display panel, in which the touch screen panel includes: a transparent substrate where a touch active region and a touch inactive region outside the touch active region are defined; conductive sensing cells formed in a touch active region on one side of the transparent substrate; and a decoration layer attached to the other side of the transparent substrate and overlapping the touch inactive region. 
     In this configuration, the transparent substrate of the touch screen may be a window substrate that is disposed at the uppermost portion of substrates in the image display device and a contact member for touch input contacts. 
     Further, the decoration layer may include a chromatic base color layer. 
     Further, the decoration layer may have a stacked structure composed of the color layer and one or more achromatic color layers positioned between the base color layer and the transparent substrate. 
     Further, the conductive sensing cells may be formed on the bottom facing the display panel of the transparent substrate and the decoration film may be attached to the top of the transparent substrate. 
     Further, the decoration layer may be formed along the edge facing the transparent substrate of the decoration film. 
     According to the present invention described above, it is possible to ensure reliability of the touch screen panel by directly forming the conductive sensing cells on one side of the transparent substrate, which is a base of the touch screen panel. Further, it is possible to implement various colors for the touch screen and the edge of an image display device equipped with the touch screen panel through a relatively simple manufacturing process by attaching the adhesive film having a decoration layer at the edge to overlap the touch inactive region, on the other side of the transparent, opposite to the side where the conductive sensing cells are formed. 
     Further, as described above, a specific window substrate is not needed, because the conductive sensing cells are formed on one side of the transparent substrate, which is a base of the touch screen panel, and attaching a decoration film having an edge decoration layer to the other side, such that it is possible to use the transparent substrate of the touch screen as a window substrate. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the image display device equipped with the touch screen panel by integrating a window substrate with the transparent substrate of the touch screen panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view schematically showing an example of a touch screen panel; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a touch screen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a touch screen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a touch screen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view schematically showing an image display device equipped with a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. In addition, when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the another element or be indirectly on the another element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Also, when an element is referred to as being “connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to the another element or be indirectly connected to the another element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Hereinafter, like reference numerals refer to like elements. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view schematically showing an example of a touch screen panel. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a touch screen panel includes a transparent substrate  10 , a plurality of conductive sensing cells  12 , and position detection lines  15 . The plurality of conductive sensing cells  12  are formed on or over the transparent substrate  10 . The position detection lines  15  electrically connect the conductive sensing cells  12  to a driving circuit of the touch screen panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the driving circuit is external to the touch screen panel and connected through a pad unit  20 . 
     In embodiments, the transparent substrate  10  is a base member of the touch screen panel and may be formed of a substantially transparent substrate material, such as PET (PolyethyleneTerephthalate) or acryl. The transparent substrate has high transmittance of visible light and have up to 100% transparency. 
     In embodiments, the sensing cells  12  are made of a transparent electrode material, such as ITO, on or over a touch active region of the transparent substrate  10 . In embodiments, the sensing cells  12  include first sensing cells  12   a  and second sensing cells  12   b.    
     As illustrated, the first sensing cells  12   a  are those arranged in a vertical (column) direction on the drawing sheet and are electrically connected with each other. In embodiments, the touch screen panel includes a number of columns including electrically connected first sensing cells  12   a . Each column of the first sensing cells  12   a  are also connected to one of the position detection lines  15 . 
     Likewise, the second sensing cells  12   b  are those arranged in a horizontal (row) direction on the drawing sheet and are electrically connected with each other. In embodiments, the touch screen panel includes a number of rows including electrically connected second sensing cells  12   b . Each row of the first sensing cells  12   a  are also connected to one of the position detection lines  15 . 
     The first sensing cells  12   a  and the second sensing cells  12   b  may be respectively connected by first connecting patterns and second connecting patterns (not shown), with insulating layers therebetween, on the same layer, or may be disposed different layers, with insulating layers therebetween. 
     The position detection lines  15  connect the sensing cells  12  with an external driving circuit (not shown), such as a position detection circuit, through the pad unit  20 . 
     In embodiments, the position lines  15  are disposed in a touch inactive region along the edge of a touch screen panel. The touch inactive region does not provide touch sensing and is an area outside a touch active region where an image is displayed and touch sensing is provided. The position lines  15  can be made of non-transparent conductive materials, such as Mo, Ag, Ti, Cu, Al, and Mo/Al/Mo. 
     The touch screen panel described above is a capacitive type touch screen panel, in which when a contact object, such as human&#39;s finger or a stylus pen contacts the touch screen panel, a change of electrostatic capacitance corresponding to the contact position is transmitted to the driving circuit (not shown) from the sensing cells  12  through the position detection lines  15  and the pad unit  20 . 
     Further, the change in electrostatic capacity is converted into an electric signal by an X- and Y-input process circuit (not shown), such that the contact is located. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a touch screen panel  10  includes a passivation layer  30 , a transparent substrate  10 , and a decoration film  40 . On the underside of the transparent substrate  10 , conductive sensing cells  12  are formed in a touch active region  101 . The decoration film  40  is attached to the other side of the transparent substrate  10  by an adhesive layer  50 . The decoration film  40  includes a transparent film  102  and a decoration layer  44  that is located in a touch inactive region  102  defined outside the touch active region  101 . 
     The transparent substrate  10  is a substrate that is the base member of the touch screen panel. In the alternative, the transparent substrate  10  may be a window substrate disposed at the uppermost position in substrates included in an image display device equipped with the touch screen panel. 
     That is, a touch screen panel and an integral window type touch screen panel which is equipped with a window can be achieved by forming patterns for implementing a touch screen on a window substrate. As described above, when a window is integrated with a touch screen panel, it is possible to reduce the thickness of an image display device equipped with the touch screen panel. 
     Meanwhile, in the integral window type touch screen panel, as an example, patterns for implementing the touch screen panel, that is, the conductive sensing cells  12  and the position detection lines  15  connected to the cells may be formed on a lower surface opposite to the touch surface (upper surface) of the transparent substrate  10 . 
     In this configuration, the conductive sensing cells  12  are formed in the touch active region  101  overlapping the screen of an image display device and the position detection lines  15  are formed in the active inactive region  102  around the touch active region  101 . Accordingly, the position detection lines  15  are disposed under the decoration layer  44  of the decoration film  40 . Thus, the position detection lines  15  are not be seen from the outside. 
     The passivation layer  30  is formed on the underside of the transparent substrate  10  and cover the conductive sensing cells  12  and the position detection lines  15 . Therefore, the transparent substrate  10 , conductive sensing cells  12 , position detection lines  15  are interposed between the decoration film  40  and the passivation layer  30 . 
     As illustrated, the decoration film  40  is attached to the other side of the transparent substrate  10 . 
     For example, the decoration film  40  having the decoration layer  42  at the edge may be attached to the top, the other side of the transparent substrate  10 . 
     In embodiments, the decoration film  40  may include a transparent film  42  made of PET, which is the base of the decoration film  40 , and the decoration layer  44  disposed along the edge of on one side of the transparent film  42 . That is, the decoration layer  44  overlaps the touch inactive region  102  along the edge on one side of the decoration film  40 , and for example, the decoration film  44  may be formed on the bottom of the transparent film  42 , i.e. the side facing the transparent substrate  10  of the touch screen panel. 
     The color of the touch screen panel and the edge of an image display device equipped with the touch screen panel depends on the color of the decoration layer  44 . In embodiments, the decoration layer  44  includes a base color layer  44   a  for implementing a predetermined color for the edge. 
     Any color can be chosen for the base color layer  44   a . The color of the base cooler layer  44   a  is set as one color selected from various colors to provide various edge colors, not the black edges that are fixed in the related art. 
     Meanwhile, transparent substrate  10  and the decoration film  40  may be laminated with the adhesive layer  50  therebetween. 
     That is, the adhesive layer  50  is interposed between the transparent substrate  10  and the decoration film  40  to attach the decoration film  40  to the transparent substrate  10 , and is made of a transparent adhesive to transmit light from the display panel (not shown) thereunder. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, the conductive sensing cells  12  and the decoration film  40  are disposed on different sides of the transparent substrate  10 , respectively. As illustrated, the conductive sensing cells  12  and the position detection lines  15  are formed on the bottom of the transparent substrate  10 , and the decoration film  40  is attached to the top of the transparent substrate  10 . Accordingly, the touch screen panel can be manufactured by providing the transparent substrate  10  having the sensing patterns on one side and the decoration film  40  having the decoration layer  44  on the other side of the transparent substrate  10  by lamination. 
     Having the conductive sensing cells  12  directly on one side of the transparent substrate  10  will provide various benefits, which include reduction of defects and improving the reliability of the touch screen panel. Further, since the decoration film  40  having the decoration layer  44  having various colors at the edge is attached to the other side of the transparent substrate  10 , it is possible to manufacture a touch screen panel through a relatively simple process and easily implements various colors for the edge of an image display device equipped with the touch screen panel. 
     Further, since the conductive sensing cells  12  and the decoration film  40  are formed or attached to one transparent substrate  10 , it is possible to use the transparent substrate  10  as a window substrate without a specific window substrate. 
     According to embodiments, since the integral window type touch screen panel is implemented by integrating the window substrate with the transparent substrate  10  of the touch screen panel, it is possible to reduce the thickness of an image display device. 
     Meanwhile, the decoration layer  44  of the decoration film  40  may have a stacked layer further including one or more achromatic color layers (not shown), other than the chromatic base color layer  44   a . In this disclosure, achromatic colors refer to white, black or gray colors, whereas chromatic colors refer to all other colors. 
     In particular, the achromatic color layer may be positioned between the base color layer  44   a  and the transparent substrate  10  to prevent pattern-showing thereunder while implementing clear edge colors by the base color layer  44   a , and various embodiments are described hereafter with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a touch screen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIGS. 4 and 5  are cross-sectional views showing touch screen panels according to other embodiments of the present invention. For the convenience of description, the same or similar components to those of  FIG. 2  are not repeatedly described in describing  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
     First, referring to  FIG. 3 , a decoration layer  44  may be formed by stacking a chromatic base color layer  44   a  for implementing various edge colors and a white color layer  44   b  positioned between the base color layer  44   a  and the transparent substrate  10 . 
     When the white color layer  44   b  is further provided between the base color layer  44   a  and the transparent substrate  10 , it is possible to effectively prevent pattern reflection of the touch inactive region  102  and implement clearer color for the base color layer  44   a.    
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a decoration layer  44  may be formed by stacking a chromatic base color layer  44   a  and a black color layer  44   c  positioned between the base color layer  44   a  and the transparent substrate  10 . 
     As described above, since the black color layer  44   c  is further provided between the base color layer  44   a  and the transparent substrate  10 , it is possible more effectively prevent pattern reflection of the position detection lines  15  thereunder. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , both of the white color layer  44   b  and the black color layer  44   c  may by provided. 
     For example, the decoration layer  44  may have a stacked structure composed of a chromatic base color layer  44   a , a black color layer  44   c  and a white color layer  33   b . In embodiments, the black color layer  44   c  is positioned between the base color layer  44   a  and the transparent substrate  10 . In embodiments, the white color layer  33   b  is positioned between the base color layer  44   a  and the black color layer  44   c . This configuration would more effectively prevent pattern reflection thereunder and make the color of the base color layer  44   a  clearer. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view schematically showing an image display device equipped with a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the convenience of description,  FIG. 6  shows an image display device equipped with the touch screen panel shown in  FIG. 2 , and the same or similar components to those of  FIG. 2  are not repeatedly described in describing  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel  60  for displaying an image and a touch screen receiving touch input on the display panel  60 . 
     In this configuration, a touch active region  101  of the touch screen panel may be set to correspond to the display region of the display panel  60 . Further, a touch inactive region  102  of the touch screen panel may be set to correspond to a non-display region  102  outside the display region of the display panel  60 . 
     In embodiments, in an image display device, the touch screen panel and the window substrate are integrated. 
     In other words, the transparent substrate  10  may function as a window substrate that is positioned at the uppermost side in the substrate included in the image display device (except for the film, such as the decoration film, and a specific icon sheet) and a contact member for touch input while protecting the components contacts. 
     Therefore, in an image display device according to embodiments of the present invention, a specific window substrate is not needed and it is possible to reduce the thickness and the manufacturing cost. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and-equivalents thereof.